Kite sketch

[Kerry Perkins]

The great themes just keep coming. Thanks Denise!

This White-tailed Kite was processed with Topaz Simplify, using the "sketch hard line" preset to start, then tweaked a bit. Then I used CS4 to adjust levels and curves to get a lighter sketch look. I added a sandstone texture to make it look like rough sketch paper. The border was added using "select -> modify -> border" with a five pixel value, then filled with 50% gray.

Comments welcome, as always! :)

[denise ippolito]

Kerry, I like the composition w/ the perch and the capture is awesome! Nice details w/ a very realistic sketch. I might lose the catch light if it were mine. Very nicely done.
If anyone would like to submit a theme for the weekly contest please send me a PM. I am always looking for new ideas.:)

[Cheryl Slechta]

Kerry, I'm getting ready to post a great egret that I think I used the same effect on I although mine has a lot of bg (I like the sky better).
I thought it was interesting that parts of the image look like they have a chrome effect.:)

[Patti Edens]

Kerry, Ditto what Denise said about the original capture - wonderful action and composition. I love the sandstone background and the border effect is perfect - not too large to distract, but just enough to contain the image. Thanks for the details on how you did it. I've never even used modify border, so it's great to learn something new.

Patti

[Christopher Miller]

Great image, Kerry. Love the spread-winged pose, and very nice texture and sketch look. I might tone down the border on the tail a bit because I feel like it draws some attention away from the head area. Very well done. :)

[Mark Fuge]

Nice image and application, Kerry.

I like the feel of this. One thing that I would do is to have the branch coming out of the LLC. But that would put the bird dead center! :confused: So guess yours is acceptable! ;) :D

[Kerry Perkins]

Thanks everyone! Mark, I was under the impression that it was bad composition to have objects entering or exiting the corners of the frame. N'est ce pas?