UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories Helmet Forum Camera tricks

Well, I'm finally getting a handle on overcoming the GD.com 75k posting limitation. For whatever reason, this helmet, has, in the past, been particularly difficult to image. These pics quite accurately portray the thing as it actually appears 'in the flesh'.

These pics were taken at 2 megs, brightness/contrast adjusted, color balance adjusted, cropped, sharpened, reduced to 1200 pixels, sharpened, reduced to 999 pixels, sharpened, reduced to 699 pixels, saved to fit within the tiny 75k limit our system employs. All adjustments to the image were performed in the exact order described.

Bob Hudson's procedure can be very effective as it obviously worked quite well in this instance. Also, these pics were taken using a very light background. Perhaps contrast between the background and target object is crucial.

http://www.bobhudson.com/reducephotos/

Cody

This image does not capture the true color of the helmet as does the image in the previous post, demonstrating the importance and sensitivity of the Photoshop color balance tool where a small adjustment can yield significant change.

Cody

Very impressive, Mr Grayland!
Paul

Cody,

How about a picture of your "studio". It could enlighten us as to how you work your magic.

Bernie,

You're just being silly.

As shown in this shot of my upstairs 'studio', proper still photography requires a tripod.

The choice of air-conditioner is also of critical importance.

In this shot, the sun is trying to peek out from behind a cloud. Typically, I shoot in the first part of the day before the sun has marched across the sky to then cast severe shadows on the 'studio' area. The overhanging white-painted gables of the house help reflect a soft ambient light onto the art board.

Cody

Cody good post. I've been using his method also. I try to reduce in 200 pixel hunks. One thing I've tried with some success is with decaled helmets.

I've found that sharpening the whole picture each time sometimes sharpens the decal too much, while the helmet itself looks good.

So I experiment with the magic wand for selective sharpening in the reduction process staying away from the decal after the first or second sharpen/reduction. If at the end of the reduction process the decal could use alittle sharpening it can be done with the lasso tool and faded to get the right look.

So in photoshop it looks like this for the selective sharpen.

Wonderful photo editing program. This photo went through MS paint bitmap screen capture for an example so it won't appear as the original finished photo. Also found that neutral grey background works better with my camera.

All the best,

Chris,

I'll have to try that next time a smooth-finsih needs to be shot. The smooth-finshed helmets can be difficult to image, especially, if the finsh is glossy, such as in the example you posted.

The lighting conditions inherent at the top of my air-conditioner are serendipitous indeed and contribute greatly to the success of my imaging. Fussing with the trappings/equipment/lights/reflectors/tripods/etc...of a proper studio could easily result in a tragic brain aneurysm. My little 'port-a-studio' has worked well for years and I have no intention of attempting anything more physically elaborate than what you see in the previous post. Photoshopping, on the other hand, appears to offer many benefits, which, until just recently, I had been reluctant to discover.

Cody

The other thing that I discovered is that with the coolpix I use, the photoshop "adjustments" always tend to be the same regardless of helmet subject.

Brightness +10, contrast +10 and saturation +10. Every camera is different and with this one I've found the norm.

My studio is a traditional style park bench with a board laying on the seat to catch the top of the art board to hold it in place, with a brick to hold the bottom on the patio.

Then I assume the prone position. Your's looks much more comfortable

Wow Cody.... it's kinda like a miniature Disneyland....

Bernie,

Yes, it's much like a tiny Disneyland, only, the E-ticket rides are'nt so tiny.

Chris,

Tried the satuaration tool. Subtle but useful. This image has not been reduced with the Hudson method so it therefore lacks the fine resolution possible with his technique, but, the image was color-adjusted, plus, your saturation recommendation applied as well. This is starting to look like the real thing. Thanks.

Cody

Glad it worked Cody. If you have the original picture in your camera picture files I'd love to see that shot using all the techniques starting from the raw photo.

Couldn't pick a better subject

All the best,

Great thread guys! I'm gonna try to keep up with this stuff and put out better pictures....I need to get photoshop! Regards, Chris

Here's the opposite side of the helmet using selective sharpening staying away from the decal when reducing. Adjustments made at the final size using the lasso tool if needed.

The detail in the paint is accented while not over sharpening the decal.

Chris great helmet !! Taking your lo rez photo and putting it in photoshop I took the chinstrap as the anchor color and desaturated the picture until the chinstrap color was correct. Selectively sharpened the rest of the helmet.

Gives it a different look. Granted were taking a lo rez and making another lo rez from it but you can see that with photoshop, you can fiddle to the max

See how everything else has changed but the decal remains the same.

Sorry but the cmaher shot is more aesthetically pleasing...in my opinion.

Robert

Cool Chris! I'd like to start taking shots at hi res and scale them down for posting. What photoshop should I get and how much does it cost? I don't want to spend too much....it would come out of my helmet budget! Regards, Chris

PM me Chris

Nice photos make a big difference. Thanks for the tips! Just testing the new procedure.

me

Uhhh! Uhhhh! Uhhhh! Mamma Mia! Mice cammo lid there. Oh and the photography helps too.

Thanks Cody!
Great tips!

Excellant shot !!

Gude ihr leut!

Not trying to bother anyone,just having fun with photoshop .

me

Martin,

That KM camo is a terrific helmet and one which I owned in 1974. Funny how these things circulate in the small world we helmet collectros inhabit.

Cidy

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quote:

Originally posted by Cody Grayland:
Martin,

That KM camo is a terrific helmet and one which I owned in 1974. Funny how these things circulate in the small world we helmet collectros inhabit.

Cidy

Thanks Cody,

Terrific helmet indeed! Thank you for the photo tips. Also, thank you inadvance for Ludwig Baer's references. I am anxiously awaiting their arrival!

martin

quote:

Originally posted by cmaher55:
Great thread guys! I'm gonna try to keep up with this stuff and put out better pictures....I need to get photoshop! Regards, Chris

do you want photoshop CS2 ?

Another thing easily done with photoshop is creating floaters

Gotta love those floaters!!
me