In this shot, I wanted the center of the daisy to be really sharp, and the rest of it getting absorbed into the depth of field, but it was a windy day and try as I might, the lens just wasn’t fast enough to catch what I wanted.![\"daisy_open_bark_soc\"](\"http:\/\/dlynz.com\/public_html\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daisy_open_bark_soc.jpg\" "\\"daisy_open_bark_soc\\"")
But when I applied a texture that I threw together called “Floral Bark”, I was able to get closer to what I’d had in mind at the start. I selected and sharpened the center first, cloned out the annoying little bug I could have sworn I shooed away before taking the shot, and then applied the texture layer, set to “hard light” at about 45%. I then just brushed the most of the texture off the center, which now looks a lot sharper in comparision to the rest of the photo.![\"daisy_open_bark\"](\"http:\/\/dlynz.com\/public_html\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daisy_open_bark.jpg\" "\\"daisy_open_bark\\"")
I should probably mention that I use Paint Shop Pro X2 Ultimate for my photo edits. I’ve used PSP for years – it is far less expensive that Photoshop, and with each upgrade, it improves to an incredible degree. Not having used Photoshop much, I can’t really do a side by side comparison, but for about $100, PSPX2 is far better than Photoshop Elements which runs right around the same price.<\/p>\n
Lets look at another one. Straight out of the camera:![\"trolius_texture_soc\"](\"http:\/\/dlynz.com\/public_html\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/trolius_texture_soc.jpg\" "\\"trolius_texture_soc\\"")
A Trolius in the shade garden, in the very later afternoon. I actually liked this series of shots really well, but I knew that with all of that negative space, it would look great with the right texture.![\"trolius_texture\"](\"http:\/\/dlynz.com\/public_html\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/trolius_texture.jpg\" "\\"trolius_texture\\"")
This is another of my own textures, called “Rusty Paint”, and I didn’t note the steps I took with it. I am pretty sure the layer was applied set to “multiply” mode, and at a fairly high opacity. I just brushed it back off the one little section that I loved the silky look of.<\/p>\n
I sent a couple textures over to Kate at Chronicles of a Country Girl, and asked her to give them a try, because I love the work she has done with textures. She used a far gentler hand with this texture and the result was very nice – check those out here<\/a> and here<\/a>. Thanks Kate!<\/p>\n I’m sure this isn’t the last you’ve hear from me about textures, but right now I have to go and put in a couple hours in the garden before I have to go to work. And guess what? Today is mine and Larry’s 33rd Wedding Anniversary! There some nice photos about that on my post a year ago – here<\/a>.\u00a0 Don’t tell him, but I am making homemade fudge ripple ice cream for dessert tonight.\u00a0 Nothing says Happy Anniversary like a a nice fudgey ripple, don’t you think?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While I have enjoyed a certain genre of post processing photos, I’ve avoided doing it too much myself. I know myself too well, and the last thing I need these days is another activity to suck up my time. But, … Continue reading