HOME | DD
Darkdesyre — back study
Published: 2007-11-27 22:03:01 +0000 UTC; Views: 2034; Favourites: 22; Downloads: 34
Redirect to original
Description
Shot under glass... need to take a better image of this somedayGraphite, white chalk on toned paper
Related content
Comments: 21
Thank you so much for stopping by!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Another great piece from you.
I love the subtlety of the tones, the gentle variations in her back contrast really well with the pure whites of the fabric. There's also a real shine to her hair which is wonderfully rendered. Its an iconic form, and a beautiful piece.
Its really deserving of that rescan, and I look forward to a time when you can post a better reproduction.
As you know, I do all my deviations using a camera, and there a few tips I can share if you want an interim solution.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
The problem is it was professionally framed for me under glass as a present. So Im having to shoot it from under glass. Im reluctant to have it removed from the frame since it was done for me as a gift...
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
If you've still got the piece around and you have photoshop installed, here's something you can try. It relies on a few assumptions, so results may vary
I'm actually going to run through these steps (apart from the first one) as I go along, and will post the WIPs online. I'm not too great at explaining things, so a picture guide might help
1: Position the piece in good light, preferably somewhere inside where you can control the reflections. Ideally you want to be able to stand within about 30 degrees (either up, down, left or right) of the piece without getting a reflection on the glass. As long as you've got one vantage point that works, you should be fine. I'm sure George can help you here.
2: Take a photo of the piece. For best results aim for a wide depth of field, and if you've got one to hand, a polarising filter can help cut down the glare. No worries if you neither of these make sense. It'll still work. You should get a photo that looks like the first frame of this .
3: Load the photo into photoshop and use the Crop tool (C) so that you've left a minimal border around the piece but have a canvas that is still the same aspect as the actual piece. Have a look at frame 2 if you're wondering what I mean. I've left that space off to the right as I know the picture should actually be wider than it's showing.
4: Zoom out a bit and use Edit Select All (CTRL+A) then free transform (CTRL+T). Hold CTRL down whilst dragging those corner points and you'll be able to position each corner dependently. The idea is to get that minimal border an equal size all the way around. Its easier to leave the border in at this point, as the points have a habit of affecting each other and this will let you judge it better. Apply the transformation so that you have the picture square on and the correct aspect. Frame 3 shows where I ended up just before hitting apply.
5: Crop the picture again, so that your canvas runs out at the edge of the frame. (See frame 4)
6: I normally find the camera loses a bit of contrast and saturation in the shot, so tweak these back, or use "Image | Adjustments | Levels" to adjust things until they match the original. If you're not familiar with levels, you can normally hit a pretty good result through "Image | Adjustments | Auto" levels. If the result is too extreme, follow this immediately with "Edit | Fade Auto Levels", putting the opacity at a point which gives a good match. Frame 5 is where I finished up.
Your result should look like the final deviation which is now somewhere in my gallery.
Goodness.. I started writing this over an hour ago. Well.. I hope its some use. As I said, its only the way I do things, and there are probably better ways and people better at explaining them
Hope its some help.
A.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I retouched the levels in photoshop because I do know how to color correct it (afterall I teach PS). I think the issue is with the original shot. It just has too much glare and when I try correcting it anymore in Photoshop it just gets worse. I might have George try and reshoot this. He is a MUCH better photographer then I am
Im sure the issue is a user issue... I took the picture with a crappy digital camera... It would take a miracle at this point in Photoshop to make it look better!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
LOL. Of course you do. Apologies
To be honest, I figured you'd very likely got it all in hand, but just wanted to see if I could lend some assistance with taking down that glare. For me, that means taking the photo off angle, then transforming it back to the original shape. I don't have your PS skills, so I should have known you'd know about all this already
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
No, I appreciate the insight... the problem I have is great photoshop skills... awful photography skills. One just cant compensate for the limitations of the other
Thats why I love dating George, I can use him for his wonderful photography skills and all the more recent stuff in my gallery he has shot. It is one of his many talents
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
LOL. So you are mortal after all... Mwwwooohaaahahahaaaa
Only teasing
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah when George saw some of my past attempts at photographing models for reference later to work from he said... "ah no wonder you only draw from life "
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
LOL. That's funny. I like him. He's, erm, direct.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
...and suddenly the whole world drops into focus.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Very nice 
Under glass.. Is that like framed?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yes its framed and under glass... I need to unframe it sometime so I can get a better picture
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Have you taken a pic with a camera? Or tired to scan it with the glass still on? 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
That was taken with a digital camera through the glass. It wont scan at all with the glass. I think I need to remove it from the frame to get a good photo.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
