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Welcome to the 38th issue of the Digital Darkroom
Hi
We are thrilled to welcome a new member to BetterPhoto's talented team of online photography instructors! In his intriguing 4-week course - Photoshop Tips, Tricks and Filter Magic - travel and stock photographer Scott Stulberg shares some fantastic techniques for creating better and more unique images from your files. But that's not the only new class for Summer. Check out these new digital-darkroom offerings, both by popular instructor Robin Nichols: Paint Shop Pro and Advanced Adobe Photoshop Elements. In this issue of Digital Darkroom,
don't miss Robin's "Using the Straighten Tool" article, the Before-and-After series, and another collection of excellent photo discussions.
To read the online version of the Digital Darkroom at our Web site, visit http://www.betterphoto.com/digitalpics/
Have a great month!
Jim Miotke
http://www.betterphoto.com/MG.asp?ID=124
In This Issue: Thursday, May 18, 2006
Featured Photo: Feathered Flare
 Feathered Flare Taken early evening as the sun was going down. Feather was set on a mirror outside to reflect the blue sky. I did however change that blue with paint fill in PS because I had a tiny bit of unwanted reflections from my rings showing. I then added a lens flare in PS and the Flood filter from FP. Same settings as my previous feather/flood posting. © Lori Fisher Canon EOS 20D Digi... |
Featured Article: Using the Straighten Tool ... by Robin Nichols
In his excellent new article, photographer/author Robin Nichols shares his tips and techniques for using the Straighten Horizon tool in Photoshop Elements 4.0. Robin certainly knows the subject ... he teaches two awesome online courses right here at BetterPhoto: Adobe Photoshop Elements and Advanced Adobe Photoshop Elements. Be sure to check out his new article.
Read more...
 An Old-Fashioned Easter Egg Hunt Taken yesterday in my backyard. My granddaughter was so dressed up that I thought it looked like a vintage Easter scene. So, I cropped, blurred the background a bit, converted to sepia, added some grain and a faded border in PSP9. The more colorful oroginal is in the discussion |  Egg Hunting |
| Each month, the best Before and After will be featured in the Digital Darkroom. To participate, upload a Before (original) picture then start a discussion on it (using the Discuss This Photo link under the picture). After telling us how you did created the effect, select "1" or "2" from the Upload Image pull-down menu, and submit an optional intermediate image and a final (After) photo. Aim to educate and inspire by sharing a concise, detailed explanation of your technique. Enjoy! |
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New Photo Discussions
New Photo Discussion 1: Dragonfly Modified
- Sipho Eish Response 1:Thank you. Naturally, the reflection and the universe are plug-ins to add a little zip to an otherwise boring shot. However boring the original was, I was still pickled tink to capture a dragonfly in flight. Thanks again. - Bob Chance See Bob's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 2: Just Like Old Times
- Bill D. Wyatt See Bill's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Hey Bill! Thanks for your comments on this one. I tried to create an older effect using sepia tone. I figured it would go well with the car's design. Thanks so much! - Jay Valle See Jay's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 3: Ghost Ship
- Ray & Audrey Clarke See Ray & Audrey's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Very cool image and PS work, Glenn! - Donald K. Cherry See Donald's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 2:Great work with this Glenn, very cool effects. Jim - Jim Huffield See Jim's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 3:A most excellent effect! is this a Photoshop-compatible filter? - David A. Rich See David's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 4:WOW, Glenn! DOUBLE WOW!! Incredible!! I thought at first you'd caught a cool reflection of this ship. The effect works so PERFECTLY on this! I do believe, my friend, we could see this one again! I have tried this filter much-o times but have not come out with something this fantastic! (To David R: it's actually a built-in filter and you'll find it in "Distort." There are some other very cool effects in there, as well! All take bit of "playing with," I've found.) GREAT work, Glenn! - Nadya Johnson See Nadya's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 4: Fairy Lamps
- Roberta Wall See Roberta's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Thank you very much for your kind words. This picture is for a BP online course called Fine Art Flower Photography with Tony Sweet. I am enjoying it and perhaps you would find the course fun also. Bill - William A. Raich Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 5: Shooting Star
- Paul Michko See Paul's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Carolyn, Wonderful warm inviting colors and a little magic with the beautiful star. - Kerby L. Pfrangle See Kerby's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 2:I can't get over how your whole sky is enveloped in color. What beauty... - Bonnie Lackey See Bonnie's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 3:You did it seamlessly and flawlessly, Carolyn. THe addition of the flare and flood just add an extra special touch to an already exquisite image!! Great use of creative vision! - Marcie Fowler See Marcie's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 4:Thanks, Tammy and Marcie!! Always fun to mess around in Photoshop when you're bored. LOL - Carolyn Fletcher See Carolyn's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit PickYourShots.com - Carolyn's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 6: Light and Color
- Darrel L. Larson Response 1:Thank you very much, Darrel L. I'm glad you like it and you took the time to comment - Thanks again! - Trevor D. Slauenwhite Response 2:Just amazing...love the colors, the shades...everything. Did you enhance the colors or the contrast with software? - Annette Barcenas Response 3:Hi Annette, I used Photoshop Elements 4 on this, and there are several elements to this photo. The sky is a different photo I took and combined it with the tree and grounds photo. The tree didn't have leaves, so I brushed in colorful flowers and the purple flowers on the ground as well. I used a burn tool to create the shadow at the base of the photo - but the shadow of the tree trunk is untouched. Thanks for asking! - Trevor D. Slauenwhite Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 7: April Showers
- Kay E. Mahoney See Kay's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Thanks a bunch Kay! I used Corel IX and adobe photoshop. I used contrast/ highlight in PS, painted in Corel and added the rain in PS. If interested, I now offer a DVD called "Portrait Magic". - Susi Lawson See Susi's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
The Next Step: Where to Go From Here
