Lots of questions for 1 image.

[Biwa]

I have to ask lots of questions on this issue . I would like to do this myself but am not quite sure how to approach this.

Ok I have a source image which is a psd file with no layers in it but its high quality which is good.

I have been asked to do the following.
1. Fix typos - So I was wondering what fonts are being used.
I can see that there are 3 diff fonts but not what ones.

2. Add or remove other items. I am guessing I would just do patch tool and healing brush over an area which already contains an item then select and paste the new item into exisiting page ?

3. Change the color of the background . Not sure what to do here? Color range?

In the case of changing that background color would it be easier to just make a new page and use a gradient and then select the items from existing image and paste into new page? Also is that color background done by using a gradient and then eraser tool to make the swoop shapes in there?

Thanks for any help.

This is a sample of the image I will be working with.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h.../cropped02.jpg

[Biwa]

Wrong forum or what?

[mfischer]

a) slap the person who made a print document in Photoshop.
b) Cut all the items out and make a new document in Illustrator or Indesign or whatever.

[SEP Studios]

Here's what I would do:

1. Type - If there are only one or two typos, copy a letter from elsewhere and use it make the fix. You'll have to blend it into the background gradation, but that shouldn't be a big deal. If the changes are extensive, clone out and re-set all the type. You'll drive yourself crazy trying to match exact fonts, so just get as close as you can with the fonts you have available.

2. Replacing items - Yup, no easy way out. I'd use the clone tool, actually. Patch and healing brush are unpredictable on large areas, tending to pick up stray colors. Just take your time.

3. Change color of background - Make sure this is your last step, you don't want to have to re-do it. Copy your blue channel into an Alpha channel and use it to create a mask. The blue channel in this image has the least amount of background color, so using Levels or Curves you can almost completely knock it out while still keeping most of the other elements. Then, go in and manually add some of the things you lost (table legs, etc.). That will take a little time, but don't go crazy. Simple color shift are pretty forgiving, so your mask won't need to be absolutely perfect.

Once you have that, use it to select the background for the adjustment layer of your choice. One of my personal favorites is Hue/Saturation, with Colorize checked.

Hope that helps.

Scott

[lcramer53]

Originally Posted by mfischer

a) slap the person who made a print document in Photoshop.
b) Cut all the items out and make a new document in Illustrator or Indesign or whatever.

Pardon me for jumping in here with an aside, but, your comment aroused my curiousity especially since I am not familiar with Illustrator. What/why use Illustrator rather than Photoshop for print docs? I'm not being facetious, I honestly don't understand and hope that you can clear this up for me.

[DJSoulglo]

Use Indesign people.

You place everything on different layers, you put the text on seperate layers.

This has a couple of advantages:

1. You're not actually placing the images in your document, they're linked to, so if someone wants a move them around, make 'em bigger, smaller, replace one etc, they can just use the image files.

2. The text stays editable, and when packaged correctly, you supply the fonts as well, ensuring that everyone can edit the text if needed.

3. You can make print ready PDF's so you can supply directly to a printer.

4. it's the industry standard for doing layouts (screw you Quark)

5. Photoshop is mostly for images (PHOTO-shop, get it?)

6. Illustrator is mostly used for illustrations, and or weird text effects, which yields tiny vecotr files, instead of 4 gig photoshop files.

7. Size matters: you upload the images once, then if the layout changes, you change your Indesign file, and re-upload that, so that instead of uploading a massive Photoshop file again, you're uploading a tiny InDesign file.

8. It's tons O'Fun!

9. Also everything is placed in seperate boxes, so if you want to replace an image with something else, just click on the box and place the new image TADAA!!!

[mfischer]

Originally Posted by lcramer53

What/why use Illustrator rather than Photoshop for print docs?

basically, the answer is "Vector Graphics"

Wikipedia has a nice article about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_graphics

[SEP Studios]

Photoshop can also do vector graphics (including type), but it is certainly not a page layout program like InDesign.

There could be any number of reasons why the poster wants or needs to do the job in Photoshop:

Maybe the client requested it be done in Photoshop.
Maybe the poster doesn't have InDesign.
Maybe the client doesn't have InDesign.
Maybe the image is 2400dpi and has plenty of resolution for type.
Etc., etc.

Chastizing is neither necessary, nor helpful.

Scott

[lcramer53]

Originally Posted by DJSoulglo

Use Indesign people.

You place everything on different layers, you put the text on seperate layers.

This has a couple of advantages:.....!

Thank you for taking the time to explain this, I really appreciate it.

[lcramer53]

Originally Posted by mfischer

basically, the answer is "Vector Graphics"

Wikipedia has a nice article about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_graphics

Thanks for replying and taking the time to direct me to the link. I've got a better understanding now.

[sidhebeauty]

I have to agree with mfischer. Starting from scratch is your best option and if you have access to a layout program, like InDesign (or Quark, if you must) use that. As far as font matching... you can 1) take a whole lot of time trying to search through fonts looking for the right one, 2) ask the client if they can find out what font was used 3) ask them if they are particularly attached to keeping the exact fonts. 2 & 3 kinda go hand in hand. If they insist on the fonts, they should know the name of the typeface. Most likely you can just find a similar font and they won't even notice. A client who gives you a flattened psd file for a job like this probably wouldn't notice a font change at all.

[dalek53]

To find the font, try uploading an image of the font to http://www.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/

It works reasonably well. They will also sell you the font afterwards! A great site BTW.

Good luck!

Guy

[Markzebra]

That main text font looks like simple Arial, the other mish mash of old style fonts… One looks like Bodoni and what could be Times Headline or something. That is honestly one of the worst designs. Just a thought, I'd kill all the drop shadows - and work out a grid

[Swampy]

Why in the world would someone give you a flattened PSD file and expect you to make changes to it? Apparently someone has already done the work and probably has the original PSD and could easily make changes. Sounds like there is some kind of dispute between the original designer and your client and I would never interject myself into a situation like that. If your client has the original photo(s) ask them to provide them and you will rebuild it. Put it in dollars and cents. If you charge by the hour it will probably take you longer to correct the flattened file than to reconstruct it from the original photo.

I'm working a project right now with lots of ads. If clients want to provide their own PDF, I give them my specs (Press quality PDF, 300 PPI CMYK Tiff, EPS or Illustrator file at print size). The local hospital wants a full page (vertical) ad based on a newspaper ad done in a landscape perspective. I've asked them to go back to the newspaper and ask them to recreate the ad to my specs since they have all the original elements that they can resize and reposition to suit the aspect ratio. Or, if the newspaper is willing to send me their original PSD/InDesign/or Illustrator layered file, I'll do it for them.