$50 contest for Photoshop Morphing.

[phoenixofflames]

If you can take the face of the person in this photograph (of really low resolution and full of grains):
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/6710/76633081jl6.jpg

look as neat and professional (clear bright face, skin, hair, nice blurred green background, etc.) as this one:
http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/portrait.jpg

you get $50. Simple as that.

The most beautiful picture wins. Creative entries may get special prizes. The only limitation being that it should fool anyone into thinking that it is a professionally taken photograph.

Deadline 24 hours from the time of this posting.

Good luck.

[RNHalawi.com]

nice phoenixofflames ... you can get more entries here.. just wait for couple of hours.. =)

[DaveyBoy]

Here's my effort, I reduced it in size as that is pretty much the only way to remove some of the grain - it is an inherent quality of the poor quality camera used I think!

Original :
http://www.memvis.com/dp/propic_orig.jpg

Edited :
http://www.memvis.com/dp/propic.jpg

Cheers,
Davey.

EDIT : Oh my mistake I think you only want the face of the person? Whoops! ;)

[ncmw]

check pm phoenix.

[birdsq]

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14977&stc=1&d=1201970533

Thanks
birdSQ

[phoenixofflames]

Yes, DaveyBoy, something like what birdsq had done but much much better. In that kind of a pose with the kind of background in the example picture (that light green) and clear texture.

I like how crisp the person's details look on your version Davey, but I want the person taken out of the car shield and put against a very nice creative blurred background of a pleasant light green, with a similarly sharp but bigger image.

P.S.: Creativity helps a lot too. :)

[retzseo]

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/4827/photoenhancedym2.jpg
the background should be easy enough to replace, here's a splice of the enhanced photo.

[phoenixofflames]

Its smooth but its too blurry.

[retzseo]

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/1896/photoenhanced2aq0.jpg
sharpened

[RNHalawi.com]

to phoenix.. just a suggestion... you can borrow your friends Digital Camera, then take a picture of yourself then thats it... =) jut a suggestion... =)

[phoenixofflames]

Sorry, but honestly, that is looking really bad. I am looking for something like what DaveyBoy had done but in the style of a professional portrait like in the example picture I posted.

RNHalawi, I have a D40 myself. But, circumstances are such that I cannot take his photograph right now. Need it by tomorrow.

[birdsq]

How about this ?:D

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14980&stc=1&d=1201975600

[phoenixofflames]

Much better. A little bit of correction over the right eye, reducing the graininess around the right hairline and then making the black actually black would go with nice error correction. Then sharpening, brightening and smoothening the texture before changing the background would do. Anything added to this can be a bonus.

[Callistas_Designs]

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/callista311/guysample.png

[Callistas_Designs]

oo i guess enlarging the photo really did make it grainy..huh i think your photo is too small to make larger....oh well at least i tried :)

[retzseo]

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7509/photoenhanced3fw8.jpg

[Callistas_Designs]

here it is smaller:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/callista311/man.png

[phoenixofflames]

It is still grainy, unfortunately.

[XFactorLogo]

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c113/chyideaanshu/draft1.png

[GWK]

my try

http://i29.tinypic.com/21oar2o.png
or
http://i32.tinypic.com/jtwg79.png
or
http://i31.tinypic.com/317duh3.png

[erenNt]

Too much gain >.<
Here's my try anyway :

BEFORE :
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/7414/phoenixb4qv6.jpg

AFTER :
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/7797/phoenixafterwy2.jpg

[phoenixofflames]

I like your first one GWK. Also birdsq's second and DaveyBoy's.

I would like to have the exact background (or something very similar) to the second picture in my first post (since most of the custom backgrounds I have seen so far here aren't the most natural ones).

And, then the color balance as in the same example second picture. Nice and bright and smooth at the same time. No blur, just sharp contrast. XFactor, yours is very high on the yellow side and there is no blending.

[birdsq]

modified ;)


http://forums.digitalpoint.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14985&stc=1&d=1201979500

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14986&stc=1&d=1201979735

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14987&stc=1&d=1201979960

birdSQ

[phoenixofflames]

Sorry, but it looks like you have just added a background. The blacks are not exactly black yet. The touch-ups haven't been done. And, the background is totally not blending. Ah... I had so much hope. :(

[GWK]

is this the only photograph you have of yourself?

[zeba5]

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/9153/fotocopyna4.jpg

We can't do miracles :P, i mean the picture is small, has noise, and it's too dark. I don't think anyone can make it as the image you want.

[willhaynes]

Here goes nothing:

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/1992/drart2copynk3.png
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/1550/draft1copyri5.png

[XFactorLogo]

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c113/chyideaanshu/Untitled-1-18.png

[Skunk]

You all are doing a really fabulous job so far. Keep up the good work, it's come a long way from the reflection of a car window!

[coolwanz]

Here's my try
................................

http://xs124.xs.to/xs124/08056/ok639.jpg

[phoenixofflames]

Yeah, it has definitely come a long way. But I would love to see much more.

So far the clearest has been GWK's first picture. Just the the jacket (especially the right sleeve) needs to be darkened (the lightness of the face untouched). The hairline seems a little grainy with some white noise. After that is done, the trees on the left needs to be deleted and replaced by a nicer natural background and blended well. The last point is extremely important.

[phoenixofflames]

And, can you try a background like this?

See the blurred background behind the bird and the flower:

http://www.beemaster.com/gallery/be2wall.jpg

http://www.gregscott.com/birds/rth/www_7612_rth_no_feed_blur_bg_600x480.JPG

[renzmar]

here's my quick try..

http://www.renzmar.com/mytry.jpg

[Nora]

Never tried this before but I thought I'd give it a shot anyway :)

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/7642/twonf6.jpg

[GWK]

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/8898/photoedit4rd2.png

[j0sh097]

will submit an entry soon.

[j0sh097]

My entry:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k203/j0sh097/other/Untitled-2copy.png

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k203/j0sh097/other/Untitled-2copy-1.png

[zeba5]

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/5526/asdcopyzs6.jpg

[birdsq]

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14995&stc=1&d=1202008967
birdSQ ;)

[phoenixofflames]

GWK, the picture had become too light and the background is not blending. :(

birdsq, I really like the background, and it is almost perfectly blended. If you can just improve the photo part a lot (remove all the white noise while keeping the face bright) and improving the blending by one tiny notch, it would be great.

[NaIdz]

its imposible to edit it 100% good.try to change the picture u want to be edit.

[eruct]

http://xs124.xs.to/xs124/08050/redin1865.jpg (http://xs.to)

Feedback appreciated

[phoenixofflames]

Nice eruct. I like the contrast in the body and hair. But the face appears a pretty grainy. I also like the blending on the left side, but the background seems pretty artistic/artificial.

[eruct]

Cleaned up noise on face:

http://xs224.xs.to/xs224/08050/redin2705.jpg (http://xs.to)

[zeba5]

GWK, the picture had become too light and the background is not blending. :(

birdsq, I really like the background, and it is almost perfectly blended. If you can just improve the photo part a lot (remove all the white noise while keeping the face bright) and improving the blending by one tiny notch, it would be great.

what about me ?

[eruct]

background options:

http://xs124.xs.to/xs124/08050/bgopt1376.jpg (http://xs.to)
http://xs124.xs.to/xs124/08050/bgopt2990.jpg (http://xs.to)

[aytuggg]

look like good. :)

[birdsq]

another edit ;)

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14997&stc=1&d=1202014712
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14998&stc=1&d=1202015168

Happy to make any changes

birdSQ:cool:

[ch0z9]

Hi phoenix. I would like to add some information to this contest.

==>As its a mirror image the L-cut in his hair style will be in his left, so in real capture it will be in viewers's right side.


So here.... My entry with some 'braining' and photoshopping....:D

=============================================
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg221/chong990/morph.png
=============================================

Would u love something to add. Lemme know that.

Thanks,
chong ^_^

[watari]

just trying ....

http://fenixupload.com/files/pp5tdlbqc5vbagsqs2c3.jpg (http://fenixupload.com/)

[phoenixofflames]

Eruct, in this: http://xs124.xs.to/xs124/08050/bgopt1376.jpg , the face, after being cleaned up, looks a little artificial (shadings). Whereas ch0z9 has a nice texture on the shading (and the small but nice touch of mirroring it) but the blending is not there (I guess it could be due to the sharp cutting of the image, some feathering may help?). I really like birdsq's background and blending but the picture itself is looking too raw.

I would like to see one with birdsq's b/g and blending (not like it has been cut and pasted onto the background but like the person was actually standing there - feathery edges and stuff), eruct's contrast and the skin color/texture of that of watari (but without the white noise obviously).

I suppose I will extend the time limit to another 12 hours from now.

Regards.

[birdsq]

Adjusted skin color

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15009&stc=1&d=1202055499

[phoenixofflames]

But it is still very grainy and cartoonish. Eruct's face is much better but still not up to the mark.

I think I am asking a little too much, but I thought with some effort anything could be done with Photoshop. Maybe some miracle will happen in the next 12 hours. :(

[zeba5]

i don't understand why you are not giving feedback to me :S

[GWK]

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/5723/photoedit5nr6.png

[phoenixofflames]

Sorry zeba, it was not great that was why. I was kind of busy so I missed. Better than last one GWK but isn't quite up there. Do you see the lower and left cheek part of the face? That is the kind of texture/contrast I would like for the entire face (the right side has an unnatural mount of white noise). Also the right hand. And, when you cut out the image, you did a clean cut, unlike what bird had done. This reduces the blending. And, the background is again artificial. (Love birdsq's bg)

[rupertValentino]

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8827/f84jfyi6.jpg

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5546/asf5jgfiu5.jpg

Thanks

[jasoncdu]

HAHAHA RUPERTO THATS HILARIOUS!!

AHAH

Jason

[phoenixofflames]

I love your first one rupert. Remove the whiteness from the right hand, remove the white flakes from the hair, lighten the background to match the one in the second picture, feather the edges to improve the blend.

[zeba5]

Sorry zeba, it was not great that was why.

pff it doesnt have noise, i've balanced the colours, the contrast, the black looks black...but you gave feedback to pictures that are dark with noise, etc if that's great to you then fine good luck with your contest.

[phoenixofflames]

No zeba, it looked very cartoony and it was like cut-out right and placed over some other picture. I was looking for naturally done ones so I had to pass. Sorry.

[bond1]

this is my try ;)

[eruct]

http://xs224.xs.to/xs224/08050/redin20812.jpg (http://xs.to)

Tried to lighten his face a bit, changed the bg.

[GWK]

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5805/photoedit6yh0.png

[j0sh097]

any feedback on mine? (its in the second page)

[phoenixofflames]

GWK, its nice. Can you try changing the blue hue around the head to something greener to match the background?

eruct, I like the new bg, skin texture and contrast in the jacket and hair. And, the blending. But there is still a little bit of a white 'glow' around the top of head? If it was more and make it look 'divine' or nice like GWK's it would be nice. Or if you can reduce it a lot, make it look very natural while still retaining the blending, it would be great too. Try both and lets see how it comes out.

Sorry but I guess I will have to extend this by another 12 hours. I have not gotten the picture I needed yet.

[GWK]

my millionth try
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/5981/photoedit7mm9.png
or
http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/2469/photoedit8iv2.png

[phoenixofflames]

I prefer the last one where the face was intact. Not much lighter and faded as the second one in #67. The first one has reduced contrast from the last one, and the top of the head seems to have been disproportionately reduced.

Can you just take the last one (which was nice but had a blue blur) and change the color of the blur alone? Is that possible? Instead of a blue tinge, a green one? Try different greens and if something goes right, it would be great. Or even black?

[GWK]

i added an outer glow, this better?
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/5800/photoedit9xc7.png
or
http://i28.tinypic.com/35jasxs.png

[phoenixofflames]

No, it is somehow losing something which had made #64 extremely good other than the glow color.

This one seems to have gone back in time. Sharp edges, white noise in hair, right hand, etc etc.

Can you try one thing? Can you take #64, take the layer of the photograph, carefully remove off the blue glow around the head and at the armpit, making sure the head doesn't look cut out and is blending as well with the background as the body.

[GWK]

http://i31.tinypic.com/binghx.png

[phoenixofflames]

Almost perfect. :)

Can you darken the green glow near the left neck or reduce its thickness? Same around the left forearm. (the top part of the left arm is just perfect - make the entire arm just like that - instead of the glow infiltrating the sleeve itself). Just to make it blend better.

Also, can you correct that shadow in the upper lip? It kind of looks like a cleft.

[waxingpoetic]

GWK is a miracle worker.

[GWK]

lol, thanks waxingpoetic :P
----------

http://i25.tinypic.com/10yhrw1.png
had to use the clone/stamp tool to fix the lips

[Incey]

GWK is a miracle worker.

LOL. I agree! :)

[phoenixofflames]

Its kind of going off again. There is too much in-glow lightening the face at unnecessary places, especially on the left side. Why did this suddenly happen? Can you start of with #64 one last time, just carefully erase the outer glow of the head and neck alone, and add a thin line of green glow (same shade as in #74) to blend and that is about it? The lip, I guess you can just leave as it is (as in #64), it doesn't seem to benefit much from the shadow correction.

[GWK]

http://i25.tinypic.com/2ahfr4p.png
http://i25.tinypic.com/2vce1wm.png

[phoenixofflames]

I like the glow part of the last two pictures. It is almost perfect except that it is still a little thick left neck and lower left forearm.

However, the face and hair seems to have gotten some extra brightness/white noise. Why is this happening?

[GWK]

http://i26.tinypic.com/nnlieh.png

[phoenixofflames]

Glow is perfect. The contrast on jacket is perfect. But the face has blurred out a bit? Can you get it as neat and sharp as #64? It would be done then. :)

[GWK]

here you go, sorry for the wait. better?
http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/5108/peditcopyxa6.png
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/4343/peditiq2.png

[phoenixofflames]

Perfect. You have won it. :)

Contest closed. PM'ing GWK for payment details.

[GWK]

payment received / files sent,

cheers. :)

[phoenixofflames]

Thanks, was a pleasure working with you. Thread closed.

[CnSGD]

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a298/HeavenDesign/cleaned2.jpg

[CnSGD]

OH crud sorry...Just now seeing its closed...Oh well thats what I get ...LOL