Replaced the sky...first time effort...2 pix

Had posted a photo of this bridge and received a couple of comments saying...too bad the sky isn't blue. So, since I'm learning from Gregory Georges book " Fast Digital Photo Techniques", I went to the book and found that chapter.

A couple of weeks ago, I had taken some sky and cloud photos and saved them in a file for just such an event.

So, I opened them both and replaced the sky! It took me forever to work on using the Magic Eraser to remove the little bits between the branches, but I think it was worth it..... what do you think?

Could I have done better?

(I've never tried masking....yet)

before:



I didn't try to clone away the dark foreground leaves on the left because last time I tried that I had a blurry area. Any tips would be appreciated on getting rid of them, too. Thanks!

And after:



--
Lucy
Olympus C3020Z
pbase supporter http://www.pbase.com/lucy

Looks great Lucy - I also like the other miscellaneous retouching work you did on the rest of the photo.

One trick I use for just such an occaision is to use Select-> color range and then select the sky. You can add or delete from the selection as required after the initial selection with the lasoo or select tool of choice. Then you can remove it all in one go. Saves all that tedious erasing by hand...

Best
Toad

Lucy said:

Had posted a photo of this bridge and received a couple of comments
saying...too bad the sky isn't blue. So, since I'm learning from
Gregory Georges book " Fast Digital Photo Techniques", I went to
the book and found that chapter.

A couple of weeks ago, I had taken some sky and cloud photos and
saved them in a file for just such an event.

So, I opened them both and replaced the sky! It took me forever to
work on using the Magic Eraser to remove the little bits between
the branches, but I think it was worth it..... what do you think?

Could I have done better?

(I've never tried masking....yet)

before:



I didn't try to clone away the dark foreground leaves on the left
because last time I tried that I had a blurry area. Any tips would
be appreciated on getting rid of them, too. Thanks!

And after:



--
Lucy
Olympus C3020Z
pbase supporter http://www.pbase.com/lucy

Click to expand...

....there had to be a better way. I did use the Magic Wand to get all the bigger pieces, but there was a lot more between the branches that I had to use the eraser on. Didn't know about being able to 'Select-Color range'....thank you!
Any tips about cloning away those dark leaves on the left side?
--
Lucy
Olympus C3020Z
pbase supporter http://www.pbase.com/lucy

Lucy said:

Had posted a photo of this bridge and received a couple of comments
saying...too bad the sky isn't blue.

Click to expand...

Nice job at replacing the sky.

Another trick to use when you are still "on location" (tripod) is to expose for the sky and with the second shot expose for the scene. Then since both shots are registered the same, all you need to do is stack the pictures in Photoshop and use the Blend option to bring the sky to a desired level. Of course, your method is the only way to fix overcast.

Hawkwind

Lucy:

I know what you mean - I hate clone blur as well. I don't know of a better way than cloning, but when I clone, I tend to take really large clone swipes rather than many little ones - because large swipes don't add blur like multiple small ones do.

The disadvantage of large swipes is obvious repetition in the image. With trees in the background, this can be mitigated somewhat by taking second clone passes over the large swipes. Select a glaringingly repetitive part of the cloned pattern, and clone a smaller swipe from somewhere else over top of just the "obviously" repetitive bits. I do this to break up the "patterns", and it tends to work pretty well. Typically, you don't need to do too much to trees to break up obvious patterns, and your eye tends to ignore the rest of it. With this technique, less is often more.

Careful not to do it too much, or it starts to blur again.

Regards
Toad

Lucy said:

....there had to be a better way. I did use the Magic Wand to get
all the bigger pieces, but there was a lot more between the
branches that I had to use the eraser on. Didn't know about being
able to 'Select-Color range'....thank you!
Any tips about cloning away those dark leaves on the left side?
--
Lucy
Olympus C3020Z
pbase supporter http://www.pbase.com/lucy

Click to expand...

I like what you did too, Lucy - and the bridge really stands out now. I had to do the same thing removing some leaves similar to your situation but I was able to clone them out without any problem. Don't know how to help you there.

DianeR

Lucy said:

....there had to be a better way. I did use the Magic Wand to get
all the bigger pieces, but there was a lot more between the
branches that I had to use the eraser on. Didn't know about being
able to 'Select-Color range'....thank you!
Any tips about cloning away those dark leaves on the left side?
--
Lucy
Olympus C3020Z
pbase supporter http://www.pbase.com/lucy

Click to expand...

I like the original. It looks like the real thing. A blue sky is not the essence of a great picture. And keep the dark foliage top border.

Regards
Zettlers

....you must not like any editing....thinking it's not 'real'.....but I prefer to think of it as enhancing......yes, the sky is from another day, but imho it does make the scene prettier than the white sky. Also, I prefer to clone away distracting elements like the leaves at the top.

There have been many arguments about what is 'real' and what is 'manipulated'.....but I contend that the 'manipulation' begins when you take your camera out. You decide the settings, you decide the composition, you decide to avoid distracting elements. You decide the mode to use....etc..etc....

If I can 'enhance' a photo like the professionals do.....I go for it.

But, of course, we all have our own preferences...and that's really wonderful....there is room for all ideas. I appreciate your commenting and offering your honest opinion. We're all here to share thoughts and ideas.

--
Lucy
Olympus C3020Z
pbase supporter http://www.pbase.com/lucy

Lucy ,

I've used the following technique before and it's worked pretty well for me:

First make a copy of the image. You'll be using this to make little patches. Using the lasso tool, make an irregular selection on an area that is close to the section you want to cover up. Feather your selection a couple of pixels or more depending on the file size. Now drag your selection onto the first picture. You can probably use the same patch in a couple of different places without it looking too repetitive, but you'll want to make several patches from different areas. It helps to make the selection freehand because the leaves are quite irregular to begin with. Sometimes I use the eraser tool to take out parts of the patches that don't need to be there. I try to leave as much of the original intact as I can.

Each time you drag in a new patch it will create a new layer. You'll have to flatten the layers when you're done. I usually do a little cleanup after flattening with the clone tool and/or healing brush in order to blend things a little more. I did this rather quickly, but the more time you take, the better it will look.

I agree – the blue sky makes the picture prettier : )

Regards
Zettlers

Lucy said:

....you must not like any editing....thinking it's not
'real'.....but I prefer to think of it as enhancing......yes, the
sky is from another day, but imho it does make the scene prettier
than the white sky. Also, I prefer to clone away distracting
elements like the leaves at the top.

There have been many arguments about what is 'real' and what is
'manipulated'.....but I contend that the 'manipulation' begins when
you take your camera out. You decide the settings, you decide the
composition, you decide to avoid distracting elements. You decide
the mode to use....etc..etc....

If I can 'enhance' a photo like the professionals do.....I go for it.

But, of course, we all have our own preferences...and that's really
wonderful....there is room for all ideas. I appreciate your
commenting and offering your honest opinion. We're all here to
share thoughts and ideas.

--
Lucy
Olympus C3020Z
pbase supporter http://www.pbase.com/lucy

Click to expand...

The sound you just heard was the lightbulb turning on inside my head. This was a real eye opening suggestion for me.

In addition to focus, composition, exposure, lens cap off, is everybody smiling and all that, one also needs to evaluate the need to take multiple shots at different exposures. Doing so provides an option later to digitally blend different pieces of different images (layers) into a final composite.

Thanks for sharing this nugget. It triggered a huge leap in my transformation from "film" to digital thinking.

DannyR

Looking for some Action(s)?
See http://www.geocities.com/kafuensis/
for the DPReview Retouching Forum Photoshop Actions Folder

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

hawkwind said:

Lucy said:

Had posted a photo of this bridge and received a couple of comments
saying...too bad the sky isn't blue.

Click to expand...

Nice job at replacing the sky.

Another trick to use when you are still "on location" (tripod) is
to expose for the sky and with the second shot expose for the
scene. Then since both shots are registered the same, all you need
to do is stack the pictures in Photoshop and use the Blend option
to bring the sky to a desired level. Of course, your method is the
only way to fix overcast.

Hawkwind

Click to expand...

I agree that its better with the blue sky, Lucy.

BTW, can I ask where this was taken. I've included a pic I took a long time ago but only can remember that it was in Tennessee. And it looks as if it is the same bridge from the other side.

my side:



your side:



George

This method uses the same concepts as the technique Freeman described (selecting small chunks of replacement image from nearby areas and dragging them into position), except instead of selecting / dragging from a second image, the source of the replacement patches a copy of the Background in the original image.

The results are the same; the modus operandi slightly different.

1. Duplicate the Background layer in the original document.

2. On the Background copy layer use the Lasso tool to roughly select around the area (or part of the area) you want to cover up, for example the leaves in the foreground. When you make the selection, don't get too close to the edges of the leaves.

3. Move the cursor toward the center of the selection (it will turn into an arrow).

4. Drag the selection (marching ants) over the area from which you want to copy the chunk of "replacement image,” in this case sky or trees.

5. ALT + CTRL + D (or SELECT > Feather...). Radius: 1-3 pixels depending on the situation. Click OK.

6. Now comes a fork in the road:

a. CTRL + J will copy the feathered selection and put it on a separate layer above the Background copy layer. Select the Move tool and position the replacement section. If necessary, select the Background copy layer again, choose the Lasso and repeat steps 2-6a as needed. As Freeman noted you may end up with several “patch” layers that will need to be merged and perhaps tuned up with the Clone tool.

OR

b. If this is a real easy, 1-2 piece patch job and you know you're not going to want to further manipulate the individual patch(es) on separate layer(s), ALT + CTRL + Drag the to create a “floating selection” and position it accordingly. Once you let up on the mouse button and click it again (for any reason), the “floating selection” is merged into the layer from which it was copied.

DannyR

Looking for some Action(s)?
See http://www.geocities.com/kafuensis/
for the DPReview Retouching Forum Photoshop Actions Folder

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

freeman said:

Lucy ,

I've used the following technique before and it's worked pretty
well for me:
First make a copy of the image. You'll be using this to make
little patches. Using the lasso tool, make an irregular selection
on an area that is close to the section you want to cover up.
Feather your selection a couple of pixels or more depending on the
file size. Now drag your selection onto the first picture. You
can probably use the same patch in a couple of different places
without it looking too repetitive, but you'll want to make several
patches from different areas. It helps to make the selection
freehand because the leaves are quite irregular to begin with.
Sometimes I use the eraser tool to take out parts of the patches
that don't need to be there. I try to leave as much of the
original intact as I can.

Each time you drag in a new patch it will create a new layer.
You'll have to flatten the layers when you're done. I usually do a
little cleanup after flattening with the clone tool and/or healing
brush in order to blend things a little more. I did this rather
quickly, but the more time you take, the better it will look.

Click to expand...

Lucy said:

Had posted a photo of this bridge and received a couple of comments
saying...too bad the sky isn't blue. So, since I'm learning from
Gregory Georges book " Fast Digital Photo Techniques", I went to
the book and found that chapter.
So, I opened them both and replaced the sky! It took me forever to
work on using the Magic Eraser to remove the little bits between
the branches, but I think it was worth it..... what do you think?
Could I have done better?>

Click to expand...

Joe Peoples writes:

"Better"? It's looks very nice to me! Been there, done that with the eraser tool...learn Channel Masking...I had the sky isolated in less than two minutes...and it's EASY to do.

This was taken at the Cumberland MOuntain State Park in Crossville TN......and though I have never seen the 'other' side of the bridge, I do believe you probably have! Amazing! I like your shot very much, too. You must have taken the hiking path to catch that side.
Veerrrry interesting! Small world, too!

--
Lucy
Olympus C3020Z
pbase supporter http://www.pbase.com/lucy

Isolating the sky was 'easy' ....but what took me a lot of time was erasing all the white sky showing between the branches and leaves of the trees.....took me a LOT more than 2 minutes.......but then I'm kind of new at doing this. When you say 'channel masking'.....is that the same as just 'masking'? Is this available in PS elements?
Thank you.....

--
Lucy
Olympus C3020Z
pbase supporter http://www.pbase.com/lucy

Lucy said:

Isolating the sky was 'easy' ....but what took me a lot of time was
erasing all the white sky showing between the branches and leaves
of the trees.....took me a LOT more than 2 minutes.......but then
I'm kind of new at doing this. When you say 'channel
masking'.....is that the same as just 'masking'? Is this available
in PS elements?
Thank you.....>

Click to expand...

Joe Peoples writes:

Anytime you view a selection in grayscale, as opposed to marching ants, it's called "masking". What I was referring to in my previous post is called Masking using the Alpha Channel. I don't know if Channels are an option in Elements. There are several terrific books that will teach you this and other valuable techniques.

Thanks, Lucy.

Thats it!. I've seen it from both sides and yes, we did have to hike over to that location. I seem to remember taking another shot from the same side as yours but accross the water from where you were standing. I'll see if I can find it.

George

Lucy said:

This was taken at the Cumberland MOuntain State Park in Crossville
TN......and though I have never seen the 'other' side of the
bridge, I do believe you probably have! Amazing! I like your shot
very much, too. You must have taken the hiking path to catch that
side.
Veerrrry interesting! Small world, too!

--
Lucy
Olympus C3020Z
pbase supporter http://www.pbase.com/lucy

Click to expand...

Joe,

Can you give the names of these books please? I'm starting with photoshop and need all the help I can get. I too need to do just what Lucy has done and was apprehensive about tackling something so demanding as selecting all the tiny bits.

Lucy, The second photo looks great, very fine work!

Joe Peoples said:

Lucy said:

Isolating the sky was 'easy' ....but what took me a lot of time was
erasing all the white sky showing between the branches and leaves
of the trees.....took me a LOT more than 2 minutes.......but then
I'm kind of new at doing this. When you say 'channel
masking'.....is that the same as just 'masking'? Is this available
in PS elements?
Thank you.....>

Click to expand...

Joe Peoples writes:

Anytime you view a selection in grayscale, as opposed to marching
ants, it's called "masking". What I was referring to in my previous
post is called Masking using the Alpha Channel. I don't know if
Channels are an option in Elements. There are several terrific
books that will teach you this and other valuable techniques.

Click to expand...

Kurt (WI) said:

Joe,

Can you give the names of these books please? I'm starting with
photoshop and need all the help I can get. I too need to do just
what Lucy has done and was apprehensive about tackling something so
demanding as selecting all the tiny bits.>

Click to expand...

Joe Peoples writes:

There are tons of books out there, but here are 3 of my favorites:

"Real World Abobe Photoshop", by David Blatner & Bruce Fraser; "Adobe Photoshop Studio Techniques", by Ben Willmore; "Professional Photoshop - Guide to Color Correction", by Dan Margulis.

I've also gotten some terrific tips and suggestions on this forum, so keep reading and posting your own questions. Good luck!