Altering digital images [Archive]

Jayne

7th January 2006, 09:55

hi,

I have taken some pics with my digital camera, i've had some great help already on taking the pics, but if they still come out dark, which is the best way of correcting them in the computer.

Any tips or software suggestions would be great.

Thank You

Jayne :D

DotNetWebs

7th January 2006, 10:09

Hi Jayne

If they are ALL coming out dark it sounds like something is set wrong in the camera. IMHO you would be better off fixing the problems at its source rather than trying to correct it later.

Regards

Jayne

7th January 2006, 10:11

Thanks, i'll keep trying then, just thought it would be easier to alter them later :D

Jayne

confused

7th January 2006, 10:24

what are the pictures of? If you photograph say a small black box against a white background, your camera will probably compensate for this (it will try and average an 18% - might be 17% i forgets - grey) like wise with a light object with a lot of dark it will have the opposite effect. If you photos are standard lighting average photos, it may be that you have exposure compensation on on your camera (usually indicated by a +-)
As mentioned, far better to fix it on you camera rather than on the pc as you may lose detail.

Jayne

7th January 2006, 10:27

It's for my paintings, someone has said they look too dark, i've tried taking the pics again and lightened them in HP Image zone.

I have messed about with my camera, i've not had it that long, i'm use to old fashioned cameras and films, much easier for me, but takes too long to get on the web :D

Jayne

confused

7th January 2006, 10:32

The principal is the sname with an "old fasioned" camera, its all down to the amount of light coming thrugh the lens, and then how the camera works out what is "best" (if you have it on automatic that is) Does your camera have a manual mode ? If not, I would have though it had an exposure compensation feature, you can ususally go up and down a couple of stops on this, have a look in the manual and have a play. What camera is it?

confused

7th January 2006, 10:34

I just found this, have a read, might be of help
http://www.photography.ca/phototips/meter.html

Jayne

7th January 2006, 10:35

It's an Olympus camedia C-370 Zoom, 3.2 mega pixels..that what it says on the front :lol:

Jayne

confused

7th January 2006, 10:51

ok,

have a read of page 60 of this manual

http://www.olympus.co.jp/en/support/imsg/digicamera/download/manual/zoom_mountcover/man_x450_e.pdf

Jayne

7th January 2006, 10:54

Thank You, my manual that came with the camera is rubbish help, i'll check out the web links.

Thanks again :D

Jayne

CG Effect

7th January 2006, 19:07

Photoshop can make pics brighter without botching up the image.

Jayne

7th January 2006, 19:09

Thanks, i'll need more memory in my computer for that I think :D

Jayne

Urban Space

7th January 2006, 19:17

You can get those old film things put up onto disc at photo developer's now. And you can fanny around with the brightness in publisher under the picture toolbar! Why bother being all technical?

:lol:

Liam

confused

7th January 2006, 19:29

bear in mind photoshop is about £350 unless you have a "dodgy copy", even then, if there is detail missing in the first place due to under exposure then no matter what you do it wont magically appear. Its best to just get it right in the first place.

KM-Tiger

7th January 2006, 19:48

bear in mind photoshop is about £350

The GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/) is free of charge.

confused

7th January 2006, 19:53

Is this the same gimp that used to come with redhat ? I remember us having a right chuckle at the name - wasnt long after pulp fiction was out - that film had a gimp also lol

Jayne

7th January 2006, 20:00

Thanks, that's excellent, i'll download that later :D

Jayne

KM-Tiger

7th January 2006, 20:02

Is this the same gimp that used to come with redhat ?
Yep, but is on a few versions now. It's cross platform and GPL'd, I use the Windows version. It'll never get over its name though!

I'm not really in to image work, but I've found it useful for what I want to do, like "lightening" pictures that are too dark, and some cropping, reducing file sizes.

Why pay, when you can support the Opensource community by using their software?

CG Effect

8th January 2006, 02:55

Photoshop essentials is only £80

Urban Space

8th January 2006, 13:18

Why bother spending £80 when you can have publisher do exactly the same job! Try Picassa...or picasso...or something like that! It's by google and its very gooood!

Liam

Jayne

8th January 2006, 13:23

Thank You, I will look into all these and learn my camera better.

But the lovely Jacqui (Creacom) has offered to help me, what a nice lass she is. I will learn all this info for my next paintings.

Thanks to all

Jayne :D

easyasit

8th January 2006, 13:43

to be honest Jane if you got a scanner there is a change that elements or something might have been bundled in with it.

Also, see if you can get digital photo magazine for tips and ideas its very good

Al

Jayne

8th January 2006, 13:51

Thank You, i'll see if my newsagent can get me a copy. :D

Jayne

easyasit

8th January 2006, 14:21

Thank You, i'll see if my newsagent can get me a copy. :D

Jayne

it comes out quarterly Jayne, it is really very good. If your going to start geting it though i would suggest getting a copy of photoshop elements.
Now this is a stripped down version of the other adobe products, but still good.
To buy it, about £30 quid

Jayne

8th January 2006, 15:10

Thanks, I only want to take pics of my paintings to put on my web site, i'm not planning of being David Bailey :lol:

Thanks for all the info.

Jayne