Impressionist plugin: Tips, Tricks and Miracles

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by Fluffbutt

Has anyone noticed a "bug" or "feature" (????) in impressionist...

In the 'Effects' control, there's a bit called 'Modify Color'. When you select it but set it to zero modification it still changes the image, BUT it doesn't change the colour: It changes the way the brush affects it..

Wierd, huh!

Interesting. I'd never noticed that before -- but that's because I use Impressionist's Color settings and/or Photoshop's Hue/Saturation and Selective Color commands to alter colors.

In the few tests I did using 'Modify Color' it appears to make the brushstrokes a little taller.

Good catch, Fluff!

[Fluffbutt]

Actually, in some ways it does improve the image even when set to 0 0 0

[mdijb]

I have exploring the Van Gogh preset kindly supplied by JCH, and wish to retain alot of detail. i find this preset eliminates too much detail for my taste. i have tried to change the brush size but without much help. I have also ried alot of variations with the Grayscale file that it depends upon. Any suggestions as to how to get as much detail as i can and still retain the very nice impasto feel.

MDIJB

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by mdijb

I have exploring the Van Gogh preset kindly supplied by JCH, and wish to retain alot of detail. i find this preset eliminates too much detail for my taste. i have tried to change the brush size but without much help. I have also ried alot of variations with the Grayscale file that it depends upon. Any suggestions as to how to get as much detail as i can and still retain the very nice impasto feel.

MDIJB

Beyond altering the Size setting, here are a couple things to try...

Click "More Controls" and open the dropdown menu. Experiment with various combinations of the following adjustments:

From the Brush panel try either (or both) of these:
* Turn on "Use Brush Family" option
* Select a different brush

From the Size panel try any of these:
* Uncheck the "Scale strokes proportionally" option and reduce the Max width and height values
* Make a choice other than "About Even" from the "Size Distribution" menu, for example Mostly Small

Important: If you come up with a combination you really like, don't forget to SAVE it!

I hope these get you moving in the right direction.

~Danny~

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by mdijb

I have exploring the Van Gogh preset kindly supplied by JCH, and wish to retain alot of detail. i find this preset eliminates too much detail for my taste. i have tried to change the brush size but without much help. I have also ried alot of variations with the Grayscale file that it depends upon. Any suggestions as to how to get as much detail as i can and still retain the very nice impasto feel.

MDIJB

I just noticed something. The previous suggestions were based on the the "jch" Van Gogh, but it does not use a stroke map.

The "Lylejk" preset does use a stroke map, however, and it's a little different creature. So, in case that's the one you meant to cite, here are a few additional suggestions:

In the Placement panel try Random in lieu of On Grid.

To retain original colors, in the Color panel set the three Jitter values to zero and the Palette option to None.
In the Size panel experiment with all the size settings.

In the Effects panel try Emboss > Top Right > 2 or 3 to give the stokes the appearance of depth.

[mdijb]

Thanks for tips. I was using the JCH vangogh preset. Where can I find the lylejk preset you referred to?

MDIJB

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by mdijb

Thanks for tips. I was using the JCH vangogh preset. Where can I find the lylejk preset you referred to?

MDIJB

My error. JCH (as originally packaged) does indeed have a stroke direction file. I'd forgotten I disabled it because they can be a pain...

re:Where can I find the lylejk preset you referred to?

See post #24 here...
http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/photo-art-resources/8328-impressionist-plugin-custom-styles-member-posted.html

[Steve Conway]

Ah! Those hot fields of province.

Steve

[Steve Conway]

Another Impressionist rendering.

Steve

[mdijb]

These are very nice and with lots of the original detail. Can you share how you retained the detail--see my post above.

MDIJB

[Steve Conway]

Nothing special. I used the Van Gogh preset. And I used the original image as the background and for the brush strokes setting.

Steve

Originally Posted by mdijb

These are very nice and with lots of the original detail. Can you share how you retained the detail--see my post above.

MDIJB

[Steve Conway]

The preset I am using says nothing about Ikroll either. It reads "LYLEJK....Thread...Thread2....Van Gogh....VanGogh2.

Open your image and save it as "Original.BMP." That is, save it in BMP format. Then open Impressionist and set the style to LYLEJK...Van Gogh 1 or 2. Click on background box and scroll down and double click on "file." When your saved image "original" comes up click on it. Then click on "more controls." Under "general" scroll down and click on "orientation" In "orient the strokes" box scroll down and double click on "by file." Click on the "original" image again. You should now be able to apply the preset and save your image.

Steve

[rogier]

Hello Steve
Jou will explain this step bij step, in a simple longue,i speak not so well englisch, i treay it,and it dont work by my.
mayby jou will doe this for a simpel men.

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by rogier

Hello Steve
Jou will explain this step bij step, in a simple longue,i speak not so well englisch, i treay it,and it dont work by my.
mayby jou will doe this for a simpel men.

I am not Steve, but I will try to help.

Instructions for Photoshop. They will work for most programs.

To create the stroke orientation file:
* File > Open [The file you want to use for a "stroke orientation file"]
* Layer > Flatten image
* Image > Adjustments > Desaturate
* File > Save as...
File name: Original [See note #1]
Format: .bmp [...or use .tif if your program supports this file format]
* File > Close

To apply any Impressionist setting using the stroke orientation file:
* File > Open [The original file. See note #2]
* Filter > Impressionist
* Click the Style button
* Choose any Category and any a style
* Click the More Controls button
* Click ">>" 4 times to display the Orientation panel
* From the Orient the Strokes menu choose "By file..."
* Browse to and click on Orient.bmp
* When Apply is clicked Impressionist will use Orient.bmp place the strokes.

Notes:
#1 - This file can have any name. Orient is used here because it is the file name used in the Lylejk custom style.
#2 - The target file does not have to be the same as the strokes orientation file. The only requirement: The files must have the exact same width and height.

I hope this helps you, Rogier.

~Danny~

[rogier]

i ame surpised and happy to have help from jou DannyRaphael.
I just have a wacom tablet paid,an i delivery at one of the comming days.
Then i have it, i try it out and show it here if i can it.
I thanks jou very mutch for help my,joy are a great internet frind,Danny.