use filters or stand-alone utilities designed to preserve image integrity (such as Neat Image, Unsharp Mask, Dust & Scratches, and color correction tools). These filters must be applied uniformly to the entire image, and must not be used in such a way that their use becomes a feature. No “effects” filters may be applied to your image, with the exception of Noise and Gaussian Blur.
saturate, desaturate or change the colors of your entry, but no selections are allowed.
use only Adjustment Layers (or their equivalent). An Adjustment Layer is a special type of layer containing no image data that lets you experiment with color and tonal adjustments without permanently modifying the pixels. Adjustment Layers must be applied in Normal mode.
add a border to the outside edge of your entry. Your border must be distinct and clearly recognizable as a border.
use RAW conversion software as long as the changes are made globally to a single file on one layer and do not create new features or effects in the process.
request removal of your own entry during the voting period IF none of your last 25 entries were disqualified or removed, and no rules were violated.
include existing images or artwork as part of your composition as long as the entry does not appear to consist entirely of a pre-existing photograph in order to circumvent date or editing rules or fool the voters into thinking you actually captured the original photograph.
Gaussian Blur is one of the effects filters explicitly allowed as long as it's applied to the entire image.
There's a whole list of what you can't do as well.
Basically, the rules restrict editing in order that the entry remains a photograph and does not cross the line into being a digital creation. Some entries can get pretty close to the line. To be fair, in every real world application of photogrpahy, (except maybe journalism) photos are edited and changed to suit the needs.
Photoshop can make a good picture look better. Photoshop can only make a bad picture looked "Photoshopped." If it looks "Photoshopped," you either have a bad picture or you overused photoshop.
As for your last entry:
You need more light on the front cat. You can either bring up the exposure in photoshop or use a flash or reflector. Bringing up the exposure in photoshop might make it look washed out (photoshopped). Also check out this rant.
As to your question. For basic, you can only do basic changes. Until you know more, don't do anything drastic. Just take the picture, play with contrast and sharpening. Also, check out the "Post-Processing" Tutorials here.
I cropped out a small part of an image. It looks beter each time I add a duplicate image. Is there any limit to how many duplicates I use? Ten is the best I've come up with. Also, is it allowable to use the elliptical marqui tool to make that 1st crop? Or, instead, to use crop tool only, followed by free transform to make it shaped less like a box?
I cropped out a small part of an image. It looks beter each time I add a duplicate image. Is there any limit to how many duplicates I use? Ten is the best I've come up with. Also, is it allowable to use the elliptical marqui tool to make that 1st crop? Or, instead, to use crop tool only, followed by free transform to make it shaped less like a box?
Errr...what do you mean by duplicates...and are we talking about Basic Editing?
I cropped out a small part of an image. It looks beter each time I add a duplicate image. Is there any limit to how many duplicates I use? Ten is the best I've come up with. Also, is it allowable to use the elliptical marqui tool to make that 1st crop? Or, instead, to use crop tool only, followed by free transform to make it shaped less like a box?
Hi Sherry. Be very careful with any editing you do if this is for a challenge entry, especially if it's 'Basic' editing (the reason I'm pointing this out is because multiple DQ's can lead to suspension of submission privileges, read the bottom of this page: //www.dpchallenge.com/challenge_rules.php?RULES_ID=17 )
Most of the tools you're allowed to use in Photoshop will be for enhancing the colours/levels/sharpness etc. of the overall image, and removing minor blemishes. Large brush-strokes across the image, unusual borders, distorting/stretching the image, or anything added to or erased from the image will probably result in a DQ.
I think I need to clarify; I'm talking about making a duplicate layer from the image; make several more duplicate layers, then use the "merge visible" to make an image with stronger depth & more detail.
I think I need to clarify; I'm talking about making a duplicate layer from the image; make several more duplicate layers, then use the "merge visible" to make an image with stronger depth & more detail.
I cropped out a small part of an image. It looks beter each time I add a duplicate image. Is there any limit to how many duplicates I use? Ten is the best I've come up with. Also, is it allowable to use the elliptical marqui tool to make that 1st crop? Or, instead, to use crop tool only, followed by free transform to make it shaped less like a box?
I crop with the elliptical marquis, then choose "layer via copy".
The resulting image does not fill the screen, and the edges are a little transparent. I start making duplicate layers from this cropped image. The layers are not moved; they are stacked on top of each other. As each layer is added the outside edges fill in a little; the outside border expands slightly, and the border is a solid now, without those transparent areas at the border. Last step is to make layers visible.
I'm pretty sure that duplicate layers are not allowed in basic. You are allowed to use adjustment layers for things like hue/saturation, contrast, color correction, etc, but you aren't ever allowed to select a part of the image to edit separate from the whole in basic. Your elliptical tool for cropping is probably legal IF you leave what's outside of that ellipse as the frame and completely cut out the rest of the picture. Not sure if that makes sense or not!
You may only have one pixel filled layer. The method you are describing is using several pixel filled layers. You may only use Adjustment layers with no pixel information....that is no masking!
