Print panel comp

Simonzphotoz · Print panel comp

I posted this is the suggestions section so thought I'd put this up and see what people think.

Other topic

Personally I think they're great because it gets you thinking in a whole new way, and if this is popular, why not do a four print, cos they are neigh on impossible. I'm not suggesting that we put a theme, just have a print panel. Anyhow, nuff jibber jabber, tell me what you think.

This is done in CS2.

Open the three images that you want to use for your panel. And sort them out so you are happy with them, by that I mean, levels etc.
Bare in mind that they need to look good as a set, so ones that are vastly different in colour or subject matter aren’t going be that great, unless they have uniformity, for example the first an the last are similar. And it is always good to have a beginning and an end. (although the images that I have chosen don’t)

Make them all the same size, it is easier if they are to begin with and if they are all in the same aspect, portrait/landscape, it looks better to. Sometimes this wont work because they have been cropped differently, however this can be rectified when you add the border, just make a note of the size and add that in the relevant box.(see * bit)

For the purposes of this I have three images, 2000 x 3008.

Decide on border. 2cm, is good, which means we add 1cm.

So, first we need to add the border.
Image>Canvas

Make sure that the box with all the arrows looks like this. Also, change the colour, by clicking on the little pink square, it will be white more than likely, and make it something garish, it makes moving the images later easier and will be changed at the end.
Simply add 1cm to the numbers in the box and click ok. (* or put in the desired image size so they are all the same.)

The image should now look like this.

Beautiful!

Do the above with all the images so they all look the same as the one above.

Now go into
Image>image size.
This is to find out the actual size of the new image. Grab a piece of paper and write down the numbers that are in the top two boxes.

Now grab a calculator and times the top number by three, 2118 x 3 = 6354.
This is the final canvas size. The height will stay the same.
VERY important, make a note of the resolution.
Click cancel.

Now we need to make a new canvas
File>new.
Put the numbers that you have just worked out into the boxes and click ok. Making sure the resolution is the same.
New canvas size is 6354 x 3126 x 300pix/inch.

Click ok.

Now simply copy and paste the three images into the new canvas. To do this, Click the image.
Select>All.
Hold Ctrl and press C, then click the new canvas and hold Ctrl and press V. repeat with other images, don’t forget to click back on the original image and Select>deselect, after each one.

They will appear in a stack, if you have not worked with layers before, don’t worry, all will be explained.

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Top Tip: Did you know that you can be more accurate with your zoom. Simply by clicking on the percentage in the bottom left hand corner of any image and typing in the required number.

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Now to separate the layers. For this you will need to have the layers pallet open, if not, press F7 or go
Window>layers.

So using the Layers pallet we can select the desired layer and move the images around so that they are positioned where you want them, this is when the garish colours really helps.

And finally,

Now we need to finalise the border and pick a better colour. This is simple enough, using the colour picker choose a colour that compliments your images, the colour picker is the two interlocking boxes, one is white the other black, on the left hand side of the screen, usually. Click the black one and chose a colour and using the layers pallet to select the correct one and the bucket fill tool, colour the border.
Make sure you select the correct layer otherwise you will end up filling in the entire canvas, DOH!!!

Make sure everything is sorted and you are happy, then save one version as PSD, to keep the layers so that IF you want to go back and change something then you can. If you want to save one for email or web purposes then you will have to flatten the image first. This is because the image size is a little huge, my final .psd one was 60meg. hmmm!

Layers>Flatten Image

And hey presto. One print panel.

I hope this helps someone as some stage, let me know what you think, and any questions. I would just like to point out that this is how I do it but I am sure there are other methods to do certain parts of the process, this is not a hard and fast rule.
Also this isn't how I enter competitions, normally each image is mounted separately but for the purposes of what I'm suggesting this works.
I also realise that doing landscapes might be a bit risky cos the images could get a bit big, I'll let Mike sort that bit out, although suggestions are welcome.

hil26

Aha, a triptych, I think

Good idea

Is this one cheating?

creators

Great walk through Simon and a lovely way of displaying images. And a stunning a triptych Dave.

creators

hil26

Thanks Keith

I love the idea of this thread and am looking forward to seeing a lot more in this style - especially when they tell a storey, like your statue - like the frame colours on it.

Well done Simon, great idea

hil26

Venom

Yeh I like the idea of this Simon, you could have some interesting shots. Jonh had the one with a man falling of a horse, that would fit well with this. If people think its worth it I could put it in it's own section in the Appraisals section.

What do you guys and ladies think?

PS nice work Simon Very Happy

Simonzphotoz

Ooooh look people like my idea!!! nice one guys, keep them coming and we might get a section

Simonzphotoz

hil26

creators

creators

Just want to check... Are you ok about some images being over 600 pixels Mike? There have been a few and you've very tolerantly never mentioned it. These come out a bit small at 600 pixels.

Venom

Yes the main reason for trying to keep the size down is how quickly the image opens up and also the scrolling left to right to see it, but understand that some pictures, particularly panoramic need to be bigger to see them at there best.
So Yes no problem with bigger ones Very Happy

hil26

Put some of the better images from yesterdays "photoshoot" with the 3 year old model together