My First PSE6 Project

[kathydel]

UPDATED: SEE BELOW


Hi All,

I want to thank everyone who helped me with the learning curve of PSE6 in order to get my project done. My friend recently met her sister after 60+ years and when they got together they swapped baby pictures. The pictures are over 60 years old. She tried to get a local business to put both pictures into one photo and their attempt cost her $27 and all they basically did was cut and paste the two pics, no blending, no restoration etc. So I offered to do it for her.

The first picture is her sister, Karen, it was quite messed up with cracks, marks and what looked like a crease going vertically right through her face, so I did some restoration on that pic before I moved it. The second picture of the sitting baby is my friend, Suzie. Her pic was obviously done in a studio setting and was in very good condition.

I created a background using the background from the studio pic, then cut out both babies using the Magnetic Lasso tool and moved them onto the new background. Before I blended all three together I made adjustments to the lighting, shadows, made everything B&W, and alot of detail work and then moved them in together. After that I did a few more adustments to tweak them so they looked as close as I knew how to get them. I then created a vignette and made a few more adjustments here and there and the third picture is my final photo.

Any comments are welcome and if you see something I should do to make this even better, please let me know. I only ask that you give me detailed instructions as I'm very new to PSE6. What I've attempted has got to be better than cutting and pasting two photos together so I hope she's happy with the results I give her.

Thanks for looking..

Karen

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1Z1lR5AYsM0J1wJU9PjXZBxCGxOGCr_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1Z1lR5AYsM0J1wJU9PjXZBxCGxOGCr)


Suzie

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1hPEzTx0KowP96yhOB6kcdUbUHgiB_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1hPEzTx0KowP96yhOB6kcdUbUHgiB)


After Photo

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1sJfwO0AUdiCdgzj1E2v2RIL9ZQdGO0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1sJfwO0AUdiCdgzj1E2v2RIL9ZQdGO0)


UPDATED: To show edited version of this picture. I think tweaking the opacity as Gary suggested and making Suzie, the sitting baby smaller, as Julie suggested made a big and better difference. Thank you so much.


http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/153X6AeTliZrNSeqwlsj2Od8udt7R1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=153X6AeTliZrNSeqwlsj2Od8udt7R1)


Thank you all so much again.
Kathy

[GaryK]

Kathy

Looking good.:)

If you don't mind me suggesting. Try lowering the opacity of the vingette layer just a smidge.
It may not look right but worth a try. You decide ..it's your picture.:)

[Wendy]

Hi Kathy ...

Oh you have made a great job of it ...

Do try out Gary's suggestion I think it may look good :)

Wendy

[kathydel]

Thank you. Gary I did try what you said. I moved it down to about 80% opacity and it looks much better. I tried even lower but it was too much I thought. I'll play around a bit and see what else I can come up with, and will post an update tomorrow.. It's actually the effect I was looking for, as I thought the vingette was a little too stark and wanted it blended more just didn't know how to accomplish that. I need to learn the terms as I'm sure that will help me alot. I'm hoping others have a more suggestions too. Thanks again.

Kathy

[JulieM]

Kathy,

What an interesting story and great project to work on. You've done really well on the restorations. Your friend's sister was a tough one! This might be too much to attempt at this point, but to me the sizes of the two images look disproportionate. I'd like to see your friend a bit smaller in relation to her sister. Just an option to consider, because I'm sure both women will be thrilled with what you've already done!

Julie

[joaby]

Kathy

You have done an amazing job on this photo. They will both be very pleased when they see it. I do agree with Julie that the little girl on the right could be a little bigger.

Great work

Joan

[Newtome]

Kathy, that is so much better. Let us know how they liked it. Will you present it in person, if so I bet you will see them cry.
Elaine

[kathydel]

Thank you Elaine. Unfortunately, my friend Suzie lives in La are in California and her sister up in San Franscisco area. I'm in New Jersey. But I know Suzie will call me right away and let me know how she liked it. I'm going to wait until I can do this other picture with them as babies and adults together and send them both to them at one time. She knows I'm taking my time and wanting to do a good job for her, so she's patiently waiting...:)

Thanks again,
Kathy

[lsweeney]

Kathy, great work! I'm certain your work will be a hit with the sisters!

[joaby]

That looks wonderful, Kathy. What a treasure for them.
Joan

[hukari]

Congratulations, Kathy! You did a fabulous job on a difficult task, especially for your first project! Per aspera ad astra...now only the sky is your limit!

[kathydel]

Thank you Reka, I appreciate your encouragement.

Kathy

[Edmund]

Kathy, really looks great.
Eddie:)