Working with the Filters Menu

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The options in the Filters menu are applied to bitmap images. If you try to use an effect from the Filters menu on a vector object, the vector is converted to a bitmap object prior to using the filter. The difference between using the Filters menu and the Effects menu is that the Effects menu uses Live Effects, which remain editable where the Filters menu converts everything to a bitmap and is not editable. For instance, for the Habitat Alert site we added a drop shadow to the banner rectangle using the Effects menu. This is a Live Effect, which can be edited. Most of the Live Effects can be applied to a bitmap and still remain editable. But as soon as you use the Filters menu there is no editability other than undo. You'll use Live Effects in the Expert Tutorial in this chapter.

Using the Blur filters

The Blur and More Blur tools are good for cleaning up an image. It'll erase small dust and scratches, and then you can sharpen the image again. With the Gaussian Blur, re-sharpening doesn't work very well. But the Blur and More Blur filters give you no control at all over the amount of blurring. You get what they are preset to and that's it. I find the Gaussian Blur filter to be the most useful Blur filter for larger areas or more intense blurring. You can set how much blur to add. If you use the slider to adjust the amount, you see the effect in your document. If you type in an amount, you'll have to accept the changes, press enter, or click on the slider to preview it.

Note 

Motion blur is also useful. It is a plug-in that comes with Eye Candy 4000LE.

Using the Sharpen filters

Similar to the Blur filters, the Sharpen and the Sharpen More filters are automatic adjustments with no choices available; even the Sharpen tool in the Tools panel gives you intensity options and more. What the sharpening filters do, especially the Unsharp Mask filter, is increase the sharpness of an image by working with contrast. The contrast is emphasized in an image based on the selections you make in the Unsharp Mask dialog box. The following options are available:

  • Sharpen Amount specifies the intensity, determining the effect neighboring pixels have on one another. The Sharpen Amount is affected by the Radius and Threshold amount as well, so you may have to adjust those settings. The best settings for the Sharpen Amount are between 50% and 100%.

  • Pixel Radius is similar to a feather and determines how many pixels are evaluated. The larger the number you select the more pronounced the contrast. The Pixel Radius settings range should be .5% to 1.5% of the dpi of the image.

  • Threshold determines which pixels are affected. Which pixels are affected is based on the number of levels of difference in the surrounding pixels. If the number of levels is greater than the threshold, sharpening is applied based on the settings for Radius and the Sharpen Amount. The higher the Threshold number, the fewer pixels affected.

Adjusting color

This section looks briefly at each option for adjusting color, and gives instructions for some of the easier options. You use these various tools from the Filters menu or the Effects menu throughout the Fireworks section. You work with bitmaps in this section, but you can use these following functions from the Filters menu (bitmap only) or from the Effects menu (bitmap and vector).

Auto Levels

Levels adjust the tonal range of an image. If detail isn't visible, levels can often bring it out. Auto Levels is like most automatic tools, you have no control.

Brightness and Contrast

The Brightness and Contrast option is a quick way to adjust an image's appearance. After you choose Brightness and Contrast, the Brightness and Contrast dialog box opens. If you move the sliders to the left or right, you can view the changes in real-time on the canvas. When you get it the way you want, click OK.

Curves

Curves adjust tonal values like levels do, but in a different visual way. You can select a specific channel and adjust the Input and Output values just like you can in Levels. Some people prefer one method over the other. Levels show you a histogram; whereas curves show you the curve.

Hue and Saturation

Hue and Saturation is a great way to change the color of an image. Let's say you have a button you really like and would like to use it, but it's red and you need teal. All you need to do is select the object, choose Filters ® Adjust Color ® Hue and Saturation. As you move the sliders, the color changes. You can add contrast, lightness, or color. If you click the Colorize option, you can change an RGB image to a two-tone image or add color to a grayscale image. Be sure to check the Preview option so you can see the effect on the canvas as you move the sliders. When you get the color you want click OK.

Invert

The Invert filter changes each color in an object or image to its inverse on the color wheel. For example, applying Invert to a red image changes the color to light blue. To use the Invert filter, select an object, choose Filters ® Adjust Color ® Invert.

Levels

Levels are used to make tonal corrections in images. The Auto Levels option isn't a bad one to try until you learn how use the shadow points and histogram of levels.

Plug-ins

Plug-ins are third-party filters that you can use to achieve all kinds of great effects. In Chapter 21, you'll get a chance to use the ones that ship with Fireworks MX and take a look at some of my favorites.

On the CD-ROM 

You'll find demos of Alien Skin plug-ins on the CD.

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Expert Image Composition, by Japi Honoo

In this tutorial you learn to combine various unrelated images to form a composition. You see how to combine bitmap and vector images in the same composition. You use a variety of techniques, such as Blend Modes, Curves, drawing tools, multiple effects, and more. When you are finished you will have a stunning work of art. This project teaches the following skills:

  • Preparing the main image subject

  • Adding a second image

  • Adding a vector drawing

  • Adding texture

  • Adding text on a path

When designing Web pages, writing articles, or simply trying to convey a concept, you will probably turn to imaging to fully communicate your topic. The theme of the artwork in this exercise is "New Economy Assault." It fuses an image representing an assault with an image of a motherboard. In keeping with this theme, you add a vector drawing of blood, which you blend into the composition. You also add special text effects and blending modes to really change the look of the composition.

The end results of the project in this tutorial are twofold. First, it helps you learn how to take bitmap images and blend them together to present a theme. And second, it helps you learn to apply various, multiple, Live Effects. The following image shows how your image will look when you are finished.

Preparing the main image subject

Many Web sites use imaging to evoke emotions. When I found this image taken by Olaf Starorypinski (www.orsphoto.com), I was inspired to make this composition. In this exercise I show you how easy this composition was to create, but don't forget to use your imagination!

  1. Open  jon.png from the chapter19_exercise folder. You can use any image you like, just find one that inspires you, the size and subject is not important but the feelings it invokes are. This image sample is black and white, but if you have a colored image, convert it by choosing Command®Creative®Convert to Grayscale.

  2. In the Layers panel, double-click Background and rename it Photo. Double-click the bitmap and name it Jon.


    The completed project sample


    Brightness and contrast added to the image

  3. The first thing you will do to the image is to add brightness. I show you two different methods and you can choose the one you prefer. Or you can try both and see the final results and then decide.

    Although this is a bitmap image, you can still use the Effects list instead of the Filters menu. By using the Effects list, you can use multiple effects and turn off one or more to try different options. After you decide what you like best, you can delete the one you don't like or leave it turned off.

    Click the plus sign in the Property inspector to access the Effects list, choose Adjust Color ® Brightness/Contrast. Use these settings:

    • Brightness: 20

    • Contrast: 33

    This adds stronger light to the body, particularly in the center, as shown in the following image.

  4. In the Property inspector, uncheck Brightness/Contrast.

  5. Click the plus sign in the Property inspector to access the Effects list. Choose Adjust Color ® Curves. The following figures shows the shape of the curve and the results of adjusting the curve for the image. Apply the following settings:

    • Input: 92

    • Output: 168

    • The lightening effect is less subtle: use the curves and leave more detail

  6. In the Property inspector, uncheck Curves, and click to check Brightness/Contrast. Try this option first and toggle back and forth as you progress. You can leave both effects for now.

    click to expand
    The shape of the adjusted curve


    The results of adjusting the curve for the image

Adding the second image

The second image you add is a photo of a motherboard; the color isn't important. This image was chosen for its line detail. When you are looking for images to use in a composite, look for ones that add interest, detail, and texture to your final piece. Things like the color aren't important because it is so easy to alter them.

  1. In the Layers panel, click the yellow folder to add a new layer. Double-click it and name it Motherboard. Lock the Photo layer (click to the right of the eye icon).

  2. Choose File ® Import and navigate to the chapter19_exerciseimages folder. Select motherboard.jpg and open it. Click the top-left corner of the canvas to place the image.

  3. In the Layers panel, change the Blend Mode to Multiply and lower the Opacity to 78%.


    The Layers panel showing the Opacity and Blend Mode settings


    The image with the Blend Mode changed to Multiply and Opacity lowered a bit

  4. To brighten the motherboard, access the Effects list in the Property inspector and choose Adjust Color ® Brightness/Contrast, and use these settings:

    • Brightness: -35

    • Contrast: 45

  5. To make the motherboard black and white, access the Effects list in the Property inspector and choose, Adjust Color ® Hue/Saturation with these values:

    • Hue: 0

    • Saturation: -100

  6. Next you need to define the lines of the motherboard more to make it more closely resemble a drawing. To do this you need to alter the curve. From the Effects list, choose Adjust Color ® Curves.

    You need to add two additional points to this curve. (It currently has a beginning and end in the corners.) Click two times on the line; the location doesn't matter. Leave the bottom-left point alone; then click the second point on the line and add the Input and Output values in the following list. Repeat for the third and fourth points.

    • Second Point (from bottom left) — Input: 81; Output: 250

    • Third Point — Input: 118; Output: 78

    • Fourth Point (top right) — Input: 211; Output: 246

    click to expand
    The Curve dialog box showing the new curve with three points


    The image with the contrast/brightness and the adjusted curves

  7. Lock the Motherboard layer and turn the visibility off for both Photo layer and the Motherboard layer.

Add a Vector Drawing

Since the theme of this composition is "New Economy Assault," I thought adding bit of blood would be appropriate for this design. Don't get squeamish now — it's only vectors.

  1. In the Layers panel, add a new layer and name it Blood.

  2. If you are pretty good with the Pen tool, make a shape like you here.

    If you need some assistance in making the drawing, you can use a tracing image. Choose File ® Import and select tracing.jpg from the chapter19_exercise folder. Lock this image.


    The shape of the blood spots

  3. Lower the opacity of the shape and with the Pen tool (be sure to have a stroke), begin to click around the shape. Click and drag for the curve areas. Deselect after the first shape, and then draw the second shape.


    The shapes traced

  4. Unlock the blood image tracing image and delete it. Your two paths should be in the Blood layer.

  5. Select one of the paths. In the Property inspector, in the Stroke Category, select Pencil, 1 Pixel soft. Click in the Color well and in the Swatches box type Hex #FF6600. (Or you can select it. It's a shade of orange.)

  6. From the Fill Category pop-up menu, select Satin. Click the color well to access the Gradient Edit window. Click the first color chip, type the Hex number #E52700, and press Enter/Return. Click the color chip on the right and type #FF6500 and press Enter/Return.

  7. From the Effects list, select Blur ® Gaussian Blur, enter a value of 4.1, and click OK.

  8. To apply the same settings to the second shape, I'll give you a shortcut. Select the object that is colored, choose Edit ® Copy (Control [Command] +C). Select the second shape and choose Edit ® Paste Attributes.

  9. To get a look at what you now have, turn the visibility back on the Photo and Motherboard layers. Select the Blood layer and change the Blend Mode to Color.


    The blood shape with the Blend Mode of Color applied

  10. Lock the Blood layer. If you want to check your progress so far, you can compare your file to the Layers panel shown here.


    The Layers panel up through Step 10

Add Texture to the composition

Texture images always add depth and character to a composition.

  1. Add a new layer and name it Texture. Turn the visibility off of the other layers.

  2. Choose File®Import and navigate to the chapter19_exercise folder, select texture.jpg file, and open it. Click the top-left corner of the canvas to place the image.

  3. To make the texture black and white, access the Effects list in the Property inspector, and select Adjust Color ® Hue/Saturation. Use the following settings:

    • Check Colorize

    • Hue: 0

    • Saturation: 0

  4. To define the edges a bit more, access the Effects list again. Choose Adjust Color ® Brightness/Contrast and enter these values:

    • Brightness: -75

    • Contrast: 55


    A dramatic reduction in brightness

  5. In the Layers panel, lower the opacity of the Texture layer to 80%, and change the Blend Mode to Lighten. Turn the visibility back on for all layers.

Adding the title

You now add a title, which is curved to the right side of the composition.

  1. Add a new layer and name it Text.

  2. Select the Ellipse tool and draw an oval. In the Property inspector change the Width to 177 and the Height to 200. The color isn't important.

  3. Select the Text tool. In the Property inspector, apply the following settings:

    • Font: Impact (Arial will do as well)

    • Size: 20 and Bold

    • Color: white

    • Kerning: 5%

    • Center Alignment

    • Type the words New Economy Assault


    The composition with all the image layers complete


    The text so far

  4. Access the Effect list, choose Blur ® Gaussian Blur, and enter a value of 1. Click OK.

  5. Go to the Effect list again and choose Shadow and Glow ® Glow. Enter the following settings:

    • Color: white

    • Width: 4

    • Opacity: 53%

    • Softness: 9

    • Offset: 0

  6. Select the text and shift+select the oval. Choose Text ® Attach to Path. (I choose to curve the text to emulate a shield.)


    The text attached to the path

  7. With the text selected, choose Edit ® Clone and use the right arrow key on the keyboard to move the duplicate text as shown in the following figure.

  8. Choose Text ® Convert to Paths (Control/Command+Shift+P).


    The cloned text moved

  9. Choose Modify ® Transform ® Distort so it looks like the following image. Double-click to accept the transformation.


    The text distorted

  10. From the Effects list, choose Blur ® Gaussian Blur, enter a value of 2.8, and click OK. Then choose from the Effects list, Sharpen ® Unsharp Mask and use these settings:

    • Sharpen Amount: 58

    • Pixel Radius: 4.1

    • Threshold: 0

  11. Change the Layer blend Mode to Luminosity.

Well, that's all there is to this image. Now you can see how versatile the Live Effects are and the great effects you can get using the different blend modes and masking effects.

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Macromedia Studio MX Bible
Macromedia Studio MX Bible
ISBN: 0764525239
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 491

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