Doyle D. Chastain
(K=101119) - Comment Date 5/1/2007
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Hmmmmm . . . I'm at work . . . but there is a filter>Distort>swell kinda thing in there. I'll check after work if it's not answered sooner. ;)
You related to 'Easy Rider'?
Regards, Doyle I <~~~~~
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Free Rider
(K=430) - Comment Date 5/1/2007
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Free Rider is actually an economics term. It means someone who uses a public good without deteriorating it for future users. ;)
I tried the swell thing, but swelling isn't what I want to do. I want to bend the sticks towards each other. I played around with liquify as well, but it didn't do quite what I wanted either.
Oh, it would be such a cool pic if I could do this. Concentricity project in mind.
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AJ Miller
(K=49168) - Comment Date 5/1/2007
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As a transport economist, I thought a Free Rider was someone who didn't pay their fare ;)
AJ
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Free Rider
(K=430) - Comment Date 5/1/2007
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Very punny indeed, AJ. That it can be. On public transportation, depending upon the number of people traveling, a free rider would not diminish others' ability to also use that particular public good.
Now about my PS problem... anybody willing to hazard a suggestion? I'm suffering from asymmetric information. ;)
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Caterina Berimballi
(K=27299) - Comment Date 5/1/2007
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Hi there,
Try this:
Hit Ctrl+T to activate transform tool and to place a selection around your image. Then right-mouse click over the image, select "warp". You'll see a grid appear over the image. Just click and drag grid lines around to get a feel for how they distort. Then play around til you get the curve you want.
Cheers, Rina.
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Free Rider
(K=430) - Comment Date 5/2/2007
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The warp tool I have is under "liquify" and it doesn't do quite what I want. It doesn't give me a grid either. I'm using PhotoShop CS 8.0. The warp I have appears to push the pixels over but in a liquidy fashion and I can't make the sticks into an arch. Wish I could get that grid to appear.
I did try exactly as you said before coming back to ask again. I'm starting to feel really stupid. PS has that effect on me.
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Caterina Berimballi
(K=27299) - Comment Date 5/2/2007
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That's okay, don't feel stupid for asking! I'm using CS2 so we've both got the same software. Let me ask something... is the layer you're working on, editable? Meaning, is it still a locked background layer? Because if it is, the transform tool will not work. Look over at the Layers panel, and if it shows "background" with a padlock symbol beside it, double click the layer (in the panel) and click ok in the dialogue box that pops up. The layer name will then changer to "Layer 0" and is ready for editing.
Just so you don't make any permanent changes to the original image, save it as a PSD first.
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Free Rider
(K=430) - Comment Date 5/2/2007
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I've changed the name and unlocked it. I'm using a throw-away image for all this. I haven't saved it as psd though, only jpg. I'll try again right now.
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Free Rider
(K=430) - Comment Date 5/2/2007
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All right, I've got it partly working. This is similar to what I tried before. I'm able to make the sticks taller, but when I try to make them arch, it breaks the stick, pushing the top half off the bottom.
I really appreciate your help with this.
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Free Rider
(K=430) - Comment Date 5/2/2007
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I also read this, but am more than confused about paths. Silly really, but I don't particularly understand the PS help section. I went looking for a tuturial with no luck. :(
"In Photoshop, paths are used for making selections and defining areas of an image. The outline of a shape is a path. Paths are made up of one or more straight or curved segments. Each segment is marked by anchor points, which work like pins holding wire in place. You can easily change the shape of a path by editing its anchor points. The Paths palette helps you manage paths." :(
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Caterina Berimballi
(K=27299) - Comment Date 5/2/2007
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Ok, I'll play around with an image I have of a post, to see what happens and if I can make it work, I'll get back to you with editing steps. Won't be long :)
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Free Rider
(K=430) - Comment Date 5/2/2007
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Longing for one of those green gumby things that seemed to bend so easily. Back to pipe cleaners for me? :( Thanks for your help. It seemed sooo simple when I thought of doing this.
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Caterina Berimballi
(K=27299) - Comment Date 5/2/2007
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Gumby, eh? That brings back memories!
Rightio, attached is what I got from just using the custom warp in transform. There's a busy background in my image though, so ignore that. Is that close to what you are trying to achieve?
Another idea that comes to mind (coz I'm too lazy to screw around with paths, they confuse the bejeezus out of me), is to select the match sticks using the magnetic lasso tool, copy to new layer and then use the transform tool more precisely on the match sticks alone.
Know how to do that?
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warped post
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Free Rider
(K=430) - Comment Date 5/2/2007
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Yes! That's what I want to do. A little less warping on the background, but at this point, I don't think it will matter.
magnetic lasso? oh my.
new layers and transform I can do, I think.
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Caterina Berimballi
(K=27299) - Comment Date 5/2/2007
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Cool! Well, all I did was exactly as I explained above. Pulled the grid lines up, down and around as some sections will almost distort independently of others. I didn't get any breaks in the pole as you experienced though, so that kinda threw me a bit.
Let us know how you get on. If you still run into trouble, feel free to keep asking!
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Caterina Berimballi
(K=27299) - Comment Date 5/2/2007
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Or did you want to know how to use magnetic lasso?
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Caterina Berimballi
(K=27299) - Comment Date 5/2/2007
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Just in case, see image attached:
Select the magnetic lasso tool from the tools palette on the left. You'll see the tool preferences appear just below the main menu bar up top. Enter say, 5px in the "Feather" box (this will will more or less save you from having jagged edges in your selection). Then click on a starting point somewhere on the outer edge of the matchstick, then simply run the mouse along the edge all the way around til you get back to the start. You'll see a small round symbol appear at the lasso cursor when you've joined it up. Click again and success, a selection will be made around the image.
Right mouse click over the selection and select "layer via copy" or "layer via cut". This will place that selection only in a new layer for you to work with. Now you can warp more precisely.
Does that all make sense? Really is easier to do than it sounds.
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warp
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Free Rider
(K=430) - Comment Date 5/2/2007
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Thanks for the instructions. I'll have to try tomorrow as I ran out of time yesterday and I'm booked up for the day today.
I went looking for the magnetic lasso last night and found it by accident. See how dumb I am with PS... I've had the program (always the current edition of the time) for about seven years. Last night, while looking at the toolbox for the magnetic lasso and knowing where the regular lasso was, I accidently hit the right-hand button on the mouse. Whaddayaknow, magnetic lasso!
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Free Rider
(K=430) - Comment Date 5/3/2007
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Under Transform, my PS does not have a selection available called Warp. I have distort, skew, perspective, but not warp. :(
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Caterina Berimballi
(K=27299) - Comment Date 5/3/2007
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Um, totally my mistake. I misread and thought you were using CS2. Looks as though your version doesn't include the warp. My advice was of completely no use, sorry!
Gosh that must have been frustrating for you... Ok, well, back to the drawing board then, eh?
Take Two: Does anyone else know how to help Free Rider with this?
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Free Rider
(K=430) - Comment Date 5/3/2007
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I do have CS2. It appears something is wrong with it. Luckily, all I have to do is call our tech team and ask why. I checked with a colleague and his works fine, has warp and all, and we are supposed to be on the same version (same license, etc.). My PS must be messed up, so hopefully they can fix it.
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Caterina Berimballi
(K=27299) - Comment Date 5/3/2007
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Phew! All is not lost then :) I don't think it's messed up. If you say you have version 8.0, then that's CS not CS2 which is version 9.0. So I think you're just in need of the upgrade.
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Free Rider
(K=430) - Comment Date 5/3/2007
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Yes, it's supposed to be CS2 and the latest version. It's supposed to work like my colleague's as we are on the same license. I must have been overlooked when it was time to upgrade. I'm more an E-Views and SAS person.
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