Green heron at Peaceful Waters Sanctuary.
Click the photo to enjoy the enlargement detail
This is a composite illustration using several different processes between 3or 4 programs. The original picture was captured with a Canon 5D MIII in 24 mpx HD RAW. The RAW image was first cataloged, standard EXIF information was embedded in the image and eventually saved in my multi-TB master database and storage device.
The initial processing was accomplished in ACDSee, a cataloging program I’ve used for 15 years (from V1). Contrast, and color intensity was tweaked using several layers of “mask” to define multiple editing points (hand drawn masks). The final image of this process was saved in PNG format to retain high bit colors, definition and contrast.
Next stage is accomplished in a program by Mediachance called DAP, Dynamic Auto Painter (x64 for high bit resolution). DAP allows me to either use a pre-defined “painter” style or I can create my own by using Mediachance’s “Photo-Reactor” software. For this image I chose a pre-defined artist style, using large rough brush strokes much like Van Gogh. I did not use Van Gogh’s color palate, it’s too cold for me so I selected a different palate. DAP is a “Paint” program, in other words it actually paints the picture in your selected resolution based on the painter’s style and selected color palate. It never paints the same image twice.
The green Heron was painted using a bold but silky painting style, more like what a high-end glamor retoucher would use on a picture used in a catalog or magazine. Again, all image parts were saved in png to preserve color and image resolution.
Next, I used Media chance’s Photoblend 3D to cut the green heron from one image and impose the cut image over the VAN Gogh style background image making the heron stand out from the painted bg. The saved png file generated from the first “paint” stage, required 86 mg of storage space. During the compositing phase the high-bit files were smaller.
Once the composite file is saved the image is re-opened on ACDSee so that EXIF information can be transferred from the original images to the final composites and cataloged and I can re-touch/re-paint/re-edit the last image as needed before publishing.
The final stage is to encode the high bit png file to jpg. so that it can be uploaded to regular services. To fully appreciate the painted textures, open the image to full resolution and check out all the textures and intricate painting techniques the software is programed to use.
Enjoy!
