an ATN, and a golden tut...

[Benny Pedersen]

A new action file (ATN)
http://www.fineraw.com/atn/centrepoint.jpg

What:
Besides showing the centre of your doc, which is the main function, this action also
show you where is the golden lines, which is calculated of the well-known (1+sqr(5))/2
At least since the Renaissance, many artists and architects have proportioned their works to approximate the golden ratio...
-- More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio

Install:
PSE5: Create a folder named "Centrepoint" in the "special effects" folder,
"Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\special effects\Centrepoint\"
Two files:
"Centrepoint.atn" and "thumbs.psd" (both files are in the below attachment ZIP)
-- Btw: Remember to empty the PSE cache.

Use:
Open PSE, and double click the Centrepoint action in the special effects palette.
Two options will popup:
# 1: Continue (to execute).
# 2: Stop (to clean up).

Thats it! :D
Benny Pedersen,
PS: Tested in PSE version 3 and 5 (it didn't worked in version 4).

Tutorial and tips:
To make a "golden" oval (only one decimal digit), press M to select your Elliptical Marquee Tool > Mode: Fixed Aspect Ratio > Width: 61.8 > Height: 38.2

To make an oval in the centre of your doc, drag a bit, but then press the Alt key.

If you have used the ATN (action file), the oval will follow the lines as magnetic; without need for a key press Shift (after your moved the elliptical selection a bit, otherwise the Shift key would add to a selection), but as said; use the magnetic lines instead of the Shift key.

[Benny Pedersen]

Does the Centrepoint ATN action file work in PSE6 ?
?

Benny

[JulieM]

Benny, could you post an image showing what your action does? :)

[Benny Pedersen]

Benny, could you post an image showing what your action does? :)

Hi Julie

That wouldn't show much. Wendy did sent me a PM about that she like it a lot, so I have therefor asked her to make a little reply here. I don't know if she would do that, but since she said that she like it, and since she is having an English thats better than me English, I hope she will also reply here public...

Benny :)

[Michel B]

Does the Centrepoint ATN action file work in PSE6 ?
?

Benny

Benny,

Yes, it does work in PSE6 as well as in PSE5. (I have used Graffi's Add-o-matic to install it very rapidly). It's interesting in theory... not sure I'll use it every day!

[Wendy]

Hi ...

What it does is insert guidelines in your image ... the lines give you the centre point and also give you lines that you can use to get a good balance in your image ...

Its useful when you want to get a well balance photograph ... :)

Wendy

[Benny Pedersen]

Benny,

Yes, it does work in PSE6 as well as in PSE5. (I have used Graffi's Add-o-matic to install it very rapidly). It's interesting in theory... not sure I'll use it every day!



Thanks Michael. AHA, maybe I should have that grafiomatic thing;
I remember that little green fellow frog guy, but I just thouht that
it wanted me having a virus or something...

Wendy: "Its useful when you want to get a well balance photograph ..."
ehmm, I think it should be: "Its also useful when you want to get a well balanced photo".
HA, my english is going better now...

Benny,
Btw. Paris is far away from here (Denmark). Its first time I see some from outside US, (except Kwame, Wendy and some few other)... :p

I don't use those lines or calculations to make my photos, except I did it for this one:
Notice the sun on one of the golden lines, etc...

http://home1.stofanet.dk/photo/post_elements/golden.jpg

[elwoodsusanm]

Nothing happens when I use this action! Most likely it's me:confused: What could I be doing wrong?:)

[Teacher617]

Wendy, what version of PSE are you using for this ATN? Benny says it doesn't work in version 4.:confused:

Tricia

[elwoodsusanm]

I have PSE 5:):)

[elwoodsusanm]

Absolutely nothing happens with the Centrepoint - no lines, nothing!:confused:

What settings do I need to change?:confused:

[Benny Pedersen]

Absolutely nothing happens with the Centrepoint - no lines, nothing!:confused:

What settings do I need to change?:confused:

Trouble shooting:

1: Run the Centrepoint action (Select the Continue option).
2: Look in you Undo History and see it has been running.
3: Look up in your View menu, that option "Guide Presets" is checked.

I think the problem is this:
If the "Guide Presets" has been unchecked (should never be unchecked), Photoshop Elements would "remember" that, but it can't be re-checked
unless a guide is activated.

Benny
PS. Below is another action "LowerContrast".
It was first made to recover skys and things, so I named it "SkyEnhancer", but it can also be user for other things than a sky, so I named it "LowerContrast". Thats why the mask is disabled with a red mark (result same as white mask / no mask). If you removed the red mark and wan't it back again, just Shift click the base mask.
Execute the ATN to have less or maybe better contrast...

[elwoodsusanm]

Thank you Benny, it was the Guide Preset. I knew it would be my fault:p

[Benny Pedersen]

This thread is too long, so I will continue it on my Homepage :)

A before and after image about the "High Contrast" action, and the "OpenFolder" thing is both updated.