NEWS:
Review Auto FX Platinum!
A software program that creates edges around images off digital photographs is for me very important. It is one of the few areas where I can create images without substantially altering the content of the existing image. Only the appearance changes, and this in most cases (can) enhance the photograph. Actually I'm bored with the straight edges off most images, everybody has them and I like to be different.
Auto FX platinum edges does just what I want it to do. And even more - it is like a discovery trip, so many choices, I feel like a kid in a toyshop...
The interface of this program works on the general principle of all the previous DreamSuite programmes.
If you have another software program like ' dreamsuite ' you will already be familiar with the layout. The layout of this program feels more intuitive than the other program of photo frame pro no three. This is more user-friendly, it shows immediately the changes you have applied, and allows you to alter the edges or any other attributes you have given to the image on-the-fly.
You can either use this program as a plug-in for Photoshop, or use it as a standalone program. I use it as a standalone program because all my image editing is done in Photoshop, and I consider creating edges something I can do better and quicker than with running Photoshop in the background.
It takes a little while before you have worked out all the settings, are but even if you do not know any settings go ahead and choose a frame. Considering most of us will be quite new to this interface it works amazingly easy and intuitively. Especially because all the preselected options are presented as a frame or image, you see what you get. Not all the options that you can choose from are totally professional-based. You find many other additions, like images for your scrapbook, birthday and seasonal edges, everything has been covered as well as a extensive collection of professional frames that you can put around your image. You can place preselected templates inside your frames, you could almost make an image just out of all the templates provided.
You just have to watch out that you do not get carried away and create an image that is so wildly different from your original, and perhaps this is where there is a small problem, although it's not really a problem it's more an exciting opening, there are so many possibilities to create an image that you are just lost which is the right choice? There are too many opportunities... you may end up with a couple of images based on the same original.
I have been a long-time user of Photo frame Pro number three. Photo frame Pro offers many frames, but it has not got the facility to change each frame in the same endless ways as this program does. It feels a little wooden in comparison to this program. Possibly because I am a very visual person. The flexibility of photo auto fx platinum edition is really beyond belief. When you experiment and you have made a mistake, it is easy to go back to one or more steps back in order to retrieve your original.
This edition offers something new, Polaroid transfers, you can create your transfer that looks very closely to a realistic transfer. As I have created many real Polaroid transfers, I really know how to make them in reality, somehow this clinical remake of a transfer in pixels is slightly different but it gets very close to reality, most people will not know the difference. If you carefully select the correct settings you can make it look very realistic, if you know what to aim for.
I believe this is the problem with digital photography - previously we could make images with film only and we could not alter the image very much. Now we can create almost any kind of image, but we have lost track of what is realistic and only achievable with film and real photos. To create a realistic frame, one that looks like it was made 20 years ago, this software program does it really well. Especially the Polaroid borders are very realistic after a little fine-tuning.
If you're looking for a program that will cater for your requirements relating to edges and related work, this program offers the lot. It is not just about frames, it is a concept that takes your image beyond the square. You will find as you dive deeper into this program offers combinations of templates that you did not think of. Everything that you add to your image, it can be altered, it can be changed, you can change the light that falls on it, age your image, you can change the texture, the surface, whatever you think off, there is nothing you cannot change to your own personal settings. I do not think that you will be pushed to upgrade this program for a while as there is nothing to wish for after this. Cloning, masking, invert selections etc. your creativity will be hard pushed! And if you have a particular favorite edge, you can add it to your favorite collection.
And if you don't like what you have done, you can delete it to your previous stage.
Full installation of all the templates or your hard drive is recommended by me, that way you have easy and quick access to all possibilities. It takes a little bit of space, but you will more quickly access all your frames.
I have been a long time buyer of this software developer, I started off with photographic edges number three, even then it was already mind-boggling, but with computer standards as they are now, this program takes the cake.
I can recommend this program heartily, if you have an image and some time, come and see me and we'll have a play.
For more info see my software page.
Books: reviews and recommendations:
For Pro-photographers, "photoshoppers", students and other creative individuals, open it here! Feedback on my reviews and recommendations please is appreciated.
The "The Image Clinic ™" Only $5.-- per image!!!
Email us your image with your comments - positive and negative - and data (exif) and ask me how I could (possibly?) improve on your image!
I will correct your image, provide suggestions as on how you may be able to improve on your image using my photoshop skills and expertise. Your original and "corrected" image will be shown on this page if you like!!
Here is how:
If you like to be a "patient" of the "Image Clinic™", send us a low res. file* for consideration. Copyright and all other moral rights etc. are respected and we will consider your acceptance to the "Image Clinic". Then I will ask you to send me a high res file to work on.
*Low res file is max 600 x 800 pixels at 72 dpi, about 75% jpeg compression.
Overseas patients: An admission is possible, we have an outpatient clinic....
WORKSHOP or TUTORIAL?
The
studio is available for one on one tutorials on lighting - like
bodytalk or on your preferred discipline - like commercial pack shots?
Contact
me if you are interested.
This is your chance to learn in a real professional studuio environment with a real "hands-on" experience. Computer processing is not part of this, only "How to make the shot"!
Click on thumbnail for larger view
TUTORIAL:
See this
page for a simple commercial shoot tutorial - with 2 lights only.
COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY:
See here for technical commercial photography "different" !
LINKS:
A resource with NEW ZEALAND links to photography.
