Preparing threads for kite flying - C&C are welcome !!

[Tejal]

Manja (thread to fly kite) is the abrasive string used for fighter kites. It is gummed, coloured and coated with powdered glass.

Traditional recipes use rice gluten, tree gums and similar natural ingredients.

Here is one picture, where coating on thread is going on.

Please share your C&C for the same.

Thanks and regards,

Tejal

IMG_1643 by Tejal Imagination, on Flickr

[Shadowman]

A great start to the thread and it could have definitely created inquiries if not for your explanation. There appears to be a violet color cast to the strings upper right, not sure if it hurts the image or complements the skin tones; just something that caught my eye. Can't wait to see the remainder of the thread.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Tejal IMO this image needs some more sharpening.

[Tejal]

A great start to the thread and it could have definitely created inquiries if not for your explanation. There appears to be a violet color cast to the strings upper right, not sure if it hurts the image or complements the skin tones; just something that caught my eye. Can't wait to see the remainder of the thread.

Thanks John for your comment. I think I need to check the color cast. I thought of something, bit was not clear.

[Tejal]

Hi Tejal IMO this image needs some more sharpening.

Thanks Binnur for your comment. Light was very less. And may be because of that I failed in boosting speed. I will take care of it next time.

[rpcrowe]

I think that this image could be a wonderful part of a photo essay on kite flying.

I used NIK Viveza to globally increase the structure 30% giving parts of the image a sharper look...

Then I selected the threads using a control point and reduced the red a bit. I then selected the palm of the hand using a control point and also reduced the red a bit. I really don't know if I like the reduced red or the original better...



I like that after increasing the structure, the fingers and the threads seem to be in selective focus with the palm of the hand and wrist somewhat OOF...

I also love the diagonals of the threads with the threads between the fingers in sharp focus and the threads to the rear falling OOF.

What is the substance on the hand and fingers that is being applied to the threads?

[Tejal]

I think that this image could be a wonderful part of a photo essay on kite flying.

I used NIK Viveza to globally increase the structure 30% giving parts of the image a sharper look...

Then I selected the threads using a control point and reduced the red a bit. I then selected the palm of the hand using a control point and also reduced the red a bit. I really don't know if I like the reduced red or the original better...



I like that after increasing the structure, the fingers and the threads seem to be in selective focus with the palm of the hand and wrist somewhat OOF...

I also love the diagonals of the threads with the threads between the fingers in sharp focus and the threads to the rear falling OOF.

What is the substance on the hand and fingers that is being applied to the threads?

Thanks a lot Richard. It is looking quite good. I have not used NIK but you gave a good idea of processing in NIK. I will try to do that.

[rpcrowe]

Tejal,

Anything that can be done using most NIK Software, including Viveza, can also be done in Photoshop and perhaps other editing programs.

It is just that NIK is easier for me to work with...

Richard

[Manfred M]

Tejal,

Anything that can be done using most NIK Software, including Viveza, can also be done in Photoshop and perhaps other editing programs.

It is just that NIK is easier for me to work with...

Richard

Richard - try as I might, I have not been able to replicate some of the filter effects in Nik by just using Photoshop. I tend to use Color Efex Pro 4 a lot; especially the Pro Contrast and the Tonal Contrast filters. The noise reduction in Dfine beats anything I can do in Photoshop.

[Manfred M]

Tejal - I quite like this image. The diagonal lines from the kite strings running across the frame that transition from sharp to soft are extremely effective. The adhesive and glass on the the hand and the applicators on the fingers really add a nice counterpoint to the image.

As for the colour cast in the string, adding back some green can neutralize that; but I wonder if this might not be related to the coloured coating on the strings. As for the sharpness, shooting at ISO 3200 is going to limit what you can do there. The tradeoff is going to be increased sharpness versus increased noise and I think you have struck a pretty good balance in this image.

[IzzieK]

I like the edit of Richard here, Tejal...and I am with Manfred -- not all the effects of Nik's can not be replicated in Photoshop. I still have to learn so much in Nik's too as I have only touched the surface edits e.g., I do not understand D-fine at all so I use USM instead in Photoshop.

[Manfred M]

D-fine at all so I use USM instead in Photoshop.

Two totally different tools, Izzie - Dfine is a noise reduction tool. In Photoshop, <Filter> <Noise> <Reduce Noise> that I rarely use.

USM (in spite of its name) is a sharpening tool; the Nix equivalent is Sharpener Pro, which I rarely use.

[IzzieK]

Two totally different tools, Izzie - Dfine is a noise reduction tool. In Photoshop, <Filter> <Noise> <Reduce Noise> that I rarely use.

USM (in spite of its name) is a sharpening tool; the Nix equivalent is Sharpener Pro, which I rarely use.

Thanks. Now I know why I don't understand Dfine. I've used Sharpener Pro with some disastrous results so I try to avoid those two of Nik's and also Dfine. I just use ACR's noise reduction and try to keep very still when taking shots to reduce having to use a sharpener.

[Tejal]

Tejal,

Anything that can be done using most NIK Software, including Viveza, can also be done in Photoshop and perhaps other editing programs.

It is just that NIK is easier for me to work with...

Richard

Yes it is easy to use. I sometimes use viveza. Mostly i do basic adjustments only in PS.

[Tejal]

Tejal - I quite like this image. The diagonal lines from the kite strings running across the frame that transition from sharp to soft are extremely effective. The adhesive and glass on the the hand and the applicators on the fingers really add a nice counterpoint to the image.

As for the colour cast in the string, adding back some green can neutralize that; but I wonder if this might not be related to the coloured coating on the strings. As for the sharpness, shooting at ISO 3200 is going to limit what you can do there. The tradeoff is going to be increased sharpness versus increased noise and I think you have struck a pretty good balance in this image.

Thanks Manfred for your comment. The color cast, is not bcoz of coating. It was white (pinkish white) clr only in real. I missed to nutralise it, it seems. Area was so much clutter n it was a shed. Light was very less. It was a narrow lane. Field was not supportive at all.

[Tejal]

I like the edit of Richard here, Tejal...and I am with Manfred -- not all the effects of Nik's can not be replicated in Photoshop. I still have to learn so much in Nik's too as I have only touched the surface edits e.g., I do not understand D-fine at all so I use USM instead in Photoshop.

Thanks for your comment. .

[rpcrowe]

Izzie wrote, "Thanks. Now I know why I don't understand Dfine. I've used Sharpener Pro with some disastrous results so I try to avoid those two of Nik's and also Dfine. I just use ACR's noise reduction and try to keep very still when taking shots to reduce having to use a sharpener."

I seldom, if ever, use the NIK Sharpener Pro except for the NIK RAW Presharpener (I always shoot RAW) which I usually apply globally when opening a RAW image. I will use NIK Dfine when I shoot at ISO greater than ISO 400. I have all sharpening in ACR turned off when using Dfine. I will then begin my edits mostly by using NIK Viveza. The NIK control points allow some wonderful control.

After adjusting color balance, shadows, and other desired edits. I will often use the structure slider in Viveza for local sharpness. I will then save the uncropped image as a master image in PSD format.

I will then crop the image as I need and use Perfect Resize (part of the Perfect Photo Suite) to resize it as I need.
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...ize+9+tutorial

Perfect Resize was once called Genuine Fractals and I learned about the Perfect Photo Suite when researching Genuine Fractals...





Within Perfect Photo Suite, I can select my output - in the case of my dog pictures I usually select Portrait. Other selections can be General Purpose, General Purpose, Low Res JPEG, Landscape, High Detail and Custom.


I can then select whether or not I wan't output sharpening to be applied and the type of sharpening: Unsharp Mask, Progressive or High Pass.


Several years ago, Perfect Photo Suite had an offer to users of NIK Software to purchase the Perfect Photo Suite at a significantly reduced price. Although I had and was using both CS6 and NIK, I thought that Perfect Photo Suite might add some versatility to my post processing AND IT DID.

Although there is some overlap, I usually select the best component of either NIK or P.P.Suite to suite my needs.

Among other facets of P.P.Suite, I really like their Perfect Mask...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIj-BHENt9Y

BTW: Both NIK Software and Perfect Photo Suite have an excellent collection of instructional videos on YouTube. I prefer videos done by the companies rather that videos done and posted by individuals.

I also enjoy the book Nik Software Captured: The Complete Guide to Using Nik Software's Photographic Tools by Tony Corbell. I have not used the other NIK books featured on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...re%2Caps%2C217

I have not used Plug In with onOne Software: A Photographer's Guide to Vision and Creative Expression by Nicole Young http://www.amazon.com/Plug-onOne-Sof...ne+photo+suite

However, I know that Nicole is an adept user of OnOne Photo Suite. She also posts YouTube videos under to name Nicolesy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB_9vxwS570

[purplehaze]

Great image, Tejal, especially with Richard's enhancements. I agree, it would make for a wonderful addition to a photo essay. Here's hoping the essay will be forthcoming.

[Tejal]

Great image, Tejal, especially with Richard's enhancements. I agree, it would make for a wonderful addition to a photo essay. Here's hoping the essay will be forthcoming.

Thanks Janis .