Posted by Beverly Elrod on August 7, 2007 at 7:27 PM
Thanks so much for all those who've left me messages and advice. I will check it all out.
As for trying different programs...I had downloaded Paintshop Pro but did not find it user friendly at all. I actually use two programs most of the time...Picasa2 which I use for alignment, cropping, adjusting color enhancement, light exposure and then I use just PLAIN OLD PAINT that comes with every computer. You ask me why???? It's because I'm desperate!!!!! I absolutely love the borders that I find around photos that others do in Photoshop CS3, but I can't afford that program. So, I do things the HAAAAARRRRRD way! I use Paint to 'black' out the background (as you can see on my beverly5876.smugmug.com page) that I like to do with flowers and I like to put a border around them, so I do this in Paint as well.
Yes, It's a lot of work, but like I said...I'm desperate. Does Adobe Elements remove objects? That would be neat to be able to remove backgrounds and color them black without any problems.
Any other suggestions? I'll gladly listen to them all. Oh, BTW, just to pat myself on the back...in the past couple of months, my photography has gone from that of a 12 year old on vacation with a new camera and doesn't have a clue what to photograph, to that of someone who has a better eye on what makes a good picture. But, regardless...thank God that it's all on a computer and can simply be deleted, right?
Beverly
Posted by Mark Stahlke on August 7, 2007 at 10:02 PM
Hi Beverly,
One of the techniques some people use to shoot flowers is to set up a black background. A piece of black velvet works nicely, a black trash bag will do in a pinch.
Cheers,
Posted by Kent Staubus on August 8, 2007 at 12:03 AM
Photoshop Elements 5.0 is a very good and usuable program that costs less than $100. I think it might be what you are looking for.
You have received good suggestions. Elements should do you fine. Another technique I use is to get some freshly pulled weeds, preferrably with large leaves. Place them around the ground within the field of view of the image. If you use a shallow enough DOF the weed leaves will make a nice natural looking OOF BG. I also use BG cards like left over matting material and old black jackets and even a folded up camoflage hide. If it is far enough away the OOF camo material of the hide looks very natural.
It is always better to get it as close to perfect in the camera as possible; only using PS to touch up.
Discussion
3 repliesAs for trying different programs...I had downloaded Paintshop Pro but did not find it user friendly at all. I actually use two programs most of the time...Picasa2 which I use for alignment, cropping, adjusting color enhancement, light exposure and then I use just PLAIN OLD PAINT that comes with every computer. You ask me why???? It's because I'm desperate!!!!! I absolutely love the borders that I find around photos that others do in Photoshop CS3, but I can't afford that program. So, I do things the HAAAAARRRRRD way! I use Paint to 'black' out the background (as you can see on my beverly5876.smugmug.com page) that I like to do with flowers and I like to put a border around them, so I do this in Paint as well.
Yes, It's a lot of work, but like I said...I'm desperate. Does Adobe Elements remove objects? That would be neat to be able to remove backgrounds and color them black without any problems.
Any other suggestions? I'll gladly listen to them all. Oh, BTW, just to pat myself on the back...in the past couple of months, my photography has gone from that of a 12 year old on vacation with a new camera and doesn't have a clue what to photograph, to that of someone who has a better eye on what makes a good picture. But, regardless...thank God that it's all on a computer and can simply be deleted, right?
Beverly
One of the techniques some people use to shoot flowers is to set up a black background. A piece of black velvet works nicely, a black trash bag will do in a pinch.
Cheers,
Kent in SD
It is always better to get it as close to perfect in the camera as possible; only using PS to touch up.
Have fun.