Photoshop tutorial for insets/multiple views

SharpByCoop

SharpByCoop

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 8, 2001
Messages
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Folks,

I have spent a LOT of time over the last year or so doing some fun photography. My photography gives me another hobby within knives! :)
Those who have seen my images know I have a style that includes insets and multiple views within the same image.

I decided after prompting from others to try to walk you through it, step-by-step. Now, I am using Adobe Photoshop 7.0 these days and this is an expensive program. There are other versions of PhotoShop (PS Elements) that will do almost all of what I did here. Maybe all of it, I dunno. I recommend it, though.

Here is the final image of a Knifekits.com GX6 folder I completed for a customer. The pictures were done using a lightbox and a Sony DSC-S70 3.3 mp camera. What you will be impressed with, for this one, is, I simply shot them in 640 mode and did little size editing. It doesn't take a high-dollar camera, but it does need a macro setting to be clear.

orig.jpg


This was based off of three simple images, and you can see a 24-step process on how I developed this final image.

PhotoShop image tutorial

I sure hope you find this interesting. I'm sure it takes some of the mystery away, but it's all about sharing, right? There is nothing I enjoy as much a a good clear pic of a great knife.

There are others out there that know MUCH more than me on various aspects. Nonetheless, I am simply offering a chance to learn what took me some time to figure out. There are many Members here that have helped and pushed me along in this process: PhilL, Murray White, Terry Primos, Terrill Hoffman, Dogman, and undoubtably others. Much of what I learned was from our contests over in the CKD Forums. Positive comments from ALL you guys have helped! Thanks for your support!

Give it a try if you can.

Coop
 
Very well done tutorial Coop. Thanks for taking the time to put it together. I have trouble tracing around the image with the polygonal tracing tool. How do you move the enlarged image over as you trace around it? About how many points do you use? Any other tips on this feature? Thanks Again!
 
Very nice of you Coop :)..I'm just starting to use PS.., and that was very helpful! Appreciated!


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
Thanks Coop!

That knife looks pretty darn good to me too. :D
 
Originally posted by Andrew McLurkin
I have trouble tracing around the image with the polygonal tracing tool. How do you move the enlarged image over as you trace around it? About how many points do you use? Any other tips on this feature? Thanks Again!
Click to expand...

Good question, Andrew. the PT tool is a good one, but it isn't *that* easy to use. It takes a good hand and finger to find the edge and not bungle it. You can't go back after a screw-up.

What I do is a little different than I described. I crop the image real close to whatever I am going to trace. Then I blow it up to 400% or so. Then the edge gets VERY defined. I am pretty quick and careful and it probably takes 50-75 clicks to complete a trace of this style. LOTS of clicking!

But, when you reach the edge of the screen image in PS, it will automatically scroll for you. The problem is it moves at a VERY aggressive pace at 400% and you need to just tap it (the image border--NOT the mouse button) quickly to get a section in the middle to be traced further. This is why I crop it. It doesn't move around so much and stays contained.

This should help you.

Coop
 
awesome tutorial Coop. Kind of took my breath away!!. Have bookmarked it for future reference. The next tutorial can be how you created the tutorial.
 
Originally posted by Murray White
The next tutorial can be how you created the tutorial.
Click to expand...
No matter how much I give you, Murray, you just want MORE!! ;) :p :rolleyes: :grumpy:

:D

Look to www.cnet.com for a free 'screen capture' program. I got one with a 30 pic trial before registering. I was COUNTING my shots!!!

Coop
 
well, Coop, I can "give" you something. Try Gadwin Print Screen. I did not look up my direct link to it but did a googly search and came up with this gem of a site

http://www.sharewareviking.com/pillage62.htm

scroll to the Gadwin freebie or maybe even try the first on the list.

What looks kewl is the fact that Gadwin is on P. 61 of this list of Freeware so there are probably other neat proggies available too.
 
Originally posted by PhilL
Did you use a digicam to take those pics off your computer screen?
Click to expand...

Maybe I wan't clear. I used a 'screen capture' shareware program. There are a number of them. Murray's link in the above post points to another one. Very handy for things just like this! You hit a default button (print scrren or F11) to capture it. It converts to a .jpg to re-edit later.

Coop
 
I'm sorry, I missed that part about the "screen capture". The reason I asked is I just found out how to do it on my iMac, (Shift+Cntrl+3). I never knew how to do it.
 
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