Image Help - - Better Hair?

cedwar · #1 12-06-2004, 10:54 PM

Hi All...

Ive been working at restoring this picture, and the hair on the baby's head in the original had a tear through it. I worked a bit on the tear, but overall the hair looks a bit messy. Does anyone have any suggestions on making it look a bit better. Perhaps clearer?

Thanks... Cedwar

Flora · #2 12-07-2004, 06:23 AM

Hi Cedwar,

If the attached is what you had in mind, here is how I did it:

Used the Smudge Tool on an empty Layer to comb the baby's hair ... (I used a 'hair brush' which I created myself with some black dots regularly spaced), very lightly blurring and adjusting the Layer's Opacity.
I used the clone Tool (strongly feathered brush) and the Healing Brush around the baby's 'wild' hair.

Hope you don't mind .... I added a bit of 'dimension' to the baby's face.

Flora · #3 12-09-2004, 01:19 AM

Hi Cedwar,

Sorry, I misunderstood when you said:

Quote:

Originally Posted by cedwar

Hi All...
......I worked a bit on the tear, but overall the hair looks a bit messy. Does anyone have any suggestions on making it look a bit better. Perhaps clearer?

Thanks... Cedwar

......anyway, here is the 'revised' version ..... (attachment 1)

As for the 'hair' Brush, working with PS CS, I created it this way:

Open a new document (see attachment 2 for size etc.)
With the 'Pencil Tool' (Diameter=2 pixels, Opacity 100%), add a few black dots regularly spaced. (attachment 2)
Go to 'Edit>Define Brush Preset' (attachment 3), name it 'Hair Brush' ... and it's done... The new brush will now be found at the bottom of your 'Brushes Preset'

Hope this helps.

cedwar · #4 12-09-2004, 03:44 PM

That's terriffic Flora!

Thanks for the explanation. Im going to go try it now!

Cedwar

Flora · #5 12-09-2004, 03:52 PM

Thanks Cedwar!

Glad you like it!!!

cedwar · #6 12-09-2004, 06:11 PM

Well Flora, I tried it. But I dont think Ive got it quite right, because I seem to get a series of dots with each stroke. Each of the little dots I use to create the brush seem to leave a string of dots instead of a smooth line. (or "strand of hair") I am "wow"ed at your new version of the hair, it looks so much better than the original. It really does look like wavy hair as opposed to splotches of black on my version. Any other thoughts?

cedwar

MBChamberlain · #7 12-09-2004, 09:19 PM

My first guess is the spacing setting for the brush. In PhotoShop 7, this is on the brush pallet on the tip shape tab, I don't know about CS. Lower the spacing percentage and you should turn your dots into a nice smooth line.

Doug Nelson · #8 12-09-2004, 11:10 PM

There's a link to some really nice hair-shaped brushes here somewhere (Software forum, I think). They only work for PScs, though.

cedwar · #9 12-10-2004, 08:27 AM

I have PS cs, so that would work for me. Ill have to take a look. Thanks Doug.

Flora · #10 12-10-2004, 12:08 PM

Hi everybody,

Cedwar,

MBChamberlain is absolutely right .... you should 'play' with the Brushes settings .. (PS CS lets you change nearly everything there....) until you are happy with the results....

Doug,

I 'bumped' into that link only yesterday .... but, as things go, today I couldn't remember where I saw it ....

(Alzheimer!)

Anyway, stubborn as I am ... I searched ... and found it!!!
This is the link, and it was posted (by you ... Thank you very much for it ... the hair brushes are incredible!!!!) on the ' Tools > Software' Forum ...