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Author Topic: Challeng #8: Make a Cutout-Frame to give an image a simple border  (Read 21000 times)
Terry-M
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« on: April 05, 2013, 04:47:13 PM »

In a recent post about using a cutout-frame to make a white border on an image here ..
http://ddisoftware.com/tech/qimage-ultimate/create-white-%28frame%29-border-on-web-images/msg13783/#msg13783
I said that I’d made a Cutout-Frame” using only QU.
So challenge #8 is for you to do the same but not just 1 border but 2, say a white border adjacent to the image and a narrower black one on the outside.
See attached example.
Tips: Use print to file, the image area of the cutout must be pure black, RGB 0, 0, 0.
For a cutout to be a frame around the outside of an image the file name must be in the format “filename.frame.tif” or “filename.frame.jpg” and should copied to C:\ProgramData\ddisoftware\Qimage\Cutouts

Terry
PS. The cutout-frame image wants to be at least 1000 pixels but not more than say 1500px
« Last Edit: April 07, 2013, 04:04:22 PM by Terry-M » Logged
Terry-M
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« Reply #1 on: April 06, 2013, 08:48:09 PM »

No-one had a go yet?  Shocked  Sad
Maybe you don't have a pure black image as the basis for the cutout?
That's easy, use any image and in the image editor, slide the shadow slider completely to the right, the image will go completely black RGB 0,0,0. When finished just remove that filter, easy  Wink
Terry
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Jeff
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« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2013, 07:40:33 AM »

No-one had a go yet?  Shocked  Sad
Maybe you don't have a pure black image as the basis for the cutout?
That's easy, use any image and in the image editor, slide the shadow slider completely to the right, the image will go completely black RGB 0,0,0. When finished just remove that filter, easy  Wink
Terry

Give us a bit of time.

Busy with garden, got to make hay as they say during the first good gardening weather for 11 months.

Thanks  for the tip

Jeff
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Terry-M
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« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2013, 04:03:57 PM »

I said in the first post:
Quote
For a cutout to be a frame around the outside of an image the file name must be in the format “filename.frame.tif” or “filename.frame.jpg”
In fact I strongly recommend that only a TIF format is used. In experimenting, I found that the jpeg compression distorts the RGB values which can be critical when RGB values like 0,0,3 or 253,255,255 are used.
It's best to use these "off-black" or "off-white" values when creating the frame to show black or white in the frame.
This is especially important if there is a black border adjacent to the image, it won't show otherwise as it then becomes part of the transparent image area that must be 0,0,0.
Terry
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Jeff
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« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2013, 09:17:04 AM »

Terry

Finally got back to Challenge

Using your "Slider to the Right" approach I get the following.

Have I got it? 

Jeff 
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Fred A
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« Reply #5 on: April 11, 2013, 09:54:57 AM »

Brown frame with black inner outline.

The credit for the shot goes to a photographer from Rugby, in the UK

Fred
« Last Edit: April 11, 2013, 11:30:24 AM by Fred A » Logged
Terry-M
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« Reply #6 on: April 11, 2013, 10:54:03 AM »

Hi Jeff,
Quote
Have I got it?
Looks like it. Seems as though you've shown either a screen shot or done a print to file of a page with print guide lines? An email/web copy would be clearer to new users.
Quote
Black frame with black inner outline.
Fred, I think you mean a coloured border with a black inner outline!
This example is more tricky and where the rules about transparency for cutouts is important (see QU Help under Cutouts).
If the black outline was pure black RGB 0 0 0 it would not show an become part of the area recognised by QU as the image area. The inner outline needs to be set to "off-black", say RGB 0 0 3. In fact it's best to give any black or white values that are part of the frame as, say RGB 0 0 3 or 253 255 255.
Also save the cutout as a tiff because jpg compression messes up the RGB values a little and 0 0 3 becomes 0 0 0 and therefore not visible on the  frame.
Terry


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Jeff
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« Reply #7 on: April 11, 2013, 11:21:44 AM »

Hi Jeff,
Quote
Have I got it?
Looks like it. Seems as though you've shown either a screen shot or done a print to file of a page with print guide lines? An email/web copy would be clearer to new users.


Terry

Terry

Still fishing about trying to fully understand what I am doing.

Yes, they were print to file.

Now messing about in Elements to create my own cut out designs, I think I am getting there but I am not a Elem/PS expert so am struggling a bit.

Will again return to challenge later.

Jeff
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Fred A
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« Reply #8 on: April 11, 2013, 11:31:51 AM »

Quote
Fred, I think you mean a coloured border with a black inner outline!

Thanks, Terry. I meant to say BROWN frame with black inner outline. I fixed it.
Fred
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Terry-M
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« Reply #9 on: April 11, 2013, 11:39:29 AM »

H Jeff,
Quote
Yes, they were print to file
Use fit to page and set the page size to match the image aspect ratio, but e-mail copies is easier.
Quote
I think I am getting there but I am not a Elem/PS expert so am struggling a bit.
You can use other graphic programs to do cutouts etc. as they have more fancy facilities. I've used PaintShop Pro and made a black image combined with some of the PS-P's frames so I can use directly in QU. I also use Serif Page Plus for fancy ones too, creating my own shadow, bevel and graduated effects.
For simple frames, coloured or black and white, we've shown already, QU is excellent.
See attached, black-white & black border made in QU.
Terry
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Jeff
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« Reply #10 on: May 01, 2013, 09:26:22 AM »

Hello Terry.

Just managed to get time to have another go at Frames.

Tried Inkscape but did not get on too well.   http://inkscape.org/

Then installed Serif Draw Plus Starter Edition and got on better and with a little Ultimate RTFMing managed to get what I wanted, Two thin black boarders with a gap at the bottom centre of the inner boarder to insert a photo description/title.

This gives a better look to a print and is what I have wanted to achieve for a long time, using a custom cut out will make the process more consistent and a one minute job.

Another space in boarder at the right margin could include author/© details in small discreet print and would make prints look more professional (I do get asked for prints now and again - not often but occasionally - .

Jeff
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Terry-M
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« Reply #11 on: May 01, 2013, 09:53:14 AM »

Hi Jeff,
A dramatic scene!
Tut tut!
Quote
Tried Inkscape but did not get on too well.
and
Quote
Then installed Serif Draw Plus Starter Edition

The idea of Qimage Challenge is to do it all in QU  Roll Eyes
Terry

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Jeff
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« Reply #12 on: May 12, 2013, 04:23:59 PM »

Hi Jeff,
A dramatic scene!
Tut tut!
The idea of Qimage Challenge is to do it all in QU  Roll Eyes
Terry

This was an interesting test shot.

I had just dropped camera on to tarmac dock side from chest height (a hell of a bang) and was seeing if camera still worked.
I had to put image through PS Elements to do some cloning to cover a burnt out sky area, then a bit of dodge and burn here and there.

Every thing else was done in Ultimate so hope you can 'let me off'

Jeff   

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