Jonathan Ziegler
Forum Replies Created
-
Hey there, not sure exactly what you mean, but if you set your color mode to indexed color, you can select which colors you will use: open the image, go to Image >> Mode >> Indexed Color, choose Custom from the list of palettes, then as you add colors, they will add to the palette. There are numerous options in there as well. Truly, I haven’t used this since I was making animated GIFs. I really wish there was a “Select all unused” like in Illustrator. If you are looking for a sort mechanism in the palette, I don’t think it quite works that way in Photoshop.
I’ve been told to try GIMP for color palettes, but I have no experience with it.
Anyhow, if you are looking for something else, please reply back.
Save early. Save often.
Jonathan Ziegler
http://www.electrictiger.com
520-360-8293 -
Hi there, I used to work for an acrylic award maker. We did our photos in house and most of the trick was just plain good photography (we had a great photographer, too). Even with great photos, the really good pix I mean, still had to be photoshopped.
For the photo you attached: make sure it’s the highest quality and resolution. Cut out the inside part (including the engraving if you have the original art for the engraving itself), use the smudge tool to smooth out the roughness in the award edges and stand – use a separate layer and set to sample all layers to get a second layer you can turn on and off. I would increase the contrast in the stand parts so there’s less white – they should have lots of black to look “clear.” Leave the background black. If you have the artwork for the engraving, use that for the photo instead – it’s cleaner, you set it to white, 75-90 opacity for a slight milky look, then duplicate that layer and offset a little bit. Add clear to white to clear gradient on it’s own layer and vary the opacity below 15% for a very subtle white gradient that will help sell the image. Add little touches like drop shadows, some little star highlights (go for subtle), make an image reflection below, etc.
Save early. Save often.
Jonathan Ziegler
http://www.electrictiger.com
520-360-8293 -
Didn’t see any examples, but they’re surprisingly easy to make with a photo of a ribbon on a white background, bring into photoshop, adjust various settings, I desaturate so color goes away, then select all, copy, then go to edit, define brush preset and he brush will appear in your brushes list. Click that brush to make changes if needed, then save as a new brush if you have to.
Save early. Save often.
Jonathan Ziegler
http://www.electrictiger.com
520-360-8293 -
Honestly, the billboard folks should have those specs including color profiles (if needed) and their requirements for the final version. Generally plan for a video screen, but it really depends on the screen you are using. Also, make sure they don’t further process the image – you can either do it or you can let them worry about it. Also, DPI won’t likely matter, but, again, check with the billboard folks.
Save early. Save often.
Jonathan Ziegler
http://www.electrictiger.com
520-360-8293 -
I’ve done some work for a trial/jury consulting company. They don’t want to anything left. At one point they needed a camera that would record directly to DVD. This DVD was given to their client immediately after having been recorded. Then, after the client signed off on receiving everything, it was all shredded and destroyed. The company didn’t want anything left. Apparently, this is common practice.
I have done some consulting and a couple depos through them and I simply recorded it all with a home DVD recorded live from my camera. I didn’t even keep a tape running (it was a dvx100). They specifically requested that I NOT bring anything to my office – no copies allowed. It you have all hd equipment, run it to a converter (hd to sd) and just record the feed directly. I don’t even have vhs anymore, but the client specifically requested it. Seems the courts are not all hi-tech and are still working in sd. As for copies its a basic liability thing – I’m sure there’s more to it than that too. At least I didn’t take my work home with me. 😉
Save early. Save often.
Jonathan Ziegler
http://www.electrictiger.com
520-360-8293 -
Hey can you send a screen shot of what you are seeing? Long weekend, didn’t get to these until Monday.
Save early. Save often.
Jonathan Ziegler
http://www.electrictiger.com
520-360-8293 -
Not sure if it’s the same with the FD to EOS adapters, but I have several of those. For one, make sure you put the adapter on “install” when inserting the FD lens (this ensures you get the aperture thing right otherwise you won’t be able to adjust aperture), then make sure you move the adapter from install to one of the aperture settings. On my EOS cameras, I just need to tell the camera that I have a lens attached (it asks me to verify I have a lens attached on my T2i and T3i).
EOS-M cameras may not work without an appropriate lens installed (one that reports itself to the camera).
Save early. Save often.
Jonathan Ziegler
http://www.electrictiger.com
520-360-8293 -
You may need to break up the star patterns and color the interiors from the outside in. I see you’re a newbie, so I’m not sure how to explain:
Basically, you have closed line drawings. You can color them by drawing in a shape under the outside one, add a fill, remove the stroke and send to back (or one or 2 back). Rinse, repeat. There are other ways to do it, but this is your best bet as a newbie.
Save early. Save often.
Jonathan Ziegler
http://www.electrictiger.com
520-360-8293 -
Could be the file size. AI7 is pretty dated now, too. Can you just trim the photos in photoshop to just the size you need, then do the clipping mask in AI? There’s no point in wasting all that space if it’s just getting cut out anyway. Leave an extra 1/2 inch or so around the image for wiggle room. Make a new image for each clip, too. Link the files, don’t embed, but remember to include them in the same folder so the printers can print them. May do the layout in Indesign to make it all look good, too.
Save early. Save often.
Jonathan Ziegler
http://www.electrictiger.com
520-360-8293 -
Your printer should already have a RIP that can do that. When I worked in a print shop, we used photoshop to put jobs together for a wide format canon (set the page size to the printer page size), but we eventually bought a RIP that did it much faster and easier. This was 8 years ago. Also, Indesign would be a much better tool for layout than illustrator or photoshop.
As for automating it, you can write a script I suppose, but this is basically trying to code what a RIP does.
Save early. Save often.
Jonathan Ziegler
http://www.electrictiger.com
520-360-8293