New Camera pics

Fishie Nut · 11/21/2006, 10:48 PM

Here are some pic I took with my new XTi, 80 mm f/4-5.6.
I tried some PS editing on them, but... Well, I just bought some DVD lessons on PhotoShop.

Here they are anyway:

This is CUKE

[IMG]

[/IMG]

BIRD'S NEST

[IMG]

[/IMG]

DIGITATA

M. FOLIOSA
[IMG]

[/IMG]

Any and all suggestions are very welcome. Thanks.

Chaotic Reefer4u · 11/22/2006, 12:13 AM

very sweet, thanx for sharing...

drummereef · 11/22/2006, 12:56 AM

Very cool! Love the cuke pic!

astrogazer · 11/22/2006, 10:58 AM

A little unsharp masking would really help out those images. Apply lightly though ...

Fishie Nut · 11/22/2006, 03:18 PM

astrogazer: I tried the unsharp masking, but I'm really unsure what to do. It seems to really make the pics grainy.

I'll give it another try, see what happens

MCary · 11/22/2006, 03:59 PM

The resolution of my eyes must be less than my monitor. I can't tell much difference between the before and after of unsharpen mask.

astrogazer · 11/22/2006, 05:08 PM

I learned how to apply unsharp masking years ago and it can make and/or break an image. For those interested I'll try to explain how it works in Photoshop.

In order to be able to really use, and get the benifits of unsharp masking you have to start with a high quality, well exposed and close to full frame size image (not a cropped postage stamp sized portion of the image). The image should not appear grainy (low ISO setting), as depending on your settings you will highly amplify that grain.

An image is usually perceived as sharp if the edges in the image are well defined, reasonably crisp and have a good edge contrast. A soft image would have a smooth transition between edges and does not have a clear line of distinction.

In Photoshop, applying unsharp mask requires adjusting 3 different parameters. Too little USM may not add much to the sharpness of the image. Too much USM can add lot of grain to the image and makes the edges brighter than rest of the image making it look unreal.

The USM filter detects the edges in the image, and then creates halos around the edges. The Radius field is used to specify the size of the halo. The larger the specified radius, larger will be the halo produced at the edges. Keeping this in mind, it is good to use a small radius for an image with lot of details - such as feathers of a bird. A larger radius could be useful for images that do not have sharp edges and need a smooth transition. Images such as foggy mornings or sunsets do not have and do not require sharp edges or fine details and these are better off with slightly higher radius.

The threshold field indicates what part of the image should be considered an edge for applying USM. A threshold of 0 indicates every edge to be considered a candidate for USM. A higher threshold means that the edge contrast needs to be higher to consider that edge for applying the filter.

The Amount field indicats the amount of contrast to be applied on the halos created. A higher value amount means dark edge will be made darker and lighter edge is made to look lighter.

When shooting my marine images I start with an Amount of 150-200, a Radius of 1.2-2, and a Threshold of between 10 and 4, make sure the preview box is checked and you can observe the changes in real-time.

Hope this helps ... didn't mean to ramble ...

astrogazer · 11/22/2006, 05:11 PM

Oh, and I forgot to mention that if you have any dust on your sensor you WILL see it on a sharpened image, so be prepared to get aquainted with the Clone Stamp tool ...

Fishie Nut · 11/23/2006, 12:32 AM

I'll give it a try this weekend, when I have some time to play around. I really really appreciate the help. IF, that's a big if, I get a better pic. I'll post it. IF not, I'll take some more and try the USM, see what happens.

Thanks again.

astrogazer · 11/23/2006, 02:33 PM

keep posting ...

norcal99 · 11/23/2006, 10:56 PM

Good info astrogazer

11/21/2006, 10:48 PM	#1
Fishie Nut Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 966	New Camera pics Here are some pic I took with my new XTi, 80 mm f/4-5.6. I tried some PS editing on them, but... Well, I just bought some DVD lessons on PhotoShop. Here they are anyway: This is CUKE [IMG][/IMG] BIRD'S NEST [IMG][/IMG] DIGITATA M. FOLIOSA [IMG][/IMG] Any and all suggestions are very welcome. Thanks. __________________ Fishie (MASLAC member) "It's alaways a sometin'" -- Roseanna Roseannadana Current Tank Info: 225 gal LeeMar Reef; Deltec AP 702, ProFiLux, 90 gal sump/fuge, 3x250 HQI Lumenarcs. 4x96W PC actinics; 375 lbs LR; 3" LS; Hammerhead CL, Korallin c3002, KM500, Auto Water Change/Top Off; Aquatinics 1/3 HP drop in

11/22/2006, 12:13 AM	#2
Chaotic Reefer4u ♥Acropora Aficionado♥ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollister,Ca. Posts: 5,163	very sweet, thanx for sharing... __________________ Live everyday as if it was your last, take time to smell the flowers, enjoy all things living, never take anything for granted, you just never know when your number might be up... Current Tank Info: * 90g. Reef Ready TruVu tank with 30g. Platinum Filtration Series Sump SpS Acro enthusiast *

11/22/2006, 12:56 AM	#3
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Very cool! Love the cuke pic! __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

11/22/2006, 10:58 AM	#4
astrogazer Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: SE Florida Posts: 1,196	A little unsharp masking would really help out those images. Apply lightly though ... __________________ Save a reef ... Grow your own ~ GARF Current Tank Info: 65G Oceanic ... : ... 5G Nano

11/22/2006, 03:18 PM	#5
Fishie Nut Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 966	astrogazer: I tried the unsharp masking, but I'm really unsure what to do. It seems to really make the pics grainy. I'll give it another try, see what happens __________________ Fishie (MASLAC member) "It's alaways a sometin'" -- Roseanna Roseannadana Current Tank Info: 225 gal LeeMar Reef; Deltec AP 702, ProFiLux, 90 gal sump/fuge, 3x250 HQI Lumenarcs. 4x96W PC actinics; 375 lbs LR; 3" LS; Hammerhead CL, Korallin c3002, KM500, Auto Water Change/Top Off; Aquatinics 1/3 HP drop in

11/22/2006, 03:59 PM	#6
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	The resolution of my eyes must be less than my monitor. I can't tell much difference between the before and after of unsharpen mask.

11/22/2006, 05:08 PM	#7
astrogazer Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: SE Florida Posts: 1,196	I learned how to apply unsharp masking years ago and it can make and/or break an image. For those interested I'll try to explain how it works in Photoshop. In order to be able to really use, and get the benifits of unsharp masking you have to start with a high quality, well exposed and close to full frame size image (not a cropped postage stamp sized portion of the image). The image should not appear grainy (low ISO setting), as depending on your settings you will highly amplify that grain. An image is usually perceived as sharp if the edges in the image are well defined, reasonably crisp and have a good edge contrast. A soft image would have a smooth transition between edges and does not have a clear line of distinction. In Photoshop, applying unsharp mask requires adjusting 3 different parameters. Too little USM may not add much to the sharpness of the image. Too much USM can add lot of grain to the image and makes the edges brighter than rest of the image making it look unreal. The USM filter detects the edges in the image, and then creates halos around the edges. The Radius field is used to specify the size of the halo. The larger the specified radius, larger will be the halo produced at the edges. Keeping this in mind, it is good to use a small radius for an image with lot of details - such as feathers of a bird. A larger radius could be useful for images that do not have sharp edges and need a smooth transition. Images such as foggy mornings or sunsets do not have and do not require sharp edges or fine details and these are better off with slightly higher radius. The threshold field indicates what part of the image should be considered an edge for applying USM. A threshold of 0 indicates every edge to be considered a candidate for USM. A higher threshold means that the edge contrast needs to be higher to consider that edge for applying the filter. The Amount field indicats the amount of contrast to be applied on the halos created. A higher value amount means dark edge will be made darker and lighter edge is made to look lighter. When shooting my marine images I start with an Amount of 150-200, a Radius of 1.2-2, and a Threshold of between 10 and 4, make sure the preview box is checked and you can observe the changes in real-time. Hope this helps ... didn't mean to ramble ... __________________ Save a reef ... Grow your own ~ GARF Current Tank Info: 65G Oceanic ... : ... 5G Nano

11/22/2006, 05:11 PM	#8
astrogazer Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: SE Florida Posts: 1,196	Oh, and I forgot to mention that if you have any dust on your sensor you WILL see it on a sharpened image, so be prepared to get aquainted with the Clone Stamp tool ... __________________ Save a reef ... Grow your own ~ GARF Current Tank Info: 65G Oceanic ... : ... 5G Nano

11/23/2006, 12:32 AM	#9
Fishie Nut Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 966	I'll give it a try this weekend, when I have some time to play around. I really really appreciate the help. IF, that's a big if, I get a better pic. I'll post it. IF not, I'll take some more and try the USM, see what happens. Thanks again. __________________ Fishie (MASLAC member) "It's alaways a sometin'" -- Roseanna Roseannadana Current Tank Info: 225 gal LeeMar Reef; Deltec AP 702, ProFiLux, 90 gal sump/fuge, 3x250 HQI Lumenarcs. 4x96W PC actinics; 375 lbs LR; 3" LS; Hammerhead CL, Korallin c3002, KM500, Auto Water Change/Top Off; Aquatinics 1/3 HP drop in

11/23/2006, 02:33 PM	#10
astrogazer Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: SE Florida Posts: 1,196	keep posting ... __________________ Save a reef ... Grow your own ~ GARF Current Tank Info: 65G Oceanic ... : ... 5G Nano

11/23/2006, 10:56 PM	#11
norcal99 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Cupertino, CA Posts: 394	Good info astrogazer __________________ Mike! Current Tank Info: 20L AIO - Tunze 9002 Skimmer - Vortech MP20 - ACJR Controller - 4x24 T5HO - DIY HOB Aquafuge