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DPChallenge Forums >> Side Challenges and Tournaments >> PaintShop Pro SC for January
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01/01/2011 01:56:06 PM · #1
This side challenge is to provide how-to help and discussion for Jasc/Corel PaintShop Pro users.

Posting and discussion here. If anyone has any questions or requests, post them here and those with the answers can respond.

The participants so far and version of PSP they use (others please feel welcome to jump in.):

Yo_Spiff X2, also have X1 on a Netbook.
Karmat v7
JustCaree v9
bmartuch v9
atupdate vX
Soulman1978 X1
Glad2badad X2
awpollard X3
dtremain X1
KarenNfld
01/01/2011 02:07:04 PM · #2
I'll start off by posting this example with explanation of the levels adjustment, which is always the first thing I do after opening an image in PSP.


The histogram is visible in many of the image adjustment dialogs. It shows you the distribution of light and dark tones across the image. In most cases (There are exceptions) a well exposed image will have a histogram that shows tones ranging throughout the entire scale, with a peak or two somewhere well within the histogram. If the light and dark tones are bunched up and clipped on either end, or you see flat spots, it will probably be visible in the quality of the image.

In this example, courtesy of Heavyj, you can see the before sample on the left looks slightly dull and dim, with a flat spot evident on the rightmost section of the histogram. In fact, such an image might be described by a commenter in a challenge as "flat". By pulling in the slider on the bright end to meet the spot where you can see values starting, you are telling the program where the brightest point in the image is. You can see the result on the right. If you were to apply this and then open the dialog again, the histogram would then stretch from side to side.

The same applies if the flat spot is on the dark end, except the uncorrected image would seem overly light and washed out.

In the previous PSP side challenge, bvy pointed out that the same can be accomplished with curves. I prefer levels for this and using curves for fine tuning later on, but that's personal preference. Many things can be accomplished through several methods.

Message edited by author 2011-01-01 14:09:38.
01/01/2011 02:38:53 PM · #3
Levels doesn't look like that in my version of PSP (v7) and I really have no idea how to use levels.

Message edited by author 2011-01-01 14:39:12.
01/01/2011 02:40:54 PM · #4
I think I have a copy of v7 somewhere that I can install to see what it looks like. My screenshot is from either X1 of X2.
01/01/2011 03:36:52 PM · #5
I have v9 and don't see levels either. I think it might just be separate adjustments for brightness, contrast, etc.
01/01/2011 03:49:19 PM · #6
Originally posted by bmartuch:

I have v9 and don't see levels either. I think it might just be separate adjustments for brightness, contrast, etc.


I just found levels. It's under Adjust | Brightness and Contrast | Levels. I don't see the histogram though.

Message edited by author 2011-01-01 15:51:52.
01/01/2011 03:54:18 PM · #7
I just found Histogram adjust.

It's under Adjust | Brightness and Contrast | Histogram Adjust

Is that the same thing Steve?
01/01/2011 04:09:08 PM · #8
Originally posted by bmartuch:

I just found Histogram adjust.

It's under Adjust | Brightness and Contrast | Histogram Adjust

Is that the same thing Steve?

It looks very similar to levels and appears to include the levels adjustments, but it also looks like it does a lot more. It's not an adjustment I've ever used, though.
01/01/2011 08:38:16 PM · #9
Histogram Adjust is almost like a combination of levels and curves. The Low - Gamma - High is the same as levels and the Midtones Compress is a little like curves but not as user friendly. Like Yo_Spiff uses levels, I start every session with Histogram Adjust.

Tim

Message edited by author 2011-01-01 20:38:32.
01/01/2011 08:41:37 PM · #10
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Originally posted by bmartuch:

I just found Histogram adjust.

It's under Adjust | Brightness and Contrast | Histogram Adjust

Is that the same thing Steve?

It looks very similar to levels and appears to include the levels adjustments, but it also looks like it does a lot more. It's not an adjustment I've ever used, though.

It's curves on steroids, it seems. I don't think it does anything that curves doesn't do, but instead of clicking and dragging to control the curve, this gives you more quantitative control. You can control sliders, set intensities, and so forth. The benefit might be more easily describable (and repeatable) manipulations, and the ability to do very granular adjustments. It also gives you a lot of visibility into the histogram.

It's nothing I use or see a need for (for my own purposes), but it seems to be pretty powerful. It only works on 8-bit images though. Also note that it's not a layer adjustment. So in that sense, it's destructive.

I have X2 and you can add me to the list, Steve. I'll check in from time to time and confuse everyone...
01/01/2011 08:52:03 PM · #11
v7 does have levels. it's pretty basic. lemme see what i can do.. .
01/01/2011 08:55:48 PM · #12
Originally posted by karmat:

v7 does have levels. it's pretty basic. lemme see what i can do.. .

I remembered that I have a copy of v7 on my flashdrive. (I have not been able to get the latest versions to run from a flashdrive, however) Just looked and could not find a levels adjustment, though I did find it as part of the histogram dialog previously mentioned.
01/01/2011 09:01:49 PM · #13
Where I find it. . .



My "options"



If you don't want to layers . .
01/01/2011 09:12:47 PM · #14
Yes, v7 has levels but it looks nothing like YoSpiff's....and I don't know how to use it at all.
01/01/2011 09:15:46 PM · #15
Karen -- In our version (I am assuming you are saying you don't know how to adjust the levels there. pardon me if I am completely out in left field), the dark diamond on the far left are "shadows" -- move it to the right to darken things. The middle is midtones and the right is highlights. Move them left or right to get darker or lighter, depending on what you want.

(Disclaimer -- I really have no idea what I'm talking about, this is just how I use it and what my brain thinks is happening)
01/02/2011 08:38:19 AM · #16
Originally posted by karmat:

Karen -- In our version (I am assuming you are saying you don't know how to adjust the levels there. pardon me if I am completely out in left field), the dark diamond on the far left are "shadows" -- move it to the right to darken things. The middle is midtones and the right is highlights. Move them left or right to get darker or lighter, depending on what you want.

(Disclaimer -- I really have no idea what I'm talking about, this is just how I use it and what my brain thinks is happening)


Yes you're right. I tried sliding the sliders, but I ended up with a blue tinted image!
01/02/2011 12:32:21 PM · #17
Sounds odd. I ran up the PSP7 I keep on my flashdrive and I am missing a lot of the menus and commands that Karmat has in her screenshots. I wonder if trimming out some files to fit it on a flashdrive (I did it a few years ago when they were not as large or as cheap) removed a lot of the functionality and I didn't see it. May have to reinstall from scratch to find that out.
01/02/2011 12:36:55 PM · #18
Originally posted by KarenNfld:

Yes you're right. I tried sliding the sliders, but I ended up with a blue tinted image!

Perhaps you accidentally had levels selected for a single color channel and either upped the blue or lowered the red?

BTW, for anyone desiring to upgrade from an older version who didn't see it in the signup thread, you can get version X1 for $5.95 (USD) here and they have X2 for $22.95 (USD) here.
01/02/2011 04:33:40 PM · #19
Im just checking in here. I have a lot of editing to do - 400 photos from a Christmas party - so my head is deep in PSP.
01/02/2011 05:57:38 PM · #20
I started working on some screenshots for explaining masking.
01/02/2011 07:29:32 PM · #21
I just ordered the X2 for $22.95 plus $4.25 shipping.
01/02/2011 07:44:56 PM · #22
I was just looking at my stuff on smugmug and found I did quickie layers in PSP X3 thing a while back. I tried to keep it in simple terms and is just a real quick workflow.

//www.urgephotos.com/PaintShop-Photo-Pro-Tutorials/Paint-Shop-Pro-Layers-Primer/13586964_St9yZ

I'm looking at doing a High Pass effect tut. It is a very powerful tool that I think is overlooked a lot of the time.
01/02/2011 07:45:26 PM · #23
Let's see if I can explain masking and have it make any sense...

I'll use a tacky looking selective desaturation of this shot from a balloon festival as a demo shot. Masking can be used for much more than this of course, but this is something where the changes are easy to see. I often use this as a means of selectively editing colors and tones to only affect the desired part of an image. You could just as easily use a layer with clarify applied to it rather than the b/w conversion that I've done here. I am using PSP X2 in this example. Earlier Jasc versions may have some differences.

To start, right click on the layer in the layers pallete and select "duplicate"


You now have two copies of the image on separate layers.


I've now converted the upper layer to a (pretty bad looking) b/w image.


Right click on the layer that you want to apply a mask to. In this case I want to use a mask to erase the nearest balloon to allow the color version of it to show through from the layer underneath. I selecte "New mask layer"-->Show all". What this means is that the layer I am working on will be shown except for the areas where I will then mask.


Here is what you will see in the layers palette and what it all is:


Make sure the mask layer is selected in the layers palette and then choose the paintbrush tool from the tooltray on the left. Choose an appropriate brush size for the area you will be working on. (You can see a circle representing my brush about 2/3 of the way over to the right on my image.) set a moderately soft edge. I find a hardness of 50 is good for general use and I change that setting as needed. The round brush shape is good for general purpose use. In the materials palette, Set your foreground color to black and the background color to white.


With the mask layer still being selected, use the paintbrush tool, and paint black onto the areas of the image where you wish to erase the upper layer and have the lower one show through. Black hides the layer that the mask is attached to. You can see the shape of the masked area reflected in the layer icon. If you make a mistake and overpaint an area you did not mean to, then simply paint with a right click and this will use the background color of white and will reveal the layer being worked on. By painting with black, correcting with white, and adjusting brush size and hardness, you can fine tune the mask to reveal the layer below the way you desire it.

As a side note, I have found that trying to be too precise and fine-edged with the masking often leaves the end effect looking somewhat artificial, which is why I suggest a hardness of 50 as a starting point.


When fine tuning your mask, you can turn off visibility of any layer in order to better see where the mask is on the actual image. This is done by clicking the eye icon on the layer in order to toggle the visibility of that layer. In this example, I've turned off visibility of the lower layer in order to fine tune the shape of the mask. I tend to flip back and forth between the views until I get what I desire.


When it all looks to your satisfaction, right click on the layer group, and select "Merge-->Mege All (Flatten)". This will merge everything that is currently visible into a single layer. Note: Make sure layer visibility is turned on or the invisible layers will not be part of the flattened image.


The final result. (Not sure I can win any challenges with this, but it illustrates the idea!)



01/02/2011 07:49:04 PM · #24
Originally posted by awpollard:

I was just looking at my stuff on smugmug and found I did quickie layers in PSP X3 thing a while back. I tried to keep it in simple terms and is just a real quick workflow.

Thanks. I just posted mine below, then saw your post. I've often found that reading the same explanation from multiple sources to be very helpful in understanding a concept.

Originally posted by awpollard:

I'm looking at doing a High Pass effect tut. It is a very powerful tool that I think is overlooked a lot of the time.

That's something I'm not yet familiar with. Looking forward to it.
01/02/2011 07:51:37 PM · #25
When an image is up in PSP, is there anyway to toggle the background between black and standard so I can see what it looks like against a black background?
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