Comping With Color
(Thumbnails link to larger image)
Tip: Load the original and its "negative" into one directory, or onto one page if using pagebuilder, so that both are accessable with the same basic URL (ie- with theRose1.jpg and theRose2.jpg you only have to change the numbers to switch the images). Why original and negative..? Because it's handy to have both at your fingertips for the following composition methods.
I started with this image of the lovely Athene:
| original | xxxxxxxxxxxxx | negative |
Method One:
Take your original to Imagemagick and enter the image URL and click "view image". On the following page there are three rows of options at the top-- choose "composite".
On the composite page, enter the same image URL and leave the coordinates set on the default "center +0+0". Next. cursor down and click on the options menu (which is set on the default "over") and choose "difference". Then cursor up and click on the "composite" button.
On the next page, you'll find that your image is now a solid black "blank". Use the "paint" option to replace the black with the color of your choice-- To do this, scroll down beneath the image to the paint option menus. Click on the left menu and choose "color", then click on the right menu and choose "replace". Type your color in the box (ie- teal or #006666 - if using hex codes, remember to use the # in front of the number). Next, cursor up to the image and click on once to bring the arrow up, click again to change the color.
I chose "peru":
Next, choose "composite" again. On the composite page, leave everything set as before-- "center +0+0" and "difference"-- and click on "composite" button.
I got this:
Interesting but a little too dark for me. So I used my "back" key and switched URLs to try the negative (like I said, it's handy to have both available!). This is the result:
Great colors, but I thought it was a little "soft" and wanted something deeper, richer-- so I went to the composite page again, used the negative image again and, from the options dropdown, chose "threshold". This is the result:
Note: Not all colors work well with all images! If you don't like the first result, instead of "threshold", choose "difference" again. Still don't like it..? Use the paint option at "color" and "reset" to make a different colored "blank" and try again.
Method Two:
Instead of a colored blank, we're going to use an embossment (now "grayshade"), of the original to begin with. So, take your image to Imagemagick and load 'er up. Choose "effects" and, on the effects page, delete the numbers in the box and type in 30x30 (check out the emboss tute[s] for various other methods of embossment). Select "Grayshade" and click on the effects button.
Once your image is embossed, go to the composite page, enter the original URL, choose "center +0+0" and "difference", click on "composite" button. Now Athene looks like this:
So, what happens if we diff comp her again..?
Nice, but I rarely stop with "nice"! I wanted her to really stand out so I comped again, using "copy green" and got this:
Still nice, but I wanted "rich" so I comped again, using the negative this time and "threshold", and got this:
Now she looks as if she's antique ivory instead of boring old marble!
Summary
Both of these methods can be simple starting points for more intricate compositions. For instance, once you've got your single image to your liking, try comping it with another image. Experiment by mixing comp methods-- say, after "difference", try "multiply" or "plus" or any of the other options.
And don't be afraid of your back key! It's an imager's greatest tool!
Most important: Have fun!
susan © 2002