I've got this far but..............

Hi Folks,
I am trying to superimpose an coloured image of the woman without the background, on to a photo of Ayres Rock, to look as though it is carved in the stone. I have got this far but am wondering if I am on the right track as all I want is the image --not the background of the print. If you can understand all this I would apptreciate your help / advice. Regards Hamish

So far what I've done is crop the image, convert it to a negitave, clone it,adjusted the colours to normal and adjusted the image with the keys. Think that's right
Boy I feel out of depth talking to professionals

[This message was edited by Hamish on April 24, 2003 at 06:50.]

Hi Folks,
I am trying to superimpose an coloured image of the woman without the background, on to a photo of Ayres Rock, to look as though it is carved in the stone. I have got this far but am wondering if I am on the right track as all I want is the image --not the background of the print. If you can understand all this I would apptreciate your help / advice. Regards Hamish

So far what I've done is crop the image, convert it to a negitave, clone it,adjusted the colours to normal and adjusted the image with the keys. Think that's right
Boy I feel out of depth talking to professionals

[This message was edited by Hamish on April 24, 2003 at 06:50.]

Looks like you are working in a Paint program and not in Xara. Am I correct?

And we're not professionals in this conference, just enthusiastic Xara users.

In Xara you can take the image you have created, place it over a stone-filled shape, soften it a bit, and apply a Brightness transparency to achieve the result posted below.

You can also create the embossed effect using Sean Sedwards' Emboss plug-in filter found in the Xara Xone Shareware Page.

Gary

Gary Priester

Moderator Person


<a href="http://www.gwpriester.com">
www.gwpriester.com </a>


<a href="http://www.xaraxone.com">
The Xara Xone </a>

Hi Gary thanks for your reply, To answer your question everything was done in Xara, I hav'nt used any paint program No

Re photo --The background to the image is still there though Gary --What I want to do is remove that, so the image only xcan be superimposed onto a photo of eg Ayres Rock so that it appears as though it is carved in the rock.Many thanks Hamish.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>I hav'nt used any paint program No <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Perhaps you should.

Doesn't XaraX have a bevel effect? possibly you can draw a silhouette and use it to get the effect your after, the emboss thing Gary mentioned might do the job.

I don't have XaraX so my advise leaves a lot to be desired.

Hi Folks,

Thanks for all your advice, it is appreciated, but obviously I did'nt explain myself so I have reposted in the hope this might clarify what I am after.

Appologiesfor the confusion

Regards Hamish

Using the Freehand and Brush Tool, draw an outline around the shape and create a closed path by connecting the last control point to the first drawn control point. (You can also use the Shape Editor Tool to create an outline of connected line segments then use the Shape Editor Tool to drag on the line segments to make them into graceful curves).

Select the photo and the mask and Arrange > Combine Shapes... Intersect Shapes. This masks the photo and drops out the background.

You can also place the mask in the back (Ctrl b) and Arrange > Apply ClipView which does the same thing but allows you to edit the mask and the contents separately.

I also applied a small amount of Feathering using the Change size of feather region slider on the top right area of the Infobar to soften the outline.

This help?

Gary

Gary Priester

Moderator Person


<a href="http://www.gwpriester.com">
www.gwpriester.com </a>


<a href="http://www.xaraxone.com">
The Xara Xone </a>

Far be it from me to ever try to out do the Grand Poobah of Xara, but here's my process for doing what Gary did that seems a little more efficient.

Highlight your image/photo and from the Arrange menu select Convert to Editable Shapes (Ctrl-Shift-S).

This turns your image into a shape and by using the Shape Tool (F4) you can add nodes to the border of the image and drag them into place.

With Gary's plan you create a new shape and then clip the photo into that shape so Xara has to track two different items, my plan uses only one item.

Also, since you're directly modifying the shape of the image it's a little easier than trying to manipulate a shape to match. At least it's easier for me http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Hi Gary & Michael,

Thanks for your patience and advice, I'll try all those ideas and repost with the final when I get it all sorted out.

Kind Regards
Hamish

Is this the effect you want to achieve?

jens g.r. benthien
designer
http://www.sacalobra.de

----------//--
If you don't know how to dream you'll never be a designer.
----------//--

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Far be it from me to ever try to out do the Grand Poobah of Xara, but here's my process for doing what Gary did that seems a little more efficient. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm merely a minor poobah http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

If you take your image that you have converted to editable shapes and then shaped by adding control points, and move some of those control points outwards, is the image is still there, just as it is when you create a mask so in both methods Xara still retains the entire image, even if you mask it down to 1/20th of it's size.

However, if you are concerned about this, once you have cropped the image as desired, make a bitmap copy with alpha channel transparency.

Gary

Gary Priester

Moderator Person


<a href="http://www.gwpriester.com">
www.gwpriester.com </a>


<a href="http://www.xaraxone.com">
The Xara Xone </a>

Rich

Hi Folks,

Thanks again to everyone as you see this is my attempt thus far and would value your comments, Suggestions as well of course as the critisicims.

To get the shape I used Michael's idea and Garys suggestion with the transparency For me it seemed easier but will try them all a bit later--

jens g.r. I realy liked the clarity of the jeep IS that done the same way ? Also Great Web/Site

Kind regards and many thanks
Hamish

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> jens g.r. I realy liked the clarity of the jeep IS that done the same way ? Also Great Web/Site <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks for the compliments. No, it's done in a different way.

01. I took the original pic and used Corel PhotoPaint 7 to apply a mask around the truck
02. invert the mask, fill the surrounding area with 100% white. Invert the mask back.
03. convert the pic to greyscale
04. duplicate the pic (we need the duplicate later!)
05. increase contrast, then apply the 'emboss' filter with grey. Width appox. 2 or 3.
06. save this pic - together with the mask - as a png.
07. now take the duplicate and - with the mask still selected - fill the inner part of the mask with 100% black. Remove the mask, save the pic as a png i.e. yourfilepicname-bw.png.
08. now open Xara X and import the first pic which you embossed.
09. import the second pic
10. move the cursor over the bw pic, right click -> bitmap effects and plug-ins -> bitmap effects -> trace. Select the option Monochrome and use the standard settings. Click 'Instert' and you are done.
11. click the traced image and move it with shift + arrow key 10 times right. Select the bw pic and delete it - it will stay in the bitmap gallery for later use (there won't be any ;-} )
12. now select the traced pic, -> ungroup -> join. The center part should be cut out by now. Move the traced pic - now vector shape - back with shift + arrow key left 10 times (super nudge).
The embossed pic and the traced vector mask should be on top of each other now. If not select them both and align -> center, center.
13. Select the traced vector mask, open the fill or bitmap gallery and drag your stone texture into the mask. Adjust the size of the fill by holding ctrl AND shift and moving the end of the arrows.
14. create a rectangle with the exact size of your mask.
15. select the traced vector with the modified fill -> copy
16. select the new rectangle and click 'paste attributes'
17. press ctrl + B to move the rectangle to the back
18. now select the mask and add a bevel - flat will be best.
19. now select your embossed picture and press F6 - transparency. Tweak the settings with all options - hue, luminosity, bleach etc. Check which will give the best result.
20. your pic might be a bit too dark, so you can select the rectangle in the back by clicking ALT and clicking 3 times the top object. Press ctrl + k do clone the rectangle. It will be in the front now. click the white color swatch at the bottom, press F6 - transparency, adjust to a value between 30 to 50%, press ctrl + B (to bring the white rectangle to the back) and ctrl + shift + F (to bring the white rectangle one step to the front). Now the white rectangle will cover your background and brighten up your embossed and transparant pic.

Finished <sigh>.

If you don't want to use a pixel editor, you can use the built-in trace tool to create a mask. Then you can duplicate your original, select the duplicate pic and right click the white color swatch, left click the black color swatch. Your pic should now be b&w. Duplicate it, make it 50% transparent. Select the other b&w pic, left click the white color swatch and right click the black color swatch - you should end up with a negative pic now. F6 and 60% transparency. Align them center, center. Now select the topmost and press right arrow key twice, down arrow key twice, and you'll end up with an embossed pic. The rest is history ;-}

jens g.r. benthien
designer
http://www.sacalobra.de

----------//--
If you don't know how to dream you'll never be a designer.
----------//--

with the same technique

oh, what I forgot to mention: you need a real high res photograph to achieve clean results. 300 dpi and 1600 x 1200 pixels are the best point to start with.

jens g.r. benthien
designer
http://www.sacalobra.de

----------//--
If you don't know how to dream you'll never be a designer.
----------//--

with some samples

jens g.r. benthien
designer
http://www.sacalobra.de

----------//--
If you don't know how to dream you'll never be a designer.
----------//--

Hi Folks

Thanks for the mini tutorial jens I will try that as Corel Draw 7 was given to me some time ago but have tried to get conversant with this before moving on.

As you see on my attempt, the image seems to be floating above the surface, and not set into it. Is it possible to achieve the set in or inlaid effect?

thanks again
Hamish

Jens, Teach em how to do a displacement map.
I just couldn't resist putting your happy face into digital stone



http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[This message was edited by Mike Bailey on April 28, 2003 at 21:32.]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for that example as it is just the effect I was looking for, but not knowing the terminology it was difficult to explain myself.

I know it is asking a lot but if a mini tutorial could be done on this it would be realy appreciated.

Thanks everyone for your patience,
Hamish

Hi Hamish,
What software do you have?

The example I posted is done with 3D software. Its a technique using a gray scale image to change 3D geometry.

If you have the right software it is easy,
perhaps you need someone to do this for you.

Hi Mike,

Thanks for such a quick response

As regards what software I have. The only 3D Program I have is "Corel Dream 3D version 7" --
Actually I never new it was their untill you asked the question and I did a quick look,

As you may of gathered I know nothing about it whatsoever ---So will this program do that effect ??

Thanks again
Hamish

Corel Dream can do bump mapping, To get started read the following Corel Dream help files.
Use the index tab to locate:

Shader channels
Bump channel
(mapping)

Roll your sleeves up and dig in.
Check out the Talkgraphics 3D forum as well.

Oh yea, the little trick I did with Jen,s photo was with a program called Z Brush, You can learn more about Z Brush at http://pixologic.com

[This message was edited by Mike Bailey on April 29, 2003 at 11:14.]