Image Effects, Filters, Masks and Other Image Processing Methods

Coming into contact with what the Adobe Illustrator has brought into our view, as of 2014...makes us want to buy into Creative Cloud. But before you do that, reading about the new "Moments" Smartphone lenses will make you giddy at the possibilities and 25 best photo and video apps that you need to download as of now.

Illustrator Gets 4 New Features for 2014:

http://www.creativebloq.com/adobe/illustrator-gets-4-new-features-2014-11410379

For Adobe to keep it's customers satisfied, that means they have to be updating their software to the prime utmost ability. As of this week, they are rolling out the best and newest features for you. Introducing new tools and now you can integrate Typekit to add the fonts you want. Well it's basically an extension of more fonts, but who doesn't love having the opportunity to pick and choose.

New 'Moments' Smartphone Lenses Claim Unmatched Image and Build Quality:

http://petapixel.com/2014/01/15/new-moment-lenses-smartphones-claim-provide-unmatched-quality/

Claiming to be "the best lens in the world for you!" Is stretching the truth, but not for the new 'Moments' lens. With the Moments team being confident in their creation, you can tell that they have put hardwork and promises on this piece.

The 25 Best Photo and Video Apps to Download Now:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/mobile-app-reviews/10525619/The-25-best-photo-and-video-apps-to-download-now.html

This is another list of apps that you should have, but before you click the install button or decide to clean out your apps. Take a browse through and see what appeals, read the reviews and if you are feeling daring, try it out.

Last but not least, this week has brought us to the best lens in the world, meaning you may have to never buy another one ever again. Apps that may have slipped through your fingers so take a look. Then Adobe Illustrator has us in its grip with new features that will make you want to try them now. Come back for more next week!

These articles for this week have one common theme, lighting. It's been said a million times but do we ever really take the time to consider just how important lighting might be. Lucky for us, we are giving you the resources to figure out what program or situation will work for you. With that in mind, how do you feel about long exposed images? Does it seem that no matter what you do, you can't quite get a clear image...well then keep reading.

Without looking overly professional with your typical business head shot. Aaron Nace showed that the Forbes look can also be a bit light hearted.  But more importantly it was to create a balance and a connection with his clients that he ended up shooting. Bringing out the playful quality everyon invokes. Playing with the lighting helped as well, to bring out a more un-dull grayscale photo.

http://weeder.org/rLHWZ2b

Mac has a lot of skillful advancements. PicLight is no different, PearlMountain released this app to make the perfect lighting situation for any photograph. Of course you may have to choose a filter that will better represent that certain emotion to come across. For instance a wedding photo needs to be bright for such a wonderful occausion.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/11/prweb11328723.htm

Saying that it is easy to become frustrated with long exposed photos, is an understatement. And if you've had that hair pulling moment, time and time again...please read this article. You will also be able to learn how to freeze any subjects in your image to crystal quality. The whole idea is to take two images, not just one and combining them in Photoshop.

http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-freeze-moving-subjects-in-a-long-exposure-photo

For the bat, lighting should be seem as one of the main subjects in your photos. Yes, you can go back and re-shoot to get the perfect shadow and highlighted angle. But you can also try PicLight to adjust the settings to achieve that perfect batch of "just the right amount." For more information on these subjects, come back at the end of every week to read about our weekly round up.

What is this Real Life Instagram? Created by Bruno Riberio who has taken upon himself to go throughout his city to place this life-like scenes. Taking a cut out from the Instagram feed, placing a transparent but using different colored filters, to show case what may have received a number of likes and hashtags. Have you seen these around your city? And if so, taking a picture of the reality based Instagram may sound a bit like inception.

Have you experimented around with the CSS properties? Instead of using the traditional html elements, using CSS filters for specifically your images and it does work. The tutorial promises that it will work just like any other CSS property. But the only browsers that support this are Chrome, Wekbit and Safari. It does have greyscale, sepia, blur and hue rotate. Honestly I tried out this CSS tutorial and I had no problem. It even seemed to work faster than your normal run of the mill time using Corel Photoshop.

Besides time saving and less time consuming, batch editing in Adobe Photoshop. You don't have to perform a lot of actions either. Opening up the action palette, where you can prepare the photos and process what you want to change. What I liked best, was that they show you when a photo has been resized, how the pixels will pixelate and they needed to be reformated to it's original quality. And now you will have the original images saved in it's own file, while the finished product will have it's own as well.

Seene, an iPhone app for the 3D generation. It runs on what I call a similar panoramic realm, moving up and down and left to right, you capture the image while the camera is running. Of course if you like the result, your nearest media outlet will allow you to upload your stunning 3D collaboration. Messing around with such new technology is truly amazing, but taking a rolling camera and transforming it into a soild 3D image is astounding.

Bokeh has been an endearing photo effect, from cardboard to tape, you can create it's fuzzy, heart shaped or haloed image. Now instead of cutting out paper and using tape to stick it to the lens. Photoshop uses a serious of customized brushes, blending options and filters. Hey no more mess and an easier clean up!

Cryptstagram has to be one of the off the wall ideas surfing around on the internet today. Using an Encryption through photos, sending secret messages and what not. This can almost seem scary if you receive one and you have no idea what it is or one of the coolest inventions to come along yet. For those computer wizards out there, this will be a game full of mind bending tools.

Once the Q 3G point-and-shoot decided to grace itself on the internet, my jaw dropped. Not only is those portable camera, water safe but also it contains unlimated storage space. Who would have thought, this swedish design also will not make a dent in your pocket. Reading the reviews and just the endless capaabilities it holds, keeps making think...why hasn't this happened before?

Learning from the individuals that have been in the Photoshop game a bit longer...doesn't hurt. So with Jeff Newcomer, who doesn't keep it a secret that learning how to apply layers...will not be an easy feat in the beginning. Between the adjustment layers and the mask layers, especailly with mask layers, one rule to remember has left me reciting it in my head over and over, "White reveals and Black conceals." This concept in a helpful way, allows the user to understand more clearly what exactly they intend to do to their photographs.

Knowing that you have a variety of Image Processors as well as Editors to choose from...can benefit you more...or at least you can figure out what will work for you. From the SunlitGreen BatchBlitz that can act as a categorizer, and you know for those of us that desparately need that. The amount of help that can come from that, can save you a lot of time. Pick and choose though, don't just select one at random. Read through and figure out which one will match the necessary requirements you will need. But this list is one of the best, I've come across in ages.

Images have the power to tell stories. And with that in mind, this week we have collected a varitey of tools and even a program that can make that a reality. Or a visual vacation.

Creative Color Progressing:

http://digital-photography-school.com/creative-color-processing-part-13-white-balance

One aspect to working with photos in Lightroom is that you can set a mood. Maybe you have a photo that at that moment meant one thing but can out a bit drab, or just not to your liking. Creative coloring means, white balance, split toning and using the tone curve.

What's New in Filter Forge 4.0?

http://psd.tutsplus.com/articles/tools/whats-new-in-filter-forge-4-0/

This plugin for Photoshop has been re-vamped and the more you dive in to look at all of the new features, the more you find. With textures and effects acting as the main course. Read more in the article about the 9,000+ attributes you have when it comes to creating your own filters.

InstantRetro:

http://techbeasts.com/2014/01/02/instantretro-get-instagram-retro-photo-effects-online/

The twin to Instagram, InstantRetro is the no sign-up version. Applying the retro feel we end up being nostaglic for. Check this photo filter out.

Altogether these articles will improve your need for anything do deal with processing images and filters. Come back next weeek for more information on certain articles.

Effects are a common item in this weekly edition. Google+ Auto Awesome has basically made the world of Harry Potter images, a reality. Nokia and Lytro have braced in a race towards the refocusing issue that has been brought up. And making a perfect panorama in Photoshop, and let me tell you it's in a creative way.Google+ Auto Awesome, has become even more awesome. Because now those twinkling stars and lights, and even falling snow...does exactly all of that. Moving pictures as they would say, or in the best terms of a gif. Have you made any, as of lately?

http://www.androidheadlines.com/2013/12/google-auto-awesome-now-twinkle-snow-effects.html

The refocusing challenge, boy oh boy. That idea of being able to refocus a shot after you've already taken? That can happen, which will take out all the re-shooting and altering in the Lightroom. Nokia's is only a software based where the Lytro is built with the capabilities.

http://www.cnet.com.au/nokia-vs-lytro-the-refocusing-challenge-339346170.htm

Bryan O'Neil Hughes has made the greatest demo, for using panorama in Photoshop. And let me tell you, this video showcased how wonderful Photoshop can be. That if you have the negative canvas, that needs to be filled with the rest of a landscape or horizon. It can take that information and fill it in to make a complete picture.

http://blogs.adobe.com/jnack/2013/12/demo-how-to-create-great-panoramas-in-photoshop.html

As the week closes, and you've learned a thing or two. You now have a few reasons to why to use Photoshop, and not for just retouching. Or how the refocusing issue comes out and you have the choice of software or a machine built to do it for you. Then the thank you to Google+ Awesome, because you've brought some sparkle to our images. Come back next week for the weekly round up.

For this week on Image Effects, Filters, Masks, and Other Processing Methods. We bring you a combined list of the new 2.5 Effect that crosses over from 3D and 2D imaging. A photo app that gives you just as much control as a DSLR. And the way to Instagram, without being limited on only the filters they give you.

The Parallax Image has been heard through the internet grape vines for the last two weeks. A 2D image is a flat surface, but if you add a bit of movement you start to see a 3D aspect. What keeps coming to mind is that photographs that would move in Harry Potter...well this isn't too far off. In a slow motion formation, your regular digital images can come to life.

http://fstoppers.com/the-2-5d-effect-how-to-make-a-parallax-image

Photo apps, photo apps...and more photo apps. This one is being brought to your attention for one reason. Alayer will give you all the manual control you could possibly desire. Just like your DSLR, you can set aperature, shutter speed and ISO. This app has now given hard core tech enthusiasts a reason to celebrate.

http://theappwhisperer.com/2013/11/19/alayer-photo-app-now-available-for-ipad/

Do you ever feel limited to the filters on Instagram, well here is a list of 20 possible apps that may just change your mind about the instant photo challenge. You can go from capturing landscape cities in their entirety with the Tiny Planet app. Or use the Facetune to swipe away blemishes for that perfect photo finish.

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/instagram-photo-and-video-apps/

This weeks combination has apps that can enhance your experience with Instagram and Alayer. While the 2.5D effect could also become a new wave of interesting photography...if Instagram allows gif like images. There is a lot going on in the app universe, so this week has been a round up of what has been accumulating.

Supposedly the 'flat design' is in. But lately the 3D Text Effect is some of the best design concepts that has come around in ages. RetroLift  has the right amount of pop mixed with vintage. Not a lot of programs can give off a movie or realistic touch to the whole ordeal, it looks overly comically or badly done doodles. This casts a rich shadow to show the raised letters, coming off of the screen.

When to use high contrast? It is so easy to get caught up in the production of it all, right? But you must match the overall production ot the emotion of the moment. And in this case it was a wedding, on of the most important moments in a persons life. And if you have a lot of light, the camera will tend to focus on the light that is given off, creating a bit of a white out effect. In doing so, you can go in through Lightroom and fix  it to bring out more color, especially to add more depth to the detail.

Android KitKat has added more advantages to it's announcement last week. Taking features from Snapseed and Google's photo editor is found within the new KitKat. Expect to be able to do a whole lot more with your photos than just the basic, editing and zooming ability. And thankfully the image editor is non-destructive to the images. If you want to reverse to the original, go ahead.

The expertimental lense kit from Lomography has to be one your Christmas wish list and if not, add it! They range from standard, wide-angle and fish eye lenses, but on top of that you can take multiple exposures. So maybe you've been wanting to create a stack of double exposed photographs for a while now, well what are you waiting for. The reviews have said that you may not get the best quality but how about letting that creativity run wild for once. At a pretty reasonable price for $89, when typically a lens costs well over a couple of hundred dollars...this is a steal and a project.

I've been searching through the filters on Instagram...picking and choosing which ones are All Hallow's Eve worthy. The top five are Hudson, Earlybird, Brannan, Valencia and Sutro. For the long shadows and white casted sky, giving a more faded haunted illusion, Brannan has been deemed the 'Nancy Drew' of the mystery filters. And this filter works on almost anything from landscapes to carving a pumpkin with your kids. But if you are looking for a more turn of the century, classic filter...Earlybird is brilliant. Not only does it highlight the person's eyes (if it's a portrait) but the contrast is brought out more and slightly dims the brighter colors.

Good news! Instead of saving up and within a year or two you might be able to afford a fisheye lens. But if you can't wait, there is a solution. Photoshop CS4 has the capability to transform your regular 2D image into a rounded fisheye lens masterpiece. What impressed me most was that it did not distort the image or loose any pixelization of any kind. And there was none of that stretching that seems to make one side larger than the other, this was a balanced image that looked as if you had taken it with a fisheye lens.