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PI
Version: 8
Level:
Beginners
Featured tools:
Selection Tool, Eraser Tool, Retouch Tool
Additional filters:
None
Additional files:
Pictures ... you can use my landscape photo for the tutorial ... you can
get it in the zip file, but please remember the copyright is mine,
and this picture should only be used for this tutorial
and for private use.
The sky is from a Free
To Use Collection ... you can get the part you need for this tutorial, here.
Tutorial:
Copyright © Inge Klement |
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| DESCRIPTION:
This tutorial will show
you an easy way to change the sky/background for your photos with
PhotoImpact. You can use the same technique with any background you
want to replace, not just skies.
Part 2 shows another method of changing the sky/background where you
have more control over which part of the sky is showing, but let's
start with Part 1!
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Open the picture
tut011_photo and make a copy (Ctrl+D). Close the original, we
shall work on the copy.
We start by using the Selection Tool/Magic Wand (red arrow). If you
prefer using other selection methods, like the Lasso or Color Range, go
for it!
Set the Mode to + (1) and the Similarity to 30 (2). The Similarity
can vary, depending on the photo you use.
Click once anywhere in the sky, making a nice, clean selection. |
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When you are
satisfied with your selection, use Delete to clean the sky/background.
Go to Edit/Fill (you can also use Crtl+F) and chose the Image tab
(red arrow). Click on File (1), and find the photo you want to use
for the new sky (2). For our example find the photo tut011_photo02.
Click the OK button, and your picture has got a new sky/background.
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For this
picture we will do something with the water in the front of the
picture. It would look rather strange to have a sky like this one we
used, and there wouldn't be any reflection in the sea.
Again using the Selection Tool/Magic Wand (or whatever
you prefer). To clean up my selections I normally use the Mask Mode (red
arrow).
Use the Paintbrush (1), remember to use black for the mask and white
for the selection part (2). I've set the Soft edge to 0 (3) and
cleaned up the part for the selection in the front of the picture with
the paintbrush (4).
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Go to Edit/Fill
(Ctrl+F),
chose the Image tab (red arrow) one more time, click on
the File (1), find the right file for the photo you want to use. In
this case, we will use the same photo as before (tut011_photo02) (2), and
set the Transparency to 45% (3).
Remember, different pictures need
different settings.
Experiment with different Merge methods. You can achieve some really
nice and special effects. |
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If you take a
close look on your picture now, you will see that the crossing between
the sea and the land needs a little adjustment.
I've used the Retouch Tool/Blur (red arrow) for correcting this. The
Shape was set to 3 (1), the Soft edge to 2 (2) and with the
Retouch Tool (3) I softly blurred the edge between the sea and the
land. |
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| That's it! That's
it! With a few steps we have quite a different picture. As you can
see, it is easy to do with PhotoImpact. Let's achieve
this effect another way in Part 2. HAVE FUN!!!
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If you need any help with
this tutorial - or want to make suggestions to improve it -
please email
me!
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Copyright © inkl-Designs. All
rights reserved.
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