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I have been doing a series of articles about line art. In my first article, I spoke about how to use the graphics editing software to convert a photo into line art. The second article gave you a list of programs and techinques that would save you literally hundreds of dollars in licensing fees while simultaneously giving you the power of professional graphics programs. Now, I would like to show you step by step how I used the GIMP to create a line art drawing of my grandparents.

First, as I took the portrait and scanned it, creating a digited version. To do this, I selected TWAIN from the GIMP menu (File…Acquire).

After the picture was scanned, I used Vidar Madsen’s method described in the GIMPy high pass filter sketch effect tutorial. Vidar shows you how to use the gaussian blur filter, merge opacity, desaturate the colors, then clean up the lines using desaturation. The results were ok, but nothing to write home about. I found a Photoshop plugin called Cleanup which might have made it more useable; however, I could not get it to work with the GIMP.

Next, decided to start from scratch and try to render the line art by hand by “tracing” it from the photo. Melissa Clifton wrote an excellent tutorial about this technique on her website. I created a blank layer (Layer…Duplicate Layer), set the opacity at 50% (Dialogs…Layer…Opacity slider bar), and started drawing using mostly the pencil brush to draw the graphic. Once the drawing was done, I had a little fun and colored it in, making look as though it came from a graphic novel.

I wasn’t happy with the initial results because the details of the face were very unrefined. For example, in my initial drawing, Pa looked like he had alien eyes, and his mouth was all wrong. Granny’s eyes were roughly drawn as well. To fix it, I erase the insides of the faces and started over again. The second time, I experimented with different brushes. For example, I found the pressure brush with a medium or small splatter point worked best for the details. I also took my time. The first go around, I finished in a couple of nights, but when I started over again, I went took approximately a month just to redo the faces. It was worth the wait, though, as I am much more pleased with the results.

All in all, I would consider this a pleasant experience. When I was very little, I remember sitting on my grandparents’ laps, touching their faces and looking into their eyes. Nothing short of having them back could replace that memory, but this was the next best thing. Staring at the photograph, I was able to capture all of the lines of wisdom, all of the smiles, all of the worries, all of the love that gave charactor to two people who will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Now, go enjoy your family and make the world a better place by working on some photo family memories of your own.
Your Fellow “Creative Genius ” ,
Texaiano

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Have you ever thought about what you could do with your photographs? There are so many possibilities. For example, you could reduce down your photo to black and white, color it in, add a few thought bubbles and make your own comic strip. Or, you could create a clay caricature of the subject of your photo. You could transfer the image onto a square block of fabric and sew it into a heirloom quilt. You could turn it into a wood plaque carved with a scroll saw or a table top make with marquetry inlay techniques. You could create a 3D hologram, Warhol style pop-art print, or ascii art poster. Or you could turn your photo into a wire sculpture, ceramic mosaic or etched glass goblet. The possibilities are endless.

A key step in producing many of these object’s d art is to reduce the photograph down to a black and white line drawing. Graphic editing programs, such as Adobe’s Photoshop, provides automated ways to do this; however, unless you’re willing to drop $700 for a legal copy of Photoshop, you may think you are out of luck. The truth is, you can achieve most of the same effects, including the photo-to-sketch function, using the GNU Image Manipulation program, or GIMP. With GIMP, you can manipulate colors, reduce noise, selectively cut and paste objects within a photograph, work in layers, shrink or enlarge your image, and export your photo in a variety of file formats. GIMP even runs most Photoshop functions. Combine GIMP with other free software, like ImageMagick, a tool that lets you quickly manipulate graphics files, and Inkscape, which lets you convert to/from vector graphics formats, and you have a fully functioning graphics suite.

You can find tutorials on GIMP.org detailing how to turn a photo into a sketch. The resulting sketch is, in my opinion, very busy when this method. A similar method on Spoono.com produces cleaner results, though still too many lines for my taste. I prefer to use the method described by Vidar Madsen in his GIMPy high pass filter sketch effect tutorial. Using this method produces a drawing that is clean and simple, though I have to admit that sometimes, I prefer the old fashioned way…I fire up GIMP, create a blank layer and trace my image to create the line art.

Depending upon your project, I am sure that all of these methods will produce satisfactory results for you. Give them a try and let me know what you think.

Until next time,
-Texaiano

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In my last article about producing line art to use in your photo projects, I introduced you to the suite of programs that I use in my photographic endeavors, namely, the GNU Image Manipulation Program, or GIMP as it is more commonly known, Inkscape, a vector graphics program, and ImageMagick, an all around grapic toolkit with many uses. Both GIMP and ImageMagick can be used ran in batch from the command line.

One of my readers suggested that I provide a resource list to help my subscribers obtain and learn how to use those programs, so here it is.

GIMP
===================================================================
GIMP.ORG - The Official site for GIMP, the GNU Image Manipulation Program. GIMP is a fully functional free graphic editing software with functionality similar to Adobe’s Photoshop(C), but without the price.
GIMP - Tutorials

GIMP - Books about GIMP

The Book: Beginning GIMP: From Novice to Professional … by Akkana Peck
The Book: Grokking the GIMP
This is an excellent resource, and the best thing is, you can download the entire book for free.
Beginning GIMP: From Novice to Professional

Mono Conversion workflow and editing

Inkscape
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Inkscape - a free graphic editing and drawing program which lets you create vector graphics and diagrams. You can also import existing photos or graphics and convert them into vector diagrams. Inkscape is similar to Adobe’s Photoshop(C)

Screenshots of Inkscape

Inkscape Documentation

Download Inkscape

FAQ - Inkscape Wiki

Inkscape - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

How to draw a diagram with Inkscape

ImageMagick
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ImageMagick - ImageMagick® is a software suite to create, edit, and compose bitmap images. It can read, convert and write images in a variety of formats (about 100) …
ImageMagick: Downloads

ImageMagick: Command-line Tools

ImageMagick: Command-line Options

ImageMagick: Command-line Processing

ImageMagick v6 Examples

ImageMagick: Examples of ImageMagick Usage

ImageMagick - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wikipedia Articles
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Photo manipulation

Image Editing

Vector Graphics

Scalable Vector Graphics or SVGs

Until next time,
-Texaiano

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Well…Not exactly…

Have you ever seen a picture of someone with cheeks so cute that you just had to pinch them? Even though it might be a compliment, there’s not many people who enjoy having their cheeks pinched. So why not do the next best thing - create a polymer clay caricature. (No one will care if you pinch the clay cheeks.)

In coming posts, I will share some tips about how to create the perfect caricature. Until then, look at this adorable caricature that Nadège, author of the Creaprovence Blog, sculpted in polymer clay from a picture of her daughter.

See more pictures of the caricature on Nadège’s blog, at:

http://creaprovence.canalblog.com/archives/2007/03/04/4068359.html

On her blog, Nadège displays many other interesting designs and sculptures, as well as inovative polymer clay techinques, so be sure to check it out.

Now, go have some fun making your own photo family memories. -Texaiano

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The ancient Egyptians choose the form of the pyramid to build everlasting monuments to themselves on the plateau of Giza.
Today, these monuments still stand and are considered to be among the seven wonders of the ancient world. Modern photographers often look to them for inspiration and have found in them a form that endures the ages. Portrait photographers often pose their subjects in a pyramid form in order to accomplish two objects, namely to fit everyone in the frame while still maintaining visual interest in the portrait.

Recently, Tim Vansant shared an old family snapshot taken years ago on his grandmother’s 75th birthday. What a great thing is it to have a snapshot of his grandmother, mother, and brothers and sisters to record such an auspicious occasion. The picture not only records that moment, but through the period dress of the subjects and background decor, the viewer of the photograph is transported back in time to epoch in which when the picture was taken.

Just as the Pyramids of Giza hold hidden treasures and stores of memories, so too does Tim’s family portrait. If you have a sharp eye, you will discover some hidden gems in the photograph which will help you to improve your own photography skills. For example, subjects 2, 4 and 5 seem to be looking off to the right, while subjects 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 are looking straight at the camera. In composing your photographs, try to engage everyone so that they are facing the same direction. (Tim doesn’t remember exactly what was going on, but he thinks it was probably his uncle distracting some of the people.)

Another hidden gem in this portrait is in the backdrop. It looks like everyone is gathered around Grandma’s chair. As a result, there is some furniture and papers present around the edges of the pictures. If time permits, and your models are willing to wait a few extra minutes, try to clear the area of debris and unused furniture. This eliminates anything that might detract for the people who are being photographed.

One final suggestion would be to add more light. An expensive lighting kit isn’t necessary. In an improv situation where the flash on the camera is insufficient, create some temporary studio lighting by taking a lamp and point the top of it (where the light comes out of the lampshade) towards the group. You may need to experiment a little, holding the light above the group, shining down on them, or bouncing the light off an adjacent wall so that it reflects onto them. You must take care not to create new shadows

I am very grateful that Tim was gracious enough to share this photograph with us for critique here. I hope you will find inspiration in this article to go out and create your own photo family memory (another great pyramid) while taking portraits of your loved ones.

If you have a photograph that you would like me to analyze, praise or otherwise talk up, and you think it would be useful to teach or inspire other people to create their own photo family memories, please send it to me at texaiano - at - gmail - dot - com. You can also start the ball rolling by dropping me a note.

Now, go enjoy your family and make the world a better place by working on some photo family memories of your own.

Your Fellow “Creative Genius ” ,
Texaiano

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Babyzone.com is a great website for young families, but it’s not just about babies. It also has a ton of family photography and scrapbooking information (because what mom or dad does not want to record those precious memories before they’re gone?.)

One cool feature that I wanted to highlight is the ”
What’s Your Family Photo IQ?” quiz, which tests, among other things, your knowledge about the best time to photograph a baby, light sources, the best focal points when doing a close up of someone’s face and the use of props and backgrounds. Take the quiz and and find out if you are a photographic genius (scores 18-21 points on the quiz), or if you need to brush up on your craft. (HINT: If score below 18 and are in that last category, a good way to learn new photography skills is to subscribe to my RSS feed, that way, I can constantly update you with new ideas and techniques on how to take the best family pictures and to enjoy them everyday.)

Once you know your photo IQ, post a comment below to let us know how you did, and while you are on Babyzone.com, you should also check out the other cool features. There is the recently added “What’s His Fathering Style?” quiz, the weekly Photo Contest for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and children under 5 years of age, and loads of relationship advice.

Good Luck with the IQ test. (Don’t worry. MENSA will not revoke your membership if turns out that you are not a photo genius.

Now, go make some photo family memories. -Texaiano

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It’s now the middle of May, and one day after Mother’s Day. May is full of family activities. There’s high school and college graduation. Most high schools put their prom during May. As I mentioned in my “Foto Memory Minute” yesterday, there are a lot of local festivals and rodeos to attend. So, what have you done to strengthen your family this month? I wanted to highlight two or three opportunities in particular.

Perhaps this is a day late, but yesterday was Mother’s Day here in the U.S. Did you do something nice for your mother? Did you call her and let her know that you were thinking of her and tell her thanks for all of the sacrifices that she made while she was raising you and for all of the nice things that she did for you? If not, it’s not too late.

I know it’s not a perfect world. If it were, every one would have a dear mother who met them at the door after school with a hug and a plate of warm, homemade cookies. In reality, divorce and sheer economic realities have forced many mothers out of the home. So…if you don’t have a mother to show your appreciation to, what about your grandmother, aunt, sister or wife? Even if you have daughters, they will grow up to be mothers some day. Mother’s Day is a day to recognize not only our mother, wife and grandmother, but all women in general - that special aunt, not to mention our daughters, cousins, and nieces. So, go ahead and reach out to the women in your life. Aside from the usual flowers, jewelry and chocolate, you can make a unique gift by putting together a photo montage of all of your favourite snap-shots to present to her. Don’t forget to call or visit them too. As mom always says, the best and most thoughtful gifts don’t come from the store.

Memorial Day, at the end of May, is another special day set aside for honoring special people - the nation’s fallen veterans. Now, I don’t want to get into a debate about the merits of the current conflict. What I do want to do, however, is to remind you to support the troops. Remember and honor the men and women who serve in the nation’s military, both in the present conflict, as well as the past. Draw your family together and do something for the troops - write cards, put together care packages, raise a flag to pole and fly the flag…whatever. Just do something together. By honoring the veterans as a family, you instill a sense of pride, community and ownership in your children. You also build memories. Even though technically Memorial Day is designated to honor fallen veterans, and Veterans Day is meant to honor living veterans, you can still take this opportunity, if someone in your family has served in the military, your father, uncle, grandfather, brother, or son, make them the guest of honor at a family awards banquet that focuses on their story of heroism. You can also interview your veteran and record their story in your family history. If you don’t have any veterans in your family, and don’t have any desire to get involved with today’s military people, pick a military conflict in our nation’s history and have each family member research it. Try to be as fair and unbiased as possible and then get together to share the history that you have discovered. You can get pictures of past conflicts from the National Archives to add to a scrap book or digital scrap book.

Memorial Day is also the start of the summer bar-b-que season. Gather all of your family and friends around. Have everyone bring their favorite outside dish. And enjoy good food, good company, and good weather. (Even our VEGAN friends can enjoy a backyard bar-b-que, since there are no rules limiting a cook out to sausage, hamburgers, ribs and brisket.)

Now that you are armed with some new ideas, go out and make some memories with your family.

-Texaiano

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