TRICK WITHOUT MAGIC (How to get a blurred fore/background)

Ever wondered how amazing photos with blurry background or foreground happens without using photo editing software.

This can be possible using a large aperture value or opening of camera lens represented by lower F number.

large lens opening = low F number

low F stop = blurry fore/background

Using low F stop, the in-range focus or depth of field becomes narrower. Only the main subject is in focus to make it easier to understand. The remaining part outside the focus range will become blurry, foreground or background. Catch is, lowest F stop depends on the lens that you use. There are lenses that have the largest F stop of up to F2.8 while there are some that have F5.6 as the biggest aperture.

Be noted that when using large F stop, there is a tendency that the picture may become overexposed or too bright especially when you’re in a well-lit area. This may be avoided by selecting the right shutter speed, which, of course is a lower value.

Just know the basics of your camera and you will not need CS4 or any other editing software in the future.

(for MiniTut.com)

CRYSTAL CLEAR EYES (How to eliminate red eye on photos)

You’re not a cat; your photo shouldn’t look one.

Red eye effect on photos is just a natural phenomenon and there is no way that we can eliminate that on pictures. Somehow, there are editing applications today that can not only reduce the redness of the eyes but can also totally eradicate it. Adobe Photoshop CS4 is one very good example.

Run CS4 and press CTRL + O to open the picture that contains your subject with the red eyes. On the left tool bar, look for Red Eye Tool, which is grouped with spot healing brush, healing brush, and patch tools. Once you see that your cursor has changed into crosshair, you’re good to select the red-eyed part of the picture. Continue highlighting the part until the red eyes are gone. Press CTRL + S to save the edited image.

If your camera’s super red eye reduction feature failed you, sue its maker. And that was a joke.

(for MiniTut.com)

PUZZLING PHOTO (Creating mosaic using CS4)

Your parents are celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary and you thought of giving them something that can remind them of their past 50 years of togetherness. A montage will be perfect but you have no idea how to make one. Just follow these easy steps using Photoshop CS4.

Open the pictures you want as the background and combine them into one frame (Figure A) using 800 x 800 pixels. Be creative and choose whether to leave the images in its original color or have them gray scaled. Now, open the second photo which will be the foreground and make sure that it has the same size with your combined images. Once the two images are opened, drag the foreground (Figure B) onto your combined images. The foreground will cover the combined images so click on Layer – Layer Properties tab – Blending Options. Again, be innovative. There are several blending options which you can choose from and just select the best, which you think will make the images look good together. To finalize the mosaic, click on Layer then look for Flatten Image.

Just have the mosaic framed and you’re all set.

(for MiniTut.com)

PIRACY NO MORE (Inserting Watermarks on Images)

Inserting watermarks on images is just a piece of cake with the help of Adobe Photoshop CS4.

Photo One: The image to be watermarked
Open the image you want to watermark and if you already have an image or signature to insert as watermark, open it as well.

Photo Two: Merged images
Drag the signature into whatever part you want to see the watermark.

Photo Three: Your watermarked image
Once the two images were combined, look for the LAYER tab then choose LAYER STYLE and proceed to BLENDING OPTIONS. The rest of the settings on how the picture will look like lies on your creativity. When done, just press CTRL + D to merge the two images and save it.

With your name on it, no one can steal your precious picture!

(for MiniTut.com)