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November 2007 Newsletter
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Frank Zaremba, a member of PortersBoard, wrote a lesson about using Photoshop layers that was featured in the September newsletter. He kindly offered to share some more of his Photoshop expertise with Porter’s newsletter readers this month. To see this and other lessons on the PortersBoard, visit www.porters.com/messageboard.
We’ve all taken pictures outdoors when the sky is so dull it detracts from the rest of the scene. Frank shows us step-by-step how to enhance an image and turn a so-so shot into one that you’ll enjoy showing to others. You may want to create some folders on your computer and save copies of images just for sourcing backgrounds, foregrounds, skies and other elements. Or if you use editing software that allows keyword searches, be sure to tag those images with the names of those elements, so a search will bring up some good images for “borrowing” the perfect sky, background or other element.
Be sure to check out PortersBoard at www.porters.com. It’s a great place to learn more about photography by asking questions, viewing shared answers, reading about other photographer’s experiences, even posting and viewing images for critiques.
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This article covers one way of replacing the current sky in your photo with a better sky from another image by using a layer in Photoshop.
You can start with an image like this photo of the Meiji Jingu Temple, just outside of Ebisu, Japan.
Add a little sky – and get this:
OK – let’s go.
1. Open a picture file in Photoshop.
2. Next, double-click on the image in the Layers tab to change it from a background image to a layer. It will be named Layer 0 with a Normal blend mode and 100% opacity. Click OK.
3. Duplicate the Layer. With the original Layer/Background selected, just click on the duplicate layer icon on the Layers Palette
4. Hide the original image by clicking on the Eye
5. Select the layer that you just duplicated.
6. Now use the Magic Wand to select the part of the picture that you want to remove. You can use whatever method to remove the sky that you are familiar with. Once it is selected use Edit – Cut to remove it. You may need to use the Eraser Tool to remove any artifacts/pixels that you do not want.
7. Your Image should now have a transparent section where the sky was.
8. Create a new layer.
9. Open another image with a sky that you want to insert in the first picture. Copy or place it on the newly created layer.
10. All you need to do now is drag the new sky layer into the middle.
11. TA-DA! You are done.
Now you know how to change the sky in your image.
by Frank Zaremba
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We Have A Winner!
 
Congratulations to Lorraine Sturm for winning the October Porter's/Tamron Calendar Photo Contest! The theme of this month’s contest was “Storms” and Lorraine's winning entry is ready for downloading as an October 2008 monthly calendar at www.porters.com. To see the contest entries, subject themes, prizes, and other information and to enter, visit Porter's Gallery.
Visit our web site and check out the monthly themes for the rest of this year and send us your best shots!
November Featured Products:
Visit Porter’s Digital Printing Service at www.porters.com and explore all the ways
you can display your images.
• Conventional prints from wallet-size to 8 x 12”
• Decorative borders added FREE if you wish
• Greeting cards, invitations and announcements of all types in a wide range of styles
• Digital scrapbook pages that look great and are easy to design
• Hardcover photo books, perfect for celebrating events such as weddings, graduations, retirements, and anniversaries
• Photo calendars for desk or wall display in many styles and sizes
• Add your photos to make one-of-a-kind keepsakes and gifts such as tote bags,
boxes, puzzles, T-shirts and much more
• Just click on "Order Prints" on the home page to learn more about all the exciting ways you can do more with your photos.
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SHOW AND SHARE!
Try... Online Photo Albums in the printing area at www.porters.com.
Take your pick of four different album plans—
• FREE for 90 days, with 128 megabytes of storage and 10 password-protected photo albums
• $9.99 per year, with 256 megabytes of storage, 20 photo albums and access to members-only discounts
• $69.95 per year, with 512 megabytes of storage, 20 photo albums, hi-res downloads, access to members-only discounts and your choice of two free photo classes at Porter’s University OR a free 512MB memory card |
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REBATES
AND PROMOTIONS TO $AVE YOU MONEY!
CLICK HERE for a list of all current REBATES.
The following manufacturers have exciting rebate and promotion programs to save you money. Application forms and details will be included with purchases for all applicable items. Also, PDF files of the rebates are posted at www.porters.com. All offers are direct to you from the manufacturer after the time of purchase.
CANON purchase a Pixma Pro9000 or Pro9500 inkjet printer by January 12, 2008 and receive a $100 rebate. Get an additional $100 rebate if the 9000/9500 printer is purchased with an EOS 40D or Digital Rebel XTi camera. If an EOS 5D is purchased with the printer, receive an additional $400 rebate. Also a $100 rebate when the PIXMA MP970 All-In-One Printer is purchased with any Canon Digital Rebel XT, XTi or EOS 40D SLR Camera.
CANON now thru Jan. 13, 2008, get instant rebates at the time you purchase any of the following Canon accessories. Prices in Porter’s Online Store reflect the new after-rebate prices.
EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM - $50.00 instant rebate
EF 17-40mm f4L USM - $50.00 instant rebate
EF 24-70mm f2.8L USM - $80.00 instant rebate
EF 85mm f1.8 Telephoto - $25.00 instant rebate
EF 50mm f1.4 USM - $20.00 instant rebate
EF 70-200mm f4L IS USM - $75.00 instant rebate
EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS USM - $125.00 instant rebate
EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM - $100 instant rebate
EF 100mm f2.8 Macro USM - $35.00 instant rebate
Speedlite 580EX II - $50.00 instant rebate
CELESTRON - purchase a Sky Scout Personal Planetarium by November 30, 2007 and receive a $50 rebate.
FANTOM - purchase a Titanium II 500GB External Hard Drive by December 31, 2007 and receive a $20 rebate.
OLYMPUS - save from $40.00 to $150.00 with mail-in rebates when the following Evolt accessories are purchased by December 31, 2007.
18-180mm f3.5-6.3 - $75.00 rebate
50-200mm f2.8-3.5 - $150.00 rebate
FL-36 Flash - $40.00 rebate
PANTONE - get $20 back when you purchase a Huey Color Calibrator by December 31, 2007 with an LCD monitor, digital camera or software from Adobe, Quark, Corel or onOne on the same sales receipt.
PENTAX - save from $25 to $100 with mail-in rebates when the following are purchased by January 31, 2008.
K10D, K100D Super Camera - $100 rebate when purchased as body only or with the DA 18-55mm zoom lens
Optio W30 - $30 rebate
AF-360FGZ Flash - $25 rebate
DA 50-200mm f4-5.6 Zoom Lens - $25 when purchased with a K-series camera
Battery Grip BG2 for K10D - $25 rebate
TAMRON LENSES - save from $10 to $30 on select Tamron lenses purchased by December 31, 2007.
AF11-18mm f4.5-5.6 Di-II - $50 rebate
AF18-200mm f3.5-6.3 Di-II - Free Tamron Camera Bag
AF18-250mm f3.5-6.3 Di-II - Free Tamron Camera Bag
AF17-35mm f2.8-4 Di - $10 rebate
AF17-50mm f2.8-4 Di-II - $25 rebate
AF28-300mm f3.5-6.3 XR Di - Free Tamron Camera Bag
AF28-75mm f2.8 Di - $10 rebate
AF200-500mm f5-6.3 Di - $30 rebate
Application forms will be included with purchases for all applicable items. Instant rebates are deducted from your purchase price. All other offers are direct to you from the manufacturer after the time of purchase.
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Copyright 2007
Porter's Camera Store
411 W. Viking Road
Cedar Falls, IA 50613-6930 |
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