Rainy day toy shots on holiday..

[mattius]

Too much rain during my trip to Japan. Got a couple of Gundam toys and started taking shots.
FYI - I`m just an amateur, using a a simple lumix FZ28 (point+shoot), and paint.net (cause it`s small enough to install on hostel computers when I`m travelling about).

So - using a chair covered by my jumper, pushed against a white wall (unfortunately not just a plain wall).
All following explanations of changes are using the free 'paint.net' program....
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before_1 = simple shot one robot standing over the other
after_1 = created seperate 2 layers of the existing pic. In these seperate layers (using - 'adjustments'-'curves', boosted the overall blues, and muted the green and reds from the pic. Flattened the layers. Hi-lighted the sword, and used the 'effects'-'photo'-'glow' tool to make it stand out a bit. Used the paint dropper tool to put in some dark red bloody splotches around the fight scene. Because the jumper is rough - it was easy to only fill in a few segments. Finally adjusted the overall balance using 'adjustments'-'brightness/contrast' to blend the horizon line, and to give it a more cartoonie feel (I think settings were brightness 8 / contrast 26)



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before_2 = simple shot one robot standing over the other (different angle)
after_2 = very quick and easy one for this. Used the 'clone-stamp' tool to remove the edge of the chair - leading to the wall. Used the paint dropper, and dark red colour to make blood splashes. Then used 'effects'-'blur'-'zoom blur' to add movement to the stomping action. Finally adjusted the overall balance using 'adjustments'-'brightness/contrast' (again) to give it a more cartoonie feel (I think settings were brightness 5 / contrast 18)



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Hopefully the rain will clear up and let me get in some 'real-life' photography soon...



-G-