Painterly Effects

**gdavidson** · 27 September 2009, 10:36 AM

I'm certainly not the vector artists I once was, but still keep my copy of Xara up to date. Having changed direction and taken up photography in 2004, I find it great for experimenting quickly and interactively with photographs. The results can be surprising at times!

Before on the left - After on the right.

Nothing but a bit of Gaussian blur, a yellow/orange stained glass rectangle followed by a stone bitmap transparently overlaid was used.

**steve.ledger** · 27 September 2009, 10:42 AM

I have to say I really love the photograph over the experimentation Graeme
Super shot. Which camera do you use?

**iamtheblues** · 27 September 2009, 10:44 AM

Fabulous effects, Graeme. I can't make up my mind which I prefer, they are both so good.
Saludos,
Bob.

**gdavidson** · 27 September 2009, 10:48 AM

Thanks Sledger! I was actively seeking a distressed old painting look and was surprised to arrive at it so quickly in Xara (I'm used to banging my head in Photoshop!).

I have various cameras but that one was taken with a Nikon D3X on New Year's Eve on a walk along St.Cyrus beach. I couldn't believe the lighting I experienced out on that walk - quite awe inspiring!

**gdavidson** · 27 September 2009, 10:56 AM

Thanks Bob! I know what you mean. Each image has it's own character - it's all terribly subjective!

**masque** · 27 September 2009, 01:38 PM

Hi
I prefer the original over the painterly version by far. Excellent photograph in fact.
Derek

**Burpee** · 27 September 2009, 03:10 PM

I love them both and I, too, have need for a painterly effect sometimes where you don't want that realistic look. This is a fantastic result.

First off, your photograph is excellent. I think it's an outstanding photo.

Second, the solution you found to quickly (and I stress 'quickly') create this painted effect is so creative and easy. It looks very good and the prospect of different fills creating different effects is exciting. Thanks for sharing.

**gdavidson** · 27 September 2009, 04:13 PM

Thanks Masque! The only part of winter I like is the interesting skies we tend to get. The trouble I have is being in the right place when it happens! I'd love to get a few more skies like that with a different subject. The modified image is an exercise in impressionism for one of the challenges in dpreview – I was trying to get away from standard filter effects to get a unique look. I don’t know if this could be classed as impressionism though!

Two days prior to that photo I got the attached picture of the same place - you can just see the Salmon Bothy near the bottom right corner. Montrose is the town under the sun's rays - the town steeple can just be made out.

Thank you too Burpee! I should mention the Gaussian blur was performed on a semi-transparent copy of the original image. This allowed fine detail to be present and add an atmospheric blur around larger detail. Indeed overlaying any number of bitmap fills opens up all sorts of creative opportunities!