Increase the focus on your images
Taking a photograph is just the beginning of the creative process. Since the beginning of photography, artists have used different techniques to enhance the finished product.
Here's a quick technique using Photoshop (CS4) to simulate the traditional darkroom dodge and burn to draw attention to a point in your image.
1. Open your image in Photoshop.
2. Select the Lasso tool
3. Draw around the area that you want to be the focus of your image
4. Select the Curves Adjustment Layer from the Adjustments Pallet (if any of the pallets mentioned here are not visible in your Photoshop setting, you can open them from the Window Menu).
5. Click on the curve and drag the curve to make the selection darker (yes, it darkens the wrong area, this will be fixed in the next step)
6. Select the MASKS pallet and click on the Invert button
7. Now that the correct area has been darkened, it's time to feather the selection, for this, on the MASKS pallet, drag the Feather slider until you cannot detect the edge of the selection
8. You can go back to the Adjustment you created by selecting the layer from the LAYER pallet and modify the curve in the ADJUSTMENT pallet if you need to adjust anything.
You can add as many layers as you need to focus on different areas of your image.
I hope this will be helpful in your creative process and please send us an email to info@pikto.com if you have any questions.
The Idea Corner: CONTACT
CONTACT Toronto Photography Festival is only one month away. One month isn't that long, especially when prepping to be a part of such a wonderful event.
For those saying, "What's CONTACT?" (which I hope not too many!!) here is a little description: "CONTACT is an annual month long festival of photography with over 1000 local, national and international artists at more than 220 venues across the Greater Toronto Area in May. Founded as a not-for-profit organization 13 years ago, CONTACT is devoted to celebrating, and fostering an appreciation of the art and profession of photography. As the largest photography event in the world, and a premiere cultural event in Toronto, CONTACT stimulates excitement and discussion among a diverse audience that has grown to over 1,000,000 and is focused on cultivating even greater interest and participation this year." (www.contactphoto.com)
Pretty awesome, huh?! Sure is!!
If all of your printing & framing is taken care of and you are sitting down, legs up, sipping a brew, congratulating yourself on not procrastinating, then props to you. But, if you are one of the ones scrambling about, a bit overwhelmed about where to begin, come on over to Pikto, we can help.
The customer service will gladly help you by showing you all the types of paper you might want to print on. Whether it's Giclee Prints, with a variety of papers to choose from (turn around time: 24 hours), or Light jet prints; Matte/Glossy and even Metallic (turn around time: approximately 3 business days), we can help explain how the paper will add or take away from your photographs. Jade, our fabulous framer, has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to framing, mounting and installing them at your show. Ask away, this lady has seen it all.
But, don't forget, it takes time to print, mount, frame, etc. You have a month, stop procrastinating, take the ttc to Mill street, grab a chocolate croissant at the front gates of the Distillery and come on over to Pikto. Ask away and get the show on it's feet!
Oh, and one more thing! Pikto is helping out those involved by making 150 postcards for free. All you have to do is show your proof of registration. Get the word out there!!
Here is a sneak peak from Jade & Emma's show:
Cheers, Scarlet
The Idea Corner: Happy St. Patty’s Day!!
Welcome to the idea corner & the idea corner’s first entry!!
The Idea Corner is a new addition to Pikto. The Idea Corner is a place for you & us to come together in creating new & exciting ideas for photography and the photographic community.
Got an idea?
Let us know!
If you have looked outside or are lucky enough to be outside, you know that it is GORGEOUS out there! And, being a photographer, let’s hope you are actually already on your way out the door, camera in hand, eager to photograph all the splendors of the day. Get off the computer, stop processing.. get out that door but first...
.....on this absolutely gorgeous day, why not take out the hot new item we have recently flying off the shelves at Pikto: The Diana Mini.
The Diana Mini is a half frame & square format on 35 mm camera. With a quick flick you can switch your film count from 36 frames to 72 frames ! With that, you can go twice as long in creating beautiful images. The half-frame option allows you to take two photos that appear side by side on one 35 mm frame. The awesome function forces your juices to start flowing causing that creativity to come up with some great diptychs.
But, if you feel like changing it up half way through, not a problem, flick the button back to the square format and shoot away.
This super stylish lil’ camera is so easy to bring along as it fits into small purses and even- wait for it: your pocket! Now, there will be no more excuses about not being able to bring a “big” or “heavy” or “expensive” camera out with you as the Diana Mini is lightweight, tiny and very affordable. And just in case you are trying to find anymore excuses, we also sell 35 mm film and develop it too.
Could it be any more perfect!!
Here are some images taken by Pikto staff members with the hot new item. Hurry quick, get yours today and create some beautiful images that you’ll still love next St. Patrick’s Day!!
Cheers, Scarlet
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