Rasterbation - No you won't go blind...

If you've poked around enough on places like JPG Mag or Pinterest, then you may have come across an awesome tool known as the Rasterbator. There are a few different downloadable versions floating around on the web (download one here or here) and they basically work in the same way. You upload an image, set an output size, and go. The program will convert your image into a number of individual PDF pages that, once printed, you can assemble on a space as large as a wall...or billboard...or you could tack your larger-than-life face up next to those old dudes on Mt. Rushmore (ok, not really...but see the world's largest known rasterbated image here). I used a version of the Rasterbator that took this photo:

Copyright of Katie Wittkamper - 2010

and turned it into this photo (with a lot of help from me and Photoshop):

 

Copyright of Katie Wittkamper - 2011

What you're not being shown is this: once I rasterbated my image, I had 18 individual PDF files that were black and transparent. Everything you're seeing that is pixelated in red in the above picture, was first black; everything that is a gradient of color was transparent. So I opened all 18 PDFs in Photoshop, dragged & dropped them into a new blank canvas, and arranged them into one image file. Then I added a solid color layer (orangey-red, it's a technical term) and created a clipping mask above my newly formed image layer so that now every black pixel was orangey-red. Then I used the gradient tool in a new layer to apply the orange-yellow-seafoam gradient to the transparent areas of the image.  I didn't go on to print this as 18 individual PDFs (or at all, for that matter) simply because I was satisfied to have created it at all, even intangibly. 

As the server at homokaasu.org/rasterbator is either overwhelmed or perhaps the online Rasterbator is no longer available, I can't show you another example. I haven't found another rasterization tool that is quite like this one and will work for a Mac, but would love input from other users who have used this tool or a similar one to create some awesome images!

Photoshop-Me-Friday: Shannon

Everyone needs a little pick-me-up before heading out over the weekend. Shoot, I could use one just to perk me up for staying in. Anyway, this weekly posting will be dependent on you, oh wise blog-followers. I need your portrait submissions(email katie.wittkamper@gmail.com) which I will touch up in Photoshop, then post here with some how-to instructions so that you can try your own retouching at home. Seeing yourself finely photographed and rocking that hotness may just give you the boost you need to power through the long nights prowling the bar or early mornings at your kids' soccer games. *Disclaimer: These instructions will assume you have a basic understanding of Photoshop Elements and how to use actions.*

First up, my bestie, Shannon Hayes (who has a food/Pyrex/home makeover blog here: Chewing the Fat):

                          

The "Before" photo was taken using the iPhone's self-portrait camera. Original photo size was 94kb, which, is really, really small. The noise from the "Before" was hard to work around, but in a pinch, I think the "After" photo would certainly serve its purpose of making a nice profile picture for your social networking needs. 

Cropping:

To eliminate the unsavory background, I cropped closely to the subject and a touch off-center for visual interest.

Actions:

I ran several CoffeeShop Blog actions including:

CoffeeShop 2020    - a great action for a nice sharp pop of color!

CoffeeShop Cross Processing     - multiple options to give your photo a vintage flare

CoffeeShop Baby Powderroom - awesome multi-layer skin/eye touch-up action

Touch-Up

-I used the lasso tool to outline the subject's teeth, then adjusted the hue/saturation to perk up her pearly whites.

-I used the brush tool to burn the background a bit around her hair and to take care of any bright spots that were distracting from the focus of the image.

Final Steps

-I used the elliptical marquee tool to create a vignette and help blend out some of the brighter spots.

Branding Yourself

No, not with a hot iron, though I have heard that's a thing now...anyway, I am talking about creating a brand for yourself, marketing what you do- that sort of thing. One of my many interests and (I'll own it) talents, is photography. I have made a logo for that part of my creative life, one that is descriptive of who & what I photograph. My other more recent passion is digital design. Many people do it. Some poorly. Some very well. Every person has an idea of what they consider aesthetically pleasing. I started creating my design logo, my brand, with no clear goal in mind and it happened rather organically. I'll have you know that the design below started with a group of colorful horizontal stripes. Not a single one is left (for which, I am grateful to myself, as I don't really like stripes, and am not sure why I gravitate towards them when I start designing). 

This is my logo. It incorporates a few personal details. The anchor is close my heart. Pun intended. Even the human heart is personal. I also wanted something that was edgy without being obvious. The text/lettering needed to be able to be used separately from the graphic while maintaining the same vibe so the ECG tracing wave does the trick. The font is easy to read, all lower-case trying to convey a humbleness that I hope people know I have about this art stuff. The first letter "k" and "d" in "design" are italicized and bold for visual interest as well as emphasis. The light gives you the feeling that you may be under water; the dark fade of blue at the bottom edge gives it a sense of depth. Ultimately, I tweaked it until I was pleased. Since I feel that I am one of my harshest critics, then once I am happy with something, I try to quit touching it. I don't always get it right according to someone else's opinion, and I don't always leave it alone forever because even my own views will change over time. For now, though, this is my original - and what I'm sticking with.

Originating Kate

I have spent a lot of time over the last decade trying to pinpoint exactly what titles I'd like attached to my name. The list of possibilities is constantly edited, added-to, thrown out entirely, etc. I have only recently realized that those descriptive words don't create anything. They don't represent success...or failure. They don't define a life. So instead of trying to find the right words to describe who I am and what I do, I put myself into action. I began creating without a goal. I concentrated on the means and not the end. While I make design and art and do it only for my own satisfaction- I am developing more than this tangible bit of somethingoutofnothing. I am allowing to awaken a dormant part of myself. I am originating Kate.