Re: Manipulating images in Photoshop as source for painting

In Reply to: Re: Manipulating images in Photoshop as source for painting posted by T. Newson on 08/31/00 at 11:45 PM:

: A teacher I had a couple years ago scanned her paintings then works on them in PhotoShop. When I finally saw one of her "paintings" after PhotoShop I was disappointed. It looked clumsy to me. I think she was still figuring out strengths and weaknesses of the technique. (She's a fabulous teacher however, I have alot of respect for her.)

: It's occured to me that PhotoShop might come in handy as a way of figuring out composition, seeing what different things can be developed from the same starting point without going to the trouble of ruining something. (I have a tendancy to get indecisive at crossroads.) However I have never done this and I think it's because it is-as Rob asserts--faster to paint. Even if I mess up I can start over and I get all the practice handling the brush. Besides, painting is so much more exhilarating than fussing with computers (especially when there's not much ventilation).

: It sounds like James has found a good solution for investigating details despite limited eyesight.

: Engineers are not the only ones responsible for do-dads in software programs. Marketing people have their say. I work with some marketing people and they are very bright personable human beings but I wish they'd keep their paws off stuff they won't ever use themselves. There are a number of gimmicky things in programs like Illustrator and PhotoShop that were added just to be points in a sales pitch, not because they were practical. I'm on the verge of raving, I'll have to sign off!

Photoshop and image manipulation programs in general offer many advantages. I find that, for instance, I can apply the grid to a photo and very easily square it up off of the image on the monitor. If I want to create a painting which is more painterly I can apply a natural media filter like the dabble filter in Photopaint and have the photo resolved into discrete brush strokes that I can copy from the screen. If I want to paint like Vermeer, for instance, I can use the median, facet, and blur commands. In editing my original photos I can add or elimate elements. I can dodge or burn in certain areas. I can adjust colors within a confined area. I can through a background out of focus. I can super saturate the color to get more of a Fauve effect. I can use the mesh warp to create mannerist or Picasso-esque distortions. The possibilities are endless. Of course, it takes a bit of study to become proficient in Photoshop, but the results are worth the effort.
 
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