Enhancing Gray Shade Emboss
with Level, Normalize & Negative




Until learning Composite I never much liked Emboss. Then I remembered some embossing I had done at the beginning of Tigerlily's Imaging Class that had come out with super definition. After checking the steps I had used, I started fooling around with Emboss and then Level & Normalize and am impressed with the results!

I've also tried using Negate before Level and then Negating back and got even more intense reults.
See example #4

Update 4-4-03
1000 & 1200 Gray Shade are not working the same as they did when I made this tute. It now turns an image almost completely black. The closest substitute I know is 30x30, at least it is at the IM's I've been working with.
I will update and eventually revamp this tute when possible.



I used this Original for my experiments.
atq


#1
wu4

#2
wu4


Emboss -1000
Emboss -1000
Level 8/.6/50000




It seems even more effective if the image is Normalized 1st.

#2
emb

#3
wu4


Emboss -1000
Level 8/.6/50000 		Normalize
Emboss -1000
Level 8/.6/50000




...And using Negate

#4
wu4

Normalize
Emboss 1200%
Negate
Level 8/.09/35000
Negate



Compositing w/Original
wu4



Choosing Level Parameters

In the above examples I used 8/.6/50000. The 50000 affects the dark or lightness of the result. If I want to Comp/Multiply or Bumpmap after the enhanced embossing, the result may be too dark with some images and may need to try 40000 or less. To Comp/Plus I may want to try 60000 or more. By all means play with the numbers. Sometimes I get so stuck on something that works that I forget to experiment further.

Below are some examples of a variety of coordinates.


A
wu4

B
wu4

C
wu4
Normalize
Grey Shade Emboss 1000
Level 8/.6/60000		Normalize
Grey Shade Emboss 1000
Level 8/.6/40000		Normalize
Grey Shade Emboss 1000
Level 8/.3/40000



A, B & C Comp/Multiplied with the Original

A-c/m
wu4

B-c/m
wu4

C-c/m
wu4





By ~Stranjer~



Related Pages...More ways to get weird at IM

...but first, the fine print
Warning: My tutorials are experimental works in progress. I will add to them as I learn more about the combinations of effects I am trying to describe and try to refine my techniques and explanations, There are two other factors that are important here.
1. All images are NOT created equal. What works with one, may not work with another.
2. Things change at Image Magick from time to time, sometimes radically. I try to keep these pages updated.

Color Wrapping Images

Enhancing Gray Shade (Emboss)

Mock Emboss

Equalize Experiments

Using Level

Using Chop
remove interior areas

Making BGs at IM
for Classic and Plus units

FX-DF Circulars