Tiny Feet - My WIP using Gimp

[theantiquetiger]

Here is the original, and a couple steps I've taken so far. I like the way it came out so far but I am having trouble softening around the feet where I lassoed them and darkened them

The original
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r198/theantiquetiger/photography/IMG_0888.jpg

1st step
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r198/theantiquetiger/photography/feet.jpg

2nd step
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r198/theantiquetiger/photography/feet2.jpg

[theantiquetiger]

3rd attempt, I started over, more carefully re-lassoed it, but still cannot get the softness across the lasso mark

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r198/theantiquetiger/photography/feet3.jpg

[Iguanasan]

For outlining something like that I would use the scissors tool as it lets me outline something point by point. Once I outline the item, adjusting the points as I go, I click inside to select. Then I'll go to the menu "Select...Feather" and feather the selection around 10 to 20 pixels depending on the size of the original. Then I apply my processing to the selection at that point.

Hope this helps.

[theantiquetiger]

For outlining something like that I would use the scissors tool as it lets me outline something point by point. Once I outline the item, adjusting the points as I go, I click inside to select. Then I'll go to the menu "Select...Feather" and feather the selection around 10 to 20 pixels depending on the size of the original. Then I apply my processing to the selection at that point.

Hope this helps.

I am guessing lasso is the same as scissors tool, because I do it point by point. Once I darken the feet to where I want them, there is still the harsh line where I lassoed it. I will see if I can find the feather feature

[Iguanasan]

The lasso looks like a lasso (loop of rope) but the scissors tool looks like a pair of scissors and actually does some edge detection as you maneuver around. Not sure if it makes a difference which tool you use but I find that one easier.

In any event, yes, once you make your selection, go under the "Select" menu and choose "Feather" to feather the selection. This will provide a bit of a gradient between the selected area and the rest of your image.

[theantiquetiger]

OK, I zoomed in 200% and lassoed very close. I did not feather it (you reposted while I was working on it)

Lasso #3

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r198/theantiquetiger/photography/feet4.jpg

[theantiquetiger]

OK Iguanasan, I figured it out. Scissors and lasso tools basically do the same thing, but scissors is easier (I did this last with scissors. Than I did feather it. It is still a little hard on the back of the ankle, but I am getting there.

Thanks for the help

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r198/theantiquetiger/photography/feet5.jpg

[Iguanasan]

Excellent! I'm not so good with blending in changes but I think the feathering helps quite a bit. I think the trick is to pick a large enough feather amount to prevent the gradation from being noticeable though I've never tried really hard to get it right.

[theantiquetiger]

OK, I FINALLY GOT IT!!!!! I am very pleased how it came out

Original

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r198/theantiquetiger/photography/IMG_0888-2-1.jpg

My Final Draft (feet maybe a little too dark)

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r198/theantiquetiger/photography/feet6.jpg

[Iguanasan]

You're definitely building up some skillz :)

[Marko]

The skillz are better, but the tone of the feet is way way off.
The original tone is far superior imo. This tone looks unnatural and unflattering...(sorry)

[asnow]

I was thinking the same thing as Marko. I prefer the tones in the original. In the processed ones the feet look too dark to me.

[theantiquetiger]

The skillz are better, but the tone of the feet is way way off.
The original tone is far superior imo. This tone looks unnatural and unflattering...(sorry)

I agree with the tone being too dark but I have always thought the original was too light, washed out with all the white in the clothing and blanket

[Marko]

Washed out? washed out is a term we use for whites that have lost detail..... If it looks bright to you, I would be willing to bet that your monitor is way way too bright.
The original foot on my calibrated monitor is a mid-tone. Nothing about it is washed out at all...it's grey.

I gotta ask...what's the natural skin tone of this baby (Light, mid or dark skinned?)
Only if the baby is dark skinned should the feet be darker in tone than the tone in the original...imo.

[theantiquetiger]

Washed out? washed out is a term we use for whites that have lost detail..... If it looks bright to you, I would be willing to bet that your monitor is way way too bright.
The original foot on my calibrated monitor is a mid-tone. Nothing about it is washed out at all...it's grey.

I gotta ask...what's the natural skin tone of this baby (Light, mid or dark skinned?)
Only if the baby is dark skinned should the feet be darker in tone than the tone in the original...imo.

I never thought about my monitor on this 5 year old laptop. On my screen, in the original image, I cannot see all the fine lines in her feet (other than the main, big crease). The baby is a week old in this picture (my niece). She is fair skin, blue eyes,blond hair.

[theantiquetiger]

Wow Marko, you are very correct! I have logged on with my iPad, the original is better than I thought. This site is gonna put me in the poor house. Now I got to buy a new computer!!!!! :laughing:

[Marko]

No prob, that's why they pay me the big bucks :D

You probably don't need a new computer, you just need to calibrate the one you have.

Here's a search from our site on monitor calibration, I recommend you take a look at a few of those threads. You'll also note a podcast done with Joe Brady - He's fab. I suggest u take a listen.
Google search results - Photography.ca (http://www.photography.ca/googsearch.html?cx=partner-pub-7837519150187583%3Andwwrkqbu7g&cof=FORID%3A11&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=calibration&sa=Search&siteurl=photography.ca%2F)

Hope that helps - Marko

[thoughton]

Nice lassooing :) but wouldn't it be easier to just make a global change?

Here's a version of the 1st image. All I've done is adjust the curves in Lightroom. It took, literally, 2 seconds.

13273

For what it's worth, I agree with Marko's comments about the darkness. I only read page two after editing this photo, oops. So I'll post it anyway :D

[theantiquetiger]

Nice lassooing :) but wouldn't it be easier to just make a global change?

Here's a version of the 1st image. All I've done is adjust the curves in Lightroom. It took, literally, 2 seconds.


For what it's worth, I agree with Marko's comments about the darkness. I only read page two after editing this photo, oops. So I'll post it anyway :D

Thanks for all the advice. What I was basically doing here was playing around with Gimp (I am a better photographer than a photo editor, and that ain't saying much :))

[theantiquetiger]

OK, I tried the other way, colorize the feet. This is about as close as I can get. Her feet are alittle orange

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r198/theantiquetiger/photography/tinyfeetcolor.jpg