I have a huge passion for beautiful images (hence my love for Pinterest) and an even bigger passion for modifying images. I generally start out with a photo I took or a piece of cardstock, paper or foil I have embossed and/or colored with inks, acrylic paints, chalk or watercolors. I don't typically plan what I will do with an image, preferring instead to let my instinct guide me. Every image turns out differently even if the same steps are taken.
I typically use more than one image editing software to make the changes. My favorites include the open source Inkscape program and and the freeware Gimp and Paint.net programs simply because they work well, are free and are not computer resource hogs. I am learning to use Adobe Photoshop Elements and very infrequently use CorelDRAW Suite 5 (due to the horribly strict licensing constraints on how you can use your work).
I in no way consider myself an expert, really more of a life long learner. I will happily share the things I've learned along the way and will be happy to hear any tips anyone else has to share.
Today I am going to go over some of the changes I made to a piece of glossy photo paper (see pic below) that I embossed with a Cuttlebug folder and then colored with Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Inks. The matte side of the image was used in this example.
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| Ink.jpg |
The first thing I did to this image Ink.jpg was to open it in Paint.net and use the Hue/Saturation feature under Adjustments to change the Hue.
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| Ink_sat.jpg |
I used the Curves feature in Paint.net to deepen the Midtones.
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| Ink_sat_curves.jpg |
- In Paint.net the resulting Ink_sat_curves.jpg image was resized to 1000px by 1500px with a resolution of 300 dpi.
- A New image was created to make a pattern 2000px x 3000px x 300 dpi.
- It is very important that the resolution matches in both the existing and new images or the next step will not work.
- Ink_sat_curves.jpg was flipped horizontal, copied and then pasted into the New image.
- The pasted image automatically snapped into the top, left quarter of the new image.
- The bottom, left-hand corner of Paint.net should show the following "Selection Top Left 0, 0" when the image is perfectly situated.
- Ink_sat_curves.jpg was flipped horizontal again, copied and then pasted into the New image.
- The pasted image automatically snapped into the top, left quarter of the new image.
- The pasted image was carefully moved right until it fit perfectly in the top, right corner of the New image.
- The bottom, left-hand corner of Paint.net should show the following "Selection Top Left 1000, 0" when the image is perfectly situated.
- Ink_sat_curves.jpg was flipped vertical, copied and then pasted into the New image.
- The pasted image automatically snapped into the top, left quarter of the new image.
- The pasted image was carefully moved right and down until it fit perfectly in the bottom, right corner of the New image.
- The bottom, left-hand corner of Paint.net should show the following "Selection Top Left 1000, 1500" when the image is perfectly situated.
- Ink_sat_curves.jpg was flipped horizontal, copied and then pasted into the New image.
- The pasted image automatically snapped into the top, left quarter of the new image.
- The pasted image was carefully moved down until it fit perfectly in the bottom, left corner of the New image.
- The bottom, left-hand corner of Paint.net should show the following "Selection Top Left 0, 1500" when the image is perfectly situated.
The result is a beautiful unique pattern. The New image was renamed Ink_sat_curves_pattern.png.
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| Ink_sat_curves_pattern.png |
Ink_sat_curves_1000px_pattern.png was used to create another pattern.
- A New image was created to make the pattern 2000px x 2000px x 300 dpi.
- It is very important that the resolution matches in both the existing and new images or the next step will not work.
- Ink_sat_curves_1000px_pattern.png was copied and then pasted into the New image.
- The pasted image automatically snapped into the top, left quarter of the new image.
- The bottom, left-hand corner of Paint.net should show the following "Selection Top Left 0, 0" when the image is perfectly situated.
- Ink_sat_curves_1000px_pattern.png was pasted again into the New image.
- The pasted image automatically snapped into the top, left quarter of the new image.
- The pasted image was carefully moved right until it fit perfectly in the top, right corner of the New image.
- The bottom, left-hand corner of Paint.net should show the following "Selection Top Left 1000, 0" when the image is perfectly situated.
- Ink_sat_curves_1000px_pattern.png was pasted again into the New image.
- The pasted image automatically snapped into the top, left quarter of the new image.
- The pasted image was carefully moved right and down until it fit perfectly in the bottom, right corner of the New image.
- The bottom, left-hand corner of Paint.net should show the following "Selection Top Left 1000, 1500" when the image is perfectly situated.
- Ink_sat_curves_1000px_pattern.png was pasted again into the New image.
- The pasted image automatically snapped into the top, left quarter of the new image.
- The pasted image was carefully moved down until it fit perfectly in the bottom, left corner of the New image.
- The bottom, left-hand corner of Paint.net should show the following "Selection Top Left 0, 1500" when the image is perfectly situated.
The resulting image was renamed Ink_sat_curves_1000px_patternB.png. You can continue with the last set of instructions and make the pattern as small-scale as you wish.
Ink_sat_curves_1000px_patternB.png was edited using the Hue/Saturation feature in Paint.net to create the following results.
Ink_sat_curves_1000px_patternB.png was edited using the Colorize filter in Inkscape to create the following results.
Ink_sat_curves_1000px_patternB.png was edited using the Colorize filter in Gimp to create the following results.
Ink_sat_curves_1000px_patternB.png was edited using the 3D Mother of Pearl filter in Inkscape to create the following results.
Ink_sat_curves_1000px_patternB.png was edited using the Emboss filter in Inkscape to create the following results.
These were just a few of the results I obtained from a single base image. You will be amazed at the results when you experiment with multiple image editing programs. Instead of hunting for special images to use on your blog, on your digital scrapbooks or printed cards, make your own. They will be uniquely yours and you can share them or use them any way you want to without any licensing restrictions.
2 comments:
Thank you SO much for posting this! Wow, just wow. So beautiful & creative. I also love designing my own papers, and seeing what you've done to take it to the next level is truly inspiring. I wasn't aware of the freeware you're using either, so thanks for that too - photoshop's learning curve is way too steep for me & very discouraging. I am re-energized, thanks to you. Let the experimentation begin!
CS Tucker Thank you and enjoy your experimentation. I'd love to see what you come up with. The freeware comes with some excellent online Help.
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