Adobe has announced an update to Photoshop for iPad that adds the popular Refine Edge Brush and Rotate Canvas feature.
The new Refine Edge Brush in Photoshop for iPad makes it easier to precisely select parts of an image, particularly those involving fine fabrics, hair or fur. Underneath, the technology is the same as used in its Desktop feature, but Adobe tweaked the interface a bit to make it more intuitive for the iPad’s touch-first design.
Below are a few of the examples Adobe has shared in its announcement blog post. Keep in mind these are specifically-chosen images, so your results may vary.
Adobe has an entire user guide on how to use the new Refine Edge Brush in Photoshop for iPad to help get you up and running if you aren’t familiar with the feature.
Another much-requested feature Adobe has added is the Rotate Canvas tool. Now, using a two-finger gesture, you can rotate the canvas you’re working on, making it easier to precisely edit and make changes to your work.
The feature works in conjunction with the zoom gesture, so you can quickly pinch in and out while also rotating the canvas. Rotation can snap at 0, 90, 180 and 270 degrees, and resetting the rotation and zoom is as simple as quickly pinching out on the canvas.
Adobe has created a user guide for the Rotate Canvas function as well.
The update should be live in the App Store to download today. If it isn’t, turn off and turn on your iPad before revisiting the App Store.
The post Photo Hacks to Make Your Canvas Print a Showstopper appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Gvido Grube.
Taking perfectly decent photos isn’t rocket science. And once you’ve taken them, it’s also not hard to turn them into perfectly decent photo canvas prints. But what if you’re striving for something more, something exceptional? What if you want your canvas print to be a real showstopper?
Well, there are a few hacks you can use that should get you instant results. And the photo printing experts at CanvasDiscount.com are here to talk you through these canvas printing tips.
Read on.
Stick with the basics of composition
Photo by Roger Erdvig – Unsplash
It sounds counterintuitive to play it safe when you want your photo to stir things up. But some rules really are best left unbroken. Using the Rule of Thirds, Fibonacci Spiral or Phi Grid might sound basic if you’re a battle-hardened professional. And yet these lie behind pretty much every successful photo ever taken.
And there’s another factor in play here.
It’s worth noting that after you print a photo on canvas, the canvas is stretched over a wooden frame and attached at the back. This means that some of the image detail – the very margins of the original photo – appear on the sides of the frame.
For those “playing it safe,” this shouldn’t have much impact, as the position of the subject, the focal points, and lines of perspective will all stay roughly the same.
But for those who take risks with the classic conventions of photography, the opposite can be true.
If your subject, or the center of the “action,” are too close to the edge of your image, there’s a risk that these will be obscured on the finished product.
Aim for scale and movement
Drone photography often makes for superb photo canvas prints. And close-up photos of fabric and plant textures can also look fantastic when printed on canvas. In fact, though it might seem paradoxical, there are certain similarities between these two kinds of shots.
Photos by Adam Gonzales, Ryan Wilson and Bharath g s – Unsplash
Both allow you to take certain liberties with the rules of composition, as the focus here is on a sense of scale.
Repetitive patterns and an emphasis on texture also help to make aerial photos and close-up shots visually effective.
But there are many other ways to give your prints more impact.
Use the leading lines cleverly
Photo by Mak – Unsplash
The most common way to create dynamism in photos is to use the leading lines. These are lines that draw the viewer’s attention to the subject of the photo. Usually produced by lighting conditions (light/shadow relationships) or geometrical patterns in the photo, leading lines can also be formed by the contours of buildings, handrails of a staircase, or any physical object close to the main subject.
When you’re framing your shot, just make sure these lines lead to your subject.
Go to the extremes
Many readers will be familiar with the terms “negative space” and “positive space.” The former denotes the areas surrounding the main subject of your photo, while the latter denotes the main subject/object. Of course, “negative space” shouldn’t be taken as implying any sense of inferiority!
Photos by Adam Birket, Michel Paz, Trevor Mckinnon – Unsplash; Serhii and Besjunior – Adobe Stock
Negative space serves to highlight positive space. In fact, you could say that one relies on the other to make an impact. But it’s possible to compose an image so that negative space becomes the main subject of the photo. This can work to amazing artistic effect, challenging traditional ideas about composition.
Meanwhile, keeping your focus on positive space but taking it to audacious extremes is another example of how you can break the rules and still get great results.
So what do we mean when we talk about extreme positive space?
Photos by Red Ana & Pavel – Unsplash
A photo with extreme positive space usually features little or no negative space. The whole photo, from top to bottom, is buzzing with noise, movement, lines, and patterns, produced by multiple competing subjects. Done right, this can lead to an appealing sense of artistic chaos.
Photos of crowds, building blocks, lush woodlands, or mountain ranges lined up one behind the other – these are examples of subjects that can use extreme positive space to great effect.
And any successful photo using positive space in this way is sure to make for a successful canvas print too.
Photos by Rodion Kutsaev and Janita Sumeiko – Unsplash
You can try going extreme in negative space too. In fact, extreme negative space often gives photos a sophisticated fine-art appeal. So push minimalism as far as you dare, and there’s every chance your photo will make for a wonderfully striking print on canvas.
Blur up the background
Is background clutter distracting from the subjects in the foreground of your photo? Shallow depth of field is a common way to emphasize the subjects in focus, effectively reducing the “noise” in the background. This simple trick works exceptionally well with still-life photos, as it accentuates nuanced details. It also produces the much-valued bokeh effect, as well as some specular reflections and blurred light sources.
Photo by Yeshi Kangrang – Unsplash
One might argue the effect is somewhat overused these days, but there’s no denying it can look amazing. Frankly, we’d recommend jumping on the bandwagon at this point.
You can get the effect by using your camera’s macro settings or shooting in aperture priority mode. Choose the former, and you just need to switch to macro mode, turn off flash and zoom in before you shoot.
For the latter, you’ll need to switch to aperture priority mode and aim for the lowest f-value available – then just zoom in again and take the photo.
The two methods should give you near-identical results.
Use layers
Note that this has nothing to do with manipulations in Adobe Photoshop. Layering is a technique that’s commonly used to give your photo a depth effect. In practice, it means producing a photo composed of multiple layered elements at a range of distances from the lens. Using varying tones and textures will enhance the effect, making the photo appear more immersive.
Photos by Jordan Steranka and Nathan Anderson – Unsplash
Creative use of these layers can produce a striking three-dimensional effect – which should work just as well once you print the image on canvas.
To get the best results, try to keep a clear distinction between the foreground, middle ground, and background of your image.
The many aspects of motion
Movement is one of the cornerstones of photography. Whether you capture a single instant of action using lightning-fast shutter speed or create motion blur with an epic long-exposure shot, movement creates visual tension. It makes your subject stand out from the background action.
This hack is not so much about creating a sense of motion as about where to position your moving subject in your photo. Get that part right, and your image can produce a spectacular impact.
Photos by Rémi Jacquaint – Unsplash, Fannyes, and 75tiks – Adobe Stock
The trick involves leaving a space between the object in motion and the opposite side of the photo. The subject should occupy roughly one-third to two-thirds of the photo, with the remainder taken up by negative space.
This will suggest a direction in which the subject is heading and make your photo more dynamic.
Many great sporting photographs owe a lot of their power to this technique.
Trust your instinct
While the hacks listed above will help you shoot professional, well-balanced photos, the key to getting exceptional results is to go with your gut feeling. If you remember that not everyone agrees with even the most conventional ideas of beauty, you’ll feel free to do things your way.
Photo by Roger Erdvig – Unsplash
There’s no universal formula for taking an excellent photo. No image, however highly acclaimed, is going to appeal to everyone. So when in doubt, trust your instinct, and there’s every chance it will lead you to your perfect photo.
Do you already have a photo with showstopper potential? Think it would look amazing hung on your wall? We can help! In collaboration with CanvasDiscount.com, we’ve prepared a special purchase offer exclusively for the readers of Digital Photography School. Head to CanvasDiscount.com and use the code DIGITALCANVAS15 to get 15% OFF all canvas prints! This is one you don’t want to miss!
CanvasDiscount is a paid dPS partner.
The post Photo Hacks to Make Your Canvas Print a Showstopper appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Gvido Grube.
Google Photos is expanding its feature set and has launched Memories, a slideshow feature that works in a similar way as Instagram stories. Memories is designed to highlight special events, such as birthdays, trips and holidays, and let you remember those special moments without having to sift through stacks of duplicate images.
Photos and videos from previous years will be pinned to the top of your gallery for you to browse. Google uses machine learning to curate your Memories and pick the best shots out of many similar ones. Certain people or time periods can be blocked in case you´d rather not be reminded of them, and you can also deactivate the feature completely.
Memories can also be shared with people who appear in them and others. Google says that in the coming months it will make this process even easier. Shared photos will be added to an ongoing, private conversation which should make it easier to keep count of the images you have shared with each other.
In addition, you can now search for text that appears in photographs or screenshots via the standard search function. This could be useful for those who store recipes or other text documents in image format in Google Photos.
U.S. users can now also order both standard photo prints and canvas prints directly from the app. Individual photo prints can be ordered directly through Google Photos and are available to pick up from your local CVS Pharmacy or Walmart that same day at over 11,000 locations. Canvas prints are available in 8x8in, 12x14in, and 16x20in formats and prices start at $ 19.99. The app suggests the best photos to print and the canvas prints will be delivered straight to your home.
Awesome highlights of this wild career: taking photographs, hanging out with cool clients, and producing stunning imagery.
The not-so-fun part: transporting all the cameras, lenses and bits and bobs we need from point A to point B.
If you’re like me, you know that being able to carry all of our must-haves comfortably can make or break the work day. I’m always looking for better ways to lug my gear. So when I came across the Evecase Canvas DSLR Backpack I had to try it out.
The Evecase Canvas DSLR Backpack
Before we get into my opinion of this strappy carrying device, let’s take a moment to discuss what this backpack is about. According to Evecase it “features a customizable interior which can hold camera bod and 2-5 lenses, a laptop compartment that holds a 14-inch laptop, Chromebook or tablet, plenty of pockets, pouches and spaces for jackets, books, a tripod and other accessories. Rain or shine, wet or dry, the removable rain cover will give your backpack the best protection. Fashionable canvas design with discreet look that won’t stand out as camera backpack.”
According to Evecase, the highlights include an easy-to-access camera compartment, discreet instant laptop access, and extended top storage. There are a slew of accessory pockets, tripod holder straps, stowaway side pockets and ergonomic shoulder straps.
Appearance
I won’t lie. The appearance of this canvas backpack is what piqued my interest in the first place. I always gravitate towards cases that don’t scream “Expensive camera equipment stored in here”, and this backpack is certainly inconspicuous enough.
This product is 15 x 12.5 x 7 inches , with the camera compartment being 9.6 x 11 x 4 inches.
The canvas fabric material has a subtle texture to it and is a rather pretty grey. The material is waterproof and weatherproof. (Well, generally. But it also comes with a waterproof case.) It looks like something you’d take on a camping trip or backpacking across Europe. The details are all black, and the color scheme can easily match whatever your style is. Much of my carrying devices and storage units are grey. (I like having all of my products match one another.)
The front of the backpack features a multitude of pockets and flaps, with bottle or beverage pockets that can be stowed away discreetly when not in use. The inside is lined with a light, slate grey that has a bit of a blue tint to it.
The backpack has a bit of weight when empty, but not enough to concern me.
Build Quality
The build quality is where other people’s reviews on this product get a little shifty. I’ve read many claims of it ripping at the seams or being rather fragile. But having used this Evecase product rigorously for more than a month, I haven’t experienced it myself.
The photography I do involves a lot of wear and tear on whatever I have with me. I photograph canine sports, exotic animals and live concerts. My daily dose of damage can include anything from animals biting my bags to a rowdy crowd unintentionally tearing at my stuff. After being put through the wringer for more than 30 days, this bag has managed to survive with almost no visible damage.
Even when it’s fully packed, I haven’t experience any ripping, tearing, or deformity of the compartments due to the weight. I even took it for a spin at the beach (being from California and all), and neither sand nor salty water caused much of an issue. Based on my experiences alone, I’d consider the build quality on this backpack to be great.
That being said, as with any product you own a bit of TLC goes a very long way in ensuring its longevity. I have weekly cleaning where I perform cleaning and basic maintenance on of my work gear. And backpacks, cases and other carrying devices are no exception.
Comfort
The main criteria for whether or not a backpack, sling, or any carrying device stays is comfort. After dueling against several alternatives, the Evecase Canvas DSLR Backpack is definitely staying.
I’ve worn this backpack fully stocked with supplies for around six hours, and suffered no significant discomfort or additional pain normally associated with carrying weight for such a long time. This being said, I feel the size of this backpack and where it suits my height (5’ 5”) brilliantly. Taller people may have an issue simply there’s no real way to adjust where this backpack sits. It would also be nice to have have more padding on the shoulder straps. I think I’ll eventually mod the straps and add more padding, but if it came with some initially it would be even more rad.
As for ease of access, I like the solid build of the camera compartment. I can easily balance the backpack on my knee as a table to help switch lenses or attach something to my rig. There’s a wonderful side pocket I can pull my laptop out of if I don’t feel like opening the top and reaching the computer from there. All of the small bits and bobs I might need are also easily accessible due to the various pockets on the front of the backpack, and the beverage pockets are also within a comfortable reach.
Storage
This backpack features plenty of storage for everything I could possibly need. Of my kit, at maximum, I can fit:
either:
three lenses (Canon 16-35mm F/2.8L USM II, Canon 50mm f/1.2L USM, and Canon 24-70mm F/2.8L USM II) and a camera body (Canon EOS 5D Mark IV)
two camera bodies (Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and Canon EOS 5D Mark II) and two lenses (Canon 50mm f/1.2L USM and Canon 24-70mm F/2.8L USM II)
my 13.5” laptop with its case on and a laptop charger
two variable ND filters
camera batteries
chargers
cards
lens cleaning kit
roll of tape
scissors
notebook
pens
contract / liability waivers / model release forms / non-disclosure documents
card reader
metal case of business cards
tripod
cellophane gel kit
my personal belongings (cell phone, portable cell battery, wallet, car keys, jacket, deodorant, makeup)
two water bottles
snacks.
That being said, a couple of the pockets in the front are a bit odd in the sense that I would have gone for something different. The size of the two small pockets in front of the camera compartment are a bit strange. The dividers inside them are a bit too large for some of the smaller electronics I’d put there, but too small for anything larger. I’d prefer them to mimic the one long pocket at the top of the backpack, as I currently have to dig deep into the dividers to pull out the small components I need to use. A couple of the flaps could make excellent pockets for paperwork or business cards, but instead they sit there as decorative elements.
Padding
The backpack features an acceptable amount of padding in both the camera and laptop sections. The camera section had significantly more padding than the laptop slot, and so I often store my laptop in its compartment with a secondary case already on it. Fortunately a secondary case fits just fine. The camera compartment includes your run-of-the-mill customizable dividers, so you can arrange that area to suit your needs.
Pros
Aesthetic and style
Not bulky
Comfortable straps
Plenty of storage space
Easy camera and laptop access
Waterproof case is a nice touch
Cons
Lack of confident padding in the laptop compartment
Some of the outer pockets are odd
Needs a better way of hiding tripod straps when not in use
Needs more buttons to the main compartment to customize size better
Forget about putting in a DSLR with the grip attached
Needs more padding on shoulder straps if you pack heavy
In conclusion, for between $ 40 and $ 60 on Amazon.com this backpack gives you a decent bang for your buck. I quite like it, and still get tremendous use out of it.
The post Review: Evecase Canvas DSLR Backpack appeared first on Digital Photography School.
Dear readers, Welcome to this months Giveaway. For this one, we have partnered with Canvasonthecheap.com. We have personally used them in the past and liked the quality of their product. And now for the Giveaway details: One lucky winner will receive a 16″ by 20″ canvas print of their chosen photograph. Here is all you need to do: Like Photodoto on Continue Reading
The post Back to School Canvas Photo Print Giveaway (16″ x 20″ Canvas Print) appeared first on Photodoto.
Let’s face it, one of the true joys of a professional photographer is to see the fruits of their labor displayed in a physical format, preferably as a large-scale photo print. It just feels like the proper way these photos should be exhibited, the form in which they reach their true potential. With this in mind, I’m here to talk Continue Reading
The post Why It’s a Great Idea to Get Your Photo Printed on Large-Scale Canvas appeared first on Photodoto.
The massive touchscreen ‘horizontal smart workspace’ Dell unveiled during CES 2017 is now available to purchase, and a little bit cheaper than expected, at least for now.
Called the Dell Canvas, this 27-inch display is designed specifically for artists and other creatives who need a large visual workspace in which to edit photos, create graphics, or digitally paint. While Canvas resembles Microsoft’s alternative, the Surface Studio, Dell’s product is merely a very large display, meaning buyers will need to buy a PC separately to connect to the display.
Dell Canvas features a massive 27″ QHD Adobe RGB touch screen designed to rest horizontally on a desk. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass with an anti-glare surface. Joining the display is a pen with multiple tip options for simulating various textures—combine this pen with a total lack of input lag and you get an experience that Dell says is “as close to sketching on paper as possible.”
Also available with the Canvas is a totem (knob) for accessing software menus quickly with the user’s free hand. The totem can be positioned wherever is most comfortable on the screen, and it can be used alongside a second totem if desired. As for Canvas itself, users can optionally prop the display up into ‘Draftsman’ mode via a built-in kickstand. The kickstand can be extended in 10-degree increments up to 80-degrees.
Canvas is available now from Dell’s website, where it currently starts at $ 1,800 thanks to a discount promotion (MSRP is $ 2,000). Dell offers the display with an optional VESA mount (+$ 200) or articulating stand (+$ 500), as well.
Treating the Earth like a canvas and natural objects like rocks, sticks, sand and ice as art materials, we alter the natural environment to reflect ourselves and our own artistic impulses – even if only temporarily, until these works of land-based art are erased by nature itself.
Animated Land Art by Paul Johnson
For his ‘Earthworks in Motion’ series, artist Paul Johnson takes inspiration from such legendary land artists as Andy Goldsworthy and Jim Denevan, using some of the same techniques but crafting them into stop-motion animations filmed in parks and nature preserves around Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota.
Ash Dome by David Nash
In 1977, sculptor David Nash secretly planted and trained a circle of 22 ash trees to grow into a shape resembling a vortex on an area of land in Wales. 40 years later, they’ve grown enough for the shape to be discernible. Nash says that at the time, during the Cold War and other unrest, planting something that couldn’t be properly enjoyed until the 21st century seemed like a leap of faith.
Van Gogh’s ‘Olive Trees’ Planted in a Field
Vincent Van Goh’s masterpiece painting ‘Olive Trees,’ completed in 1889, comes to life – literally – in a Minneapolis field as artist Stan Herd uses nature as his canvas and paints. The piece was viewable from the air during autumn 2015 and then mowed down in concentric circles reminiscent of Van Gogh’s painting strokes.
Seven Magic Mountains by Ugo Rondinone
Each of Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone’s ‘Seven Magic Mountains’ made of stacked limestone stands between 30 and 35 feet tall painting in dayglo yellow, red, pink, silver and other colors. They’re set just south of Las Vegas as a monumental work of land art, installed in May 2016 and due to remain in place until May 2018, so there’s still time to see it in person.
Snow Murals by Simon Beck
Simon Beck uses snowshoes to manually imprint dazzling patterns and shapes into snowy fields, photographs them from above and then allows them to be blown away, covered by more snow or trampled. It can take up to 5,000 steps an hour for 10 hours at a time to complete an average piece.
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The strange glowing figures in these images are so complex, you might think they’re screenshots from a digital animation, or created in Photoshop – but there’s no computer-based trickery here. Just the same long exposure techniques light artists have been using for decades to create and capture ethereal compositions, albeit applied in an unusually creative manner.
Hannu Huhtamo’s bizarre shapes glow against twilight landscapes and abandoned interiors, often looking somewhere between a plant and an alien insect. They sprout up in snowy fields, appear from inside giant teacups at theme parks or take shape in darkened living rooms.
A musician by training and hobbyist photographer, the Finnish artist first experimented with lighting techniques when taking promotional photos for a death metal band and deciding he wanted a long-exposure pentagram made with the flame of a lighter. Years later, when he met light artist Janne Parviainen and got a look at his work, Huhtamo decided to revisit the technique from a new angle.
All of his work is created ‘SOOC’ or straight out of the camera, and he uses no special light equipment other than El-Wire (electroluminescent wire) and modified LED flash lights. “Darkness is my canvas and the light is my brush,” he says in this behind-the-scenes video produced by Great Big Story.
Extreme Exposures: Light Landscapes Take Hours to Shoot
Most light photographers focus on making a shape in the foreground in a matter of seconds, then setting it against a dark static backdrop – this artist often animates every inch of the …
Painting with Light: 15 Long-Exposure Light Art Photos
Words, ghostly forms and streaks of ethereal light take shape when photographers move a light source around in a frame while taking a long-exposure image. Variously known as light art, light …
Motion Exposure: Light Art Captures the Movement of Kayaks
Strange undulating patterns of colored lights seem to slink across the surface of water like living entities in this captivating series of images by Ontario-based photographer Stephen Orlando. In …
At CES 2017, Dell introduced what it claims is the world’s first ‘horizontal smart workspace,’ the 27-inch touch-sensitive Dell Canvas display. Canvas is designed for creatives, including photographers, artists, and graphic designers, and can be used in two orientations: lying flat on a desk or propped up at an angle via a kickstand. The display likewise offers support for a stylus, totems (Dell’s large control dials), and touch input.
Dell Canvas isn’t necessarily an alternative to Surface Studio; rather, it is a large display that can be connected to nearly any Windows 10 device, says Dell. The monitor has a 2560 x 1440 QHD resolution. The model will be available from Dell.com in the U.S. on March 30 starting at $ 1799.
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