Rose with Polar Cordinates

[Douglas Bolt]

The starting image and usual stats are shown here -
http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...t-another-rose

After reading Denise's Aug 5 blog explaining how she used Distort-Polar Coordinates on the Caladium leaf, I got excited about the effect. After tinkering a bit, I concluded I needed help using this filter.

Is there a way to adjust the intensity of the effect. I can adjust the blending mode, but I can't figure out how to reorient the center of the effect nor how to reduce the swing. I ended up using the clone tool to eliminate the vertical margin line - couldn't seem to get the layer mask approach to work.

Anyhow, much fun. CC much appreciated.

[Steve Adkins]

Douglas, This is a fun filter effect! I don't have the answers to your questions :confused: but would be interested in what folks say.
I have just experimented a little and most of my results are "accidents". :)
One thing that effects the centering is the original crop. Questions like... Is it square or rectangular or portrait or landscape, or perhaps inverted?... make a difference for me.
You may want to check out...http://content.photojojo.com/tutoria...orama-planets/ ... for a different twist on this.
also Pixel Bender plugin for Photoshop has some interesting (somewhat) similar effects.
Have fun!

[denise ippolito]

Douglas, I'm so glad you gave this a try. I often re-crop an image as suggested by Steve and I also rotate the image, which will create a different look. Flipping the image also changes the results. I wish that the filter had more controls to work with. Sometimes I add a layer mask to the top layer and fill it w/ 88% black then with my brush set to soft start to reveal some of the details for another look. You have created a very nice tunnel effect and looks like you learned another tool!!:)

[Douglas Bolt]

Thanks for the links, Steve. Very helpful and quite informative. I didn't delve into Pixel Bender as yet, but the Adobe site also seem inviting.

[Douglas Bolt]

Hi Denise,
Thanks for the info. Although your "learned another tool" observation is a bit generous, to say the least, but I certainly have begun to see how it could be used.

Regarding the layer mask, I get one when the filter effect is added to a smart object. However, my experience so far has been that what's under and above the mask are so different that +/- 80% opacity seems to give more of a ghost effect. More tinkering ahead...

I discovered that I uploaded the wrong version of the image. Can't see the radiating lines in the original image. Hope this is legal...

And, I forgot to provide a link to your Blog that I quoted. Here is the link - http://deniseippolito.com/

Thanks again.

doug

[denise ippolito]

Douglas, I like the sharper version it appears to have more depth. Using a layer mask and revealing key elements within the image is just another option to vary the look of an image. I took a peak at your image galleries on Smugmug and you have some really nice stuff! Love the flight images. :)

[Douglas Bolt]

Thanks, Denise. I wasn't sure it was permitted to upload a second image before the required 24 hr.

And, thanks for the kind words about the flight images. I'm not sure if you are referring to those taken at the Alligator Farm with Robert O'Toole and Robert Amoruso or those taken with Artie at Bosque, or others. The workshop with Artie was my first with a brand new DSLR. What a great way to start, and I'm still basing most of my BIF approach on what Artie taught in his workshop.

doug

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks for your kind words Doug. As for the polar rose, I just don't get it :) but that happens to me every once is a while at OOTB!

[denise ippolito]

Thanks, Denise. I wasn't sure it was permitted to upload a second image before the required 24 hr.

And, thanks for the kind words about the flight images. I'm not sure if you are referring to those taken at the Alligator Farm with Robert O'Toole and Robert Amoruso or those taken with Artie at Bosque, or others. The workshop with Artie was my first with a brand new DSLR. What a great way to start, and I'm still basing most of my BIF approach on what Artie taught in his workshop.

doug

I was referring to both groups of images. Nicely done.

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Doug, it's great that you are experimenting with this and you will find that you can get some pretty interesting effects with it. There aren't any adjustments to the filter because it is just a mathematical transformation from rectangular to polar coordinates. This is often used to make 360 degree panoramic images. Would like to see more of your experiments! Have you checked out the link Steve posted? These work best when you start with a squared image (not just a square image, but one that is warped into a square). Fun!

[Douglas Bolt]

Yes, Kerry. I did check them out. The first one gave a very good overview of Polar Coordinates about how it works and how to utilize it. Much appreciated. Thanks again Steve. I have not yet downloaded the Filter Bender, but I see that download link is still an open tab on Firefox.

As I was reading the Photojojo link, I was thinking about several 360 degree pano of a beautiful place in South Africa that I have never been able to find a way to display - maybe .....

[Indranil Sircar]

Nice abstract composition, Douglas. I like the fact that you could visualize to try the filter on this image which worked well here. I like the sharper version.