[PhotoComix]

EDIT 20 April 2009

This Tutorial should be still revised, some illustrations are missed and some tips may be added

Anyway is taking too long to update and since many complains that was anymore available i move temporary back in the Tutorial forum.

But i hope to replace soon with a newer version

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Tutorial require a recent version (2.6 ..2.8 or 2.9) of greycstoration plugin

(GreyCstoration plugin Download
last version for windows http://photocomix-resources.deviantart. ... n-94412740
for other OS http://sourceforge.net/project/showfile ... _id=266487 )

After

DETAIL


uncropped, original size http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/274 ... afb0_o.jpg

Before

DETAIL



uncropped ,original size http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/272 ... e776_o.jpg



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is released under CC you may want download the original size ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/vonbergend ... 488065788/ )for use in this tutorial

here is a possible result


(others sizes http://www.flickr.com/photos/photocomix ... 729454484/ )

Is also possible boost the effect as here with a simple additional step



(more sizes on http://www.flickr.com/photos/photocomix ... 728628849/ )

HOW TO

1 duplicate the layer

2
Filters/artistic/photocopy..



the setting i used are visible in the screenshoot but give more attention on the preview:
different images may need some change in the filter settings while result should look in the filter preview similar this image.




3
Now start Greycstoration plugin ( Filters/enhance/Greycstotration)




with default values you should get in the preview something similar


we DON'T want that we want much more smoothing and we want the smoothing follow and respect imagine edges and structure ..so

A
LOWER " contour preservation "value till the imagine do not start to look blurred (just on that edges not too much more)
B
Now "noise scale" push up the value that will add more blur (but a different kind of blur) here blur. bit too much ... overblurred but still readable
C

here the trick now increase Anisotropy value and you will notice immediately that will compensate the blurriness...
(well not exactly..blurriness remain the same but Anisotropy apply that blur along imagine edges and structures ..so details are regained)

D now that you notice the interaction between "noise scale" and "Asinotropy" you may fine tune the results
(Now ,In this condition you may try some different setting of "Geometry Regolarity " according to the imagine it may change the type of smoothing structure..)

To confront this was the result with default values



while here are the values i chose (quite different from default)you may see how much the effect change confronting the filter preview




with same values on same image you should duplicate exactly mu results.. but my point was also to explain how to adjust that values for different imagines, for that i explain how that value interact

5
Now simply change the layer mode of this duplicated layer in SOFT LIGHT (with till the bug in Overlay mode will be fixed, also mode Overlay will give you same effect..but that may change in the future)

(to check at original size http://www.flickr.com/photos/photocomix ... 4/sizes/o/ )

DONE
Using same values on same image you should duplicate exactly my result: THIS "EFFECT LAYER"



while what i write above on greycstoration settings should help to adapt that values to different imagines



(to check at original size http://www.flickr.com/photos/photocomix ... 4/sizes/o/ )
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for another confront this http://www.gimptalk.com/io_images/31801 ... kippe.jpeg will be the result if skipping the greycstoration step
No too bad , more sharp and detailed then original but ...less graphic and with less texture and effect

See for example the mountain or even the street and foliage the Greycstoration step allow to give them..hmm..some flow ,that is missed in the skipped version
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HOW BOOST THE FX

DETAIL



to get this instead is very simple


original size http://www.flickr.com/photos/photocomix ... 9/sizes/o/

As additional step just duplicate the "effect layer" (as default duplicate will be in the same layer mode, in this case Soft Light)


HOW TO SOFTEN THE FX

as my nick may suggest i love cartoonish effect, but i know many photographer will prefer something more subtle

Well soften the effect is simple as lower the opacity of the "effect layer(s)" with the opacity cursor in the layer window

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POST SCRIPTUM-(another sample+original xcf+screenshoot of settings + more tips)


ok i think the best if upload another example and also the original xcf file, i should be able to do in a couple of hours

here is a zip with the xcf file http://www.box.net/shared/7q7vqb59ey , the original is in the BG, there is also a copy of the photocopy ( with visibility switched off)
and screenshoot of settings used are here
1

2


3 Effect Layer


Note 1° left default but with i duplicated the layer effect(2 instead then one)- 2 left 1effect layer only in grain merge mode( 100% opacity)



in this case grain merge mode give maybe a more pleasant effective results, but often overlay work better that depend of the imagine
PS

Fencepost i run greycstoration on the photocopy not on the final result...

( but has experiment i did here as ADDITIONAL step, greycstoration was applied first to the photocopy, as explained.
then visible was pasted and i apply greycstoration again to the merged

Also that is interesting Fx but maybe quite strong strong ..may seems the reproduction of a painting

anyway

ORIGINAL

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/272 ... f33e_o.jpg (i do not add here img tag is several MB)

LEFT Default "graphic novel fx"
RiGHT, some greycstoration applied to the merged (with same setting as for the photocopy) and a crop



A last point: as start i used large originals (most 1600x1066 )at quite good resolution
All original are from volterbingen.net except this last, "Market" from http://www.flickr.com/photos/clobrda/ )

[Griatch]

Hmm, interesting. I'm not sure I'd call it a "cartoonish" effect though, more of a super-contrast-sharpen thing. Nevertheless it creates a fun style.

(note: Some of the tutorial images are not available to me though.)
.
Griatch

[PhotoComix]

Quote

Hmm, interesting. I'm not sure I'd call it a "cartoonish" effect though, more of a super-contrast-sharpen thing. Nevertheless it creates a fun style.

A sort Cartoonish effect is visible at original size as example here http://www.flickr.co...177533/sizes/o/ when dramatically scaled down it look more "a super-contrast-sharpen thing".
( i didn't want bring havoc on dial up users with a series of 1600x1100 images on same page)

Quote

(note: Some of the tutorial images are not available to me though.)

thank to let me know ,was a permission problem, should be fixed in few minutes (at soon the image host cache will be refreshed)

[Akito]

can u give us a link where to get that plugin? :)

[PhotoComix]

http://downloads.sourceforge.net/cimg/G ... on-2.9.zip

PS Damn..some illustration are still missed i already upload a replacement to imagine ox ,just i do not as get a from there the code for something bigger then a thumb but no so large as the originals

[PhotoComix]

sorry for missed illustration i replaced with other on imageox, but now also imageox has :cry: quirks

[Akito]

maybe u can try uploading on tinypic.com
that's a good place too :)

[curly haired boy]

wow, that really can change a photo to a concept-art style. i like it a lot!

[PhotoComix]

happy you like..
i replace the missed illustrations and i add some details
And even if almost contrary to my principle (i do not like much wrote the exact settings, that usually works well only on the sample used, i much prefer explain how to find the right settings so they can be adapted to different images) i add a screenshoot with the settings so is easier duplicate the effect on same sample :)

PS happy to get some feedback...several hundreds views and so few comments ..i was wondering if i explained so well to make any question superfluous or if just nobody was interested
(hem..since i 'm a bit pessimistic i was quite convinced of the last :cry: )

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PS i just found a plugin offering a somehow similar effects (see 2 and 4 from top ,the woman and man samples http://www.thepluginsite.com/products/p ... mples4.htm) but that is a new PS plugin at about 70$

[Oregonian]

I worked at the graycrestoration and tried changing settings, etc., and could not get the neat cartoon effect you got.

This picture, original on the left, processed on the right, I used the photocopy settings then Colors/Brightness and Contrast and got a more cartoonish look to it.

[PhotoComix]

@Oregonian
i too prefer follow tut on some image i found interesting instead on the sample used,but that sample is useful in case of troble, may be a bit boring but, if you can't replicate on a another imagine, then try to replicate with the sample.

I just fix the link for the original that went broken so you can download the original size (i worked on that ) and check it

I suppose your sample is scaled down and maybe is not the best for the trick...not sure as that size is hard to tell

i did several other try, with same steps i upload something shortly with a link to the original, of a few i should have also screenshoot with the settings

in a few minutes i will post the fixed link for the original, and a another example

EDIT

OOPSS ..something more then few minutes i hope to find time this evening

[PhotoComix]

ok i think the best if upload another example and also the original xcf file,

here is a zip with the xcf file http://www.box.net/shared/7q7vqb59ey , the original is in the BG, there is also a copy of the photocopy ( with visibility switched off)
and screenshoot of setting used are here
1

2


3 Effect Layer


Note 1° left default but with i duplicated the layer effect(2 instead then one)- 2 left 1effect layer only in grain merge mode( 100% opacity)



in this case grain merge mode give maybe a more pleasant effective results, but often overlay work better that depend of the imagine
PS



( has experiment i did here as ADDITIONAL step, greycstoration was applied first to the photocopy, as explained.
then visible was pasted and i apply greycstoration again to the merged

Also that is interesting Fx but maybe a bit too strong ..may seems the reproduction of a painting

anyway

ORIGINAL

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/272 ... f33e_o.jpg (i do not add here img tag is several MB)

LEFT Default "graphic novel fx"
RiGHT, some greycstoration applied to the merged (with same setting as for the photocopy) and a crop



A last point: as start i used large originals (most 1600x1066 )at quite good resolution
All original are from volterbingen.net except this last, "Market" from http://www.flickr.com/photos/clobrda/ )

[Oregonian]

The "2" picture up there doesn't download. It just opens to a bunch of computer chars. I was able to get the 1 picture and look at the layers.

My picture is much lighter than yours and not as large. I kept tweaking the settings, using more black and came up with this. The second effects layer lightened it too much so played with layer modes and got an interesting effect using the burn mode. You can take a look at the layers by downloading the zipped xcf file here.

nomad-graycr.zip

[PhotoComix]

Quote

The "2" picture up there doesn't download

ok i check and fix the link

Quote

My picture is much lighter than yours and not as large. I kept tweaking the settings, using more black and came up with this. The second effects layer lightened it too much so played with layer modes and got an interesting effect using the burn mode. You can take a look at the layers by downloading the zipped xcf file here

i try to replicate on same image 2 overlay layers at full opacity were a overkill, while 1 at 100% and its dup at about 40% give ,for my taste a better result ...

Quote

The second effects layer lightened it too much

....anyway also this may look too brighter, then another duplicate of the effect layer but this time in multiply mode i used 49% opacity

Result is somehow similar to burn but smoother

I will suggest also to start from image as higher res at higher size...this even is your final result should be a medium size
a lot of details may get lost , or blobbed when scaling down and save as jpg

usually stock and CC imagine are good for editing if downloaded at original size link (or in DA and "render "forum from the download link) and only the original size may be at high res the other are size are automatically compressed
That may look sufficiently good for a display but no much for further edit, now many details to boost are lost if lost they can't be anymore "enhanced"



And also

And if needed something at medium size will scale down only as last step zoom out here and there to check the effect at smaller scale


NOTE

Best reply is in a xcf ( include screengrab) just a bit of patience just now my adsl has some quirks and refuse to upload at any reasonable speed

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But may be another reason, you may not revail details that are not there, and enhancing is less effective when there are too few pixels to manip.
I use full size original usually from 1200 till 1600 px wide usually at high resolution (then i may scale down but i prefer do at the end and instead
zoom out to see the check how will look at smaller size.

If a imagine was already so scaled down and then saved as jpg with default compression may be hard enhance details they get

[Oregonian]

I'm having a lot of fun playing with your tut, PhotoComix.

This fleet picture: I used one effects layer of soft light and one layer of burn. There's a lot of blue in the picture and not a lot of contrast. I love the way burn highlighted the ships, wakes and waves.



I worked on the original-sized (1400x933) image then scaled it after I put it through photocopy and graycstoration.
You can view the original picture here.

Looks like you were posting about the same time I was. :mrgreen:
I will go back and address what you were saying above.

I will also try it using multiply. :)

[Oregonian]

I tried it using Multiply mode on the second effects layer. Yes, it does make it smoother. Here are the other settings I used.

Effects layers, Soft Light, Multiply
Photo Copy
Masked 19.38
Sharpness 0.800
% Black 0.5
% White 0.182

GraycRestoration
Strength 103.4
Contour Pres. 4.24
Anistrophy 0.67
Noise 8.8
Geom Reg 6.24
Spatial 0.80
Angular 30.0

Here is the zipped xcf file with the two layers in the original size.
fleetgcrest.zip

[PhotoComix]

hy
glad you have fun with it
From yesterday my ADSL is kind of dying (maximum download speed 10 Kb/s,much slower the dial up take minutes to just open this page...maybe in a couple of hors will finish to dl your sample ) is a pity because i have much other material,

I'm also thinking to modify this tutorial, first i wanted it more simple then possible but now i think is better add something to make more flexible

Seems you (as Fenceposte i posted same tutorial on gimpdome ) already figured out most of what i was thinking to add,

Basically

Better start from high res imagine, at a large size (or may be impossible enhance detail because lost from rescaling and jpg compression.)
.once enhanced imagine may be scaled down or compressed as needed.
Soft focus imagines are not a problem (on the contrary they will be the most "boosted")

1 how make best use of preview

A )How to enlarge the Filter preview windows as possible (that may be trickier in windows)
B) zoom the imagine at 100% and confront with the detail of the filter preview at same size,

2 )

if result seems too bleached adding a new duplicate of the effect layer ,but this time in multiply mode most of time solve
(about transparency of this last dup, most of time a get good result with less then 50% but a few i had to go till 100%..
is not too hard find the right combination, a bit before do not change much, after is gettting to dark,)

3)
I'm surprised nobody seems to have notice this
Often the "effect layer" is also a quite interesting selfstanding imagine , somehow similar to a paint technique often used for "street portait" or draft of paysage, not sure how is called in english
(if someone know i will be happy ...) is a kind of "ink and wash painting" but monocrome done usually with black (or anyway dark ) ink but used at several dilutions from almost pure ink to almost pure water
on slightly wetted paper,
was quite used by Chinese and Japanese artists but also a lot of western painters used ...also as alternative to "ink pen" or pencil for quick drafts

I found hard find examples on internet not too good but i can't find better

http://www.animation...kwash06-big.jpg
http://www.ccpr.murdoch.edu.au/art/exhi ... urdoch.jpg

this is somehow similar except for the sharp and very thin ink line



here some example of what i get (EDIT hem "here " at soon the connection will allow to upload them

As they come out sometimes are already fine, other time need a bit correction (as with contrast/luminosity or level...or again with a duplicate on top in multiply mode,...)


and or hue correction

[Oregonian]

I like your idea of using the effects layers. Here is one I did using only the effects layers. I think it needs some light gray areas to look more washed. There can be some very interesting effects doing it this way.



There are 3 effects layers.

Top Layer: Multiply + default Gaussian blur
Middle Layer: Multiply
Bottom layer: Soft light + default Gaussian blur

Original picture here.

After the layers are merged, you could do color to alpha and get rid of the white and put another color behind it.

[PhotoComix]

Hy
Oregonian great chose for the original and very cartoonish result...

[Oregonian]

I love playing with that script. I wouldn't have known what to do with it if you hadn't posted your tut, PhotoComix, so thanks a lot.

I will continue playing with it and see what comes out. :mrgreen: