Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Making-Clean-PNGs-With-Transparency

Howdy folks! 

"Making Clean PNGs"
First, I want to mention thanks to sayyads1 from Pngtree.com for my latest Creative Corner cover image. It's gorgeous! The original can be found here: https://pngtree.com/freepng/white-seven-horse_3640816.html and this template image can be downloaded for free for 'premium' members. ♥

There are a number of websites on the Internet that host and offer for free use, some just for personal use and others for commercial use, images with 'transparent' backgrounds, usually in the PNG format. Some are reputable; some are not. 

Those that are not basically go around the Internet grabbing whatever images they can find and then upload them to and offer them from their site and the artist who did the 'original work' never gets mentioned. On the other hand, there are reputable sites, such as Pngtree that offer images to use that have 'a few' contributing artists who upload other artists' works "as their own", as I have learned first hand with Pngtree. But when I contacted Pngtree about some images being mine, Pngtree took the right and proper action and removed my work without hesitation.

With this said, what I'm addressing here though in this post mainly, is making clean PNG images with transparent backgrounds, since I see countless of these on the Internet that just aren't 'clean' and before they can be used, they have to be worked on, consuming a considerable amount of time, unless one wants to use them on/against a white or almost white background. A good, clean PNG image can be used on/with ANY background, light, dark, or in between.

But to make a good, clean PNG image requires time AND patience. There's more to isolating a subject from an image than simply using the eraser, magic eraser, or background eraser tools in photo editing programs. Granted, these tools do remove almost all of the background, but they do not make the image 'clean' using this process only. This step is the easy part. However, this step alone leaves an image with jagged edges and with an unwanted border or edge around the isolated subject, and when placed in another image, it looks awful.

Then there are some who use the eraser tool to remove the background, but don't make allowances for subjects that don't have 'smooth' clean cut edges, like for instance, animals having hair or fur. Usually then, when isolating an animal, it becomes a matter of removing the background AND even a small part of the edge of the animal that then has to be replaced manually. This is the 'fine tuning' part and this is the part that I see many don't bother doing because it "requires a LOT of time AND patience". As a result, in order to actually 'use' an image without this fine tuning, one has to spend hours doing the fine tuning before the image can be used. 


For the purpose of presenting an example to give a visual of what I'm speaking here, I'm referring to this Pngtree image of what appears to be a Poodle mix:
https://pngtree.com/freepng/black-and-white-string-of-dog-red-dogs_1935287.html


Image example one is the image exactly as it downloaded placed on a dark background. Image example two is the same image placed on the same dark background, but after several hours of my fine tuning it. When PNG images with a transparent background are displayed on a website, they are displayed against a white background and so, you can't tell what the quality of the work is with the isolated image until you download it and place a dark background behind it, which I'm bringing to attention in these two example images. 
Image one:
Full Size PNG:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4viukTIcNlSZfS-MMf1mr6JV55AszlleGSwoHqsmwqjpiKFbujCUVTJlDzNnralTKr_M6XQAZc3qi9hSh5weKjfr0sK-j_E_gkvdhTmz996AcAesokhLgTI6JADqbDexmFvKCTo1-qc1q/h120/PoodleMixFromPngtree2373771_759x949.png

Image two:

A few years back I isolated a German Shepherd from a person's photo for him of his dog, Buddie. First, I am displaying his photo (Image one). Second, the image with Buddie framed that I isolated from his photo (Image two). Notice how clean my isolation of Buddie is. I  also removed Buddie's chain. Then third, the image where I placed the isolated Buddie onto a college campus photo background, taken by my daughter (Image three). All of these are copyrighted, respectively, of course. 
Image one:
Buddy photo by Rich Patt
Full size JPG photo url by Rich Patt:

Image two:
Buddy isolated/framed editing by Artsieladie
Full size PNG image url of Buddie framed:

Image three:
Buddy On Campus editing by Artsieladie
Full size PNG image url of Buddie on campus:

Tip: When isolating a subject from an image, usually a JPG photo, do it in a PSD format to work with the layers' feature. Add two additional 'background' layers 'behind the layer of the subject being isolated' and make one layer a solid, dark colour and the other layer a solid light or white layer. To check to see how clean your isolated layer is, turn on or open the eye for the dark layer and any stray, unwanted white or light pixels will show that then need erasing. When satisfied with, close the eye for the dark layer and open the eye for the light or white background layer and then check for any unwanted dark pixels or smudges and erase them. 

As is usually the case in life, anything worth doing is worth doing right and the best one can or it's not worth doing it at all to only end up with something done of poor quality. My Mom taught and impressed this on me, to take pride in my work, when I was growing up and to this day I honour her words and try to do the best I can with everything I do, so I can and do take pride in/with my work.

💗 Have a Blessed Day! ðŸ’—
Post by Artsieladie /Artsieladie Sharon Donnelly 
©2019-01-23
All rights reserved.
To see more posts, check out the Sitemap.

💖 ðŸ“– ✍ ðŸ’– ðŸŽ¨ ðŸ–Œ ðŸ’–

Website: www.artsieladie.com
Blog (here): http://artsieladie-creative-corner.blogspot.com/
Blog: http://artsieladie-heartbeats.blogspot.com/
Blog: http://artsieladie-quotes.blogspot.com/
Blog: http://artsieladie-rhymetyme.blogspot.com/ 

Credits:
Pngtree.com
College photo: Evah Jane Donnelly
Buddie photo: Rich Patt
Current Creative Corner cover image: sayyads1

"Giving is the joy of living." 
~ Quote by Artsieladie
Art by Artsieladie

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

2018-Christmas-Cards-Cardinals

Howdy folks! 

Some more Christmas greeting cards I've designed, centered around cardinals. I love cardinals and they are especially pretty against the winter's snow and brighten the dreariness of winter. They are a symbol of warmth and faith, as well as the blood Jesus shed for us on the Cross. The word, 'cardinal', means of greatest importance and Christmas surely is! I may add more. You can always check back and see and even though some are added on or after Christmas, 2018, they will be here for next year and maybe by then, I'll have designed even more. Merry Christmas!

Growing up, one of my fondest Christmas memories is the making of Christmas cards and gift tags (which I may also do as well). Mom and us kids put all our creative ideas together, along with drawing, colouring, different colours of paper, glitter, and even some glue, and we made cards and tags to give to family, friends, teachers, mailman, etc.. To this day I enjoy making greeting cards for birthdays and various holidays/occasions, but especially for Christmas. Whenever possible we can share how we each are blessed with a gift or gifts, I believe we should and being creative is one of the ways God has gifted and blessed me.

My cards have different designs, some with a fine, gold trim, some not; some with outside borders, some not; some with candy cane frames/borders, some not. One design is a 'vertical' card (taller and less wide - 5.5 inches x 8.5 inches) and the other is a 'horizontal' card (shorter and more wide - 8.5 inches x 5.5 inches). For those who don't know how to print a card, I may at some point place helpful directions with images to help with card placement on the paper to be printed on, so your cards don't result in being backwards. Once you understand, it's very simple. They fit on one half of a regular size sheet of paper (11 inches x 8.5 inches - horizontal position; 8.5 inches x 11 inches - vertical position), preferably of 'card stock' grade so the card can be stood on its own to display, if wanted.

Under the images you'll see the corresponding image links for sharing, if one wishes. By right clicking on an image, you can then select 'save image' or 'save image as' to save it to your phone or computer. I refer to my cards as being either 'vertical' or 'horizontal' simply due to which measurement is greater. Since the vertical measurement is greater with the taller cards, I refer to them as 'vertical' and since the horizontal measurement is greater with the wider cards, I refer to these as 'horizontal'.

All my cards I've created in a PSD format, which means I can use a variety of combinations in their designing, with different colour combinations. For example: If I want a mainly red themed card, I'll use a candy cane 'inner' border that's red and white with red text and with possibly red poinsettias -or- I may forego the candy cane 'inner' border and use a glittery red outside border/frame, instead. If you look through all the cards I'm displaying, you will see the variety of ways I've designed them, along with the different colour themes. 

I mention this because if you would like a particular card, but with a different colour theme, drop me an email and explain what colour theme change you would like and I'll be more than glad to customize a card for you. Make sure the subject says, "Christmas Card Customizing" (so if it goes to spam I'll know not to delete it) and in this case, it would be best to include the image link(s) I provide with my card images, so I can know which card (or cards) you are making reference to. I can also interchange "Merry Christmas" with say, "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays", except I will not make this change on cards that depict the birth of Jesus, like The Nativity, Three Kings, and the Shepherds, Star of Bethlehem.

About the usage rights - Terms and Conditions: 
I've made and am making card designs for anyone to be able to download and print them and can give and/or send them to family and friends. They are and will remain copyrighted to yours truly. They are not to be altered in any way that removes, covers up, or eliminates in any way whatsoever, my name, my logo, and this blog's address. Since these cards are in digital form, it's not possible to put my information on the back as is usually done with an actual card. Under no circumstances whatsoever are my card designs to be added to ANY other collection and/or offered from another website that is not one of mine. As the copyright owner, I ONLY have ALL the say about the usage, distribution, and publishing of MY work. By downloading my card designs, this automatically means you've read and you agree with my terms and conditions. If anyone has questions, please use my contact page on this blog and title the subject, "Christmas Cards 2018" and text only emails. Thank you. 

I shouldn't have to say any of this nor repeat it, but there are always people out there looking to benefit from others' work. I simply would like to see people get some enjoyable use from my card designs. Hope all have a Merry Christmas! 

 Christmas Cards: "Cardinals" 
(vertical) 
Christmas Cardinals art by/copyrighted to Artsieladie

Christmas Cardinals (2) art by/copyrighted to Artsieladie
PNG image links:
Top: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtFj3apUm11bblslYTuWeGfvQePlc2G8ob_qYqncfBq4KUm8rkeSMLgXW4yLqo9sLmtDNwuEe2oKx5HqKDjYNSFKyIh4fP9Uu2kkJVX9rHkvRr4XM7ELCx8pYaPVppqsdNsL4nMRKClb5/h612/ChristmasCardV-CardinalsGreenRedCCByArtsieladie2018-12-02_396x612-72res_5.5x8.5.png
Bottom: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QIBng9g-PAh5QpWhHer45hzqbzt7QhHwb2WmnczrvAVjOFB49LIQJhAcnjHh0sLASJymyH3rpBbVJYvYHAuv2eZ51KIi0XZgG9ghO69EaeCXAIuTyPSusTO4lRazi5kHRVA095H29jpq/h612/ChristmasCardV-CardinalsMailRedGreenCCByArtsieladie2018-12-02_396x612-72res_5.5x8.5.png
🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎅🤶🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
Cardinal Christmas
(horizontal) 
Cardinal Christmas art by/copyrighted to Artsieladie
PNG image link:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGwQzqmSwMUtZ_5JZ1F8If__Emeafi7JT6zHEKyTTnjxH89VcQ9C4QDNje-PbAzitq562lOuFXqs18D9_jl-xapR-KoGDaAAj-nyj1yQ96UN4oFiCBBLONhE7l8W9qBCi72e4dl0EHzH2/h612/ChristmasCardH-CardinalsRedBorder-ByArtsieladie2018-12-02_612x396-72res_8.5x5.5.png

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎅🤶🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
More? Maybe.
💗 Merry Christmas! ðŸ’—
By Artsieladie /Artsieladie Sharon Donnelly 
©2018-12-02 
All rights reserved.
To see more posts, check out the Sitemap.

💖 ðŸ“– ✍ ðŸ’– ðŸŽ¨ ðŸ–Œ ðŸ’–

Website: www.artsieladie.com
Blog (here): http://artsieladie-creative-corner.blogspot.com/
Blog: http://artsieladie-heartbeats.blogspot.com/
Blog: http://artsieladie-quotes.blogspot.com/
Blog: http://artsieladie-rhymetyme.blogspot.com/

"Giving is the joy of living." 
~ Quote by Artsieladie
Art by Artsieladie

2018-Christmas-Cards-Teddybears

Howdy folks! 

Another Christmas greeting card I've designed of my Christmas Teddybear. Me lurves teddybears! I may add more. You can always check back and see and even though some are added on or after Christmas, 2018, they will be here for next year and maybe by then, I'll have designed even more. Merry Christmas!

Growing up, one of my fondest Christmas memories is the making of Christmas cards and gift tags (which I may also do as well). Mom and us kids put all our creative ideas together, along with drawing, colouring, different colours of paper, glitter, and even some glue, and we made cards and tags to give to family, friends, teachers, mailman, etc.. To this day I enjoy making greeting cards for birthdays and various holidays/occasions, but especially for Christmas. Whenever possible we can share how we each are blessed with a gift or gifts, I believe we should and being creative is one of the ways God has gifted and blessed me.

My cards have different designs, some with a fine, gold trim, some not; some with outside borders, some not; some with candy cane frames/borders, some not. One design is a 'vertical' card (taller and less wide - 5.5 inches x 8.5 inches) and the other is a 'horizontal' card (shorter and more wide - 8.5 inches x 5.5 inches). For those who don't know how to print a card, I may at some point place helpful directions with images to help with card placement on the paper to be printed on, so your cards don't result in being backwards. Once you understand, it's very simple. They fit on one half of a regular size sheet of paper (11 inches x 8.5 inches - horizontal position; 8.5 inches x 11 inches - vertical position), preferably of 'card stock' grade so the card can be stood on its own to display, if wanted.

Under the images you'll see the corresponding image links for sharing, if one wishes. By right clicking on an image, you can then select 'save image' or 'save image as' to save it to your phone or computer. I refer to my cards as being either 'vertical' or 'horizontal' simply due to which measurement is greater. Since the vertical measurement is greater with the taller cards, I refer to them as 'vertical' and since the horizontal measurement is greater with the wider cards, I refer to these as 'horizontal'. 

All my cards I've created in a PSD format, which means I can use a variety of combinations in their designing, with different colour combinations. For example: If I want a mainly red themed card, I'll use a candy cane 'inner' border that's red and white with red text and with possibly red poinsettias -or- I may forego the candy cane 'inner' border and use a glittery red outside border/frame, instead. If you look through all the cards I'm displaying, you will see the variety of ways I've designed them, along with the different colour themes. 

I mention this because if you would like a particular card, but with a different colour theme, drop me an email and explain what colour theme change you would like and I'll be more than glad to customize a card for you. Make sure the subject says, "Christmas Card Customizing" (so if it goes to spam I'll know not to delete it) and in this case, it would be best to include the image link(s) I provide with my card images, so I can know which card (or cards) you are making reference to. I can also interchange "Merry Christmas" with say, "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays", except I will not make this change on cards that depict the birth of Jesus, like The Nativity, Three Kings, and the Shepherds, Star of Bethlehem.

About the usage rights - Terms and Conditions: 
I've made and am making card designs for anyone to be able to download and print them and can give and/or send them to family and friends. They are and will remain copyrighted to yours truly. They are not to be altered in any way that removes, covers up, or eliminates in any way whatsoever, my name, my logo, and this blog's address. Since these cards are in digital form, it's not possible to put my information on the back as is usually done with an actual card. Under no circumstances whatsoever are my card designs to be added to ANY other collection and/or offered from another website that is not one of mine. As the copyright owner, I ONLY have ALL the say about the usage, distribution, and publishing of MY work. By downloading my card designs, this automatically means you've read and you agree with my terms and conditions. If anyone has questions, please use my contact page on this blog and title the subject, "Christmas Cards 2018" and text only emails. Thank you. 

I shouldn't have to say any of this nor repeat it, but there are always people out there looking to benefit from others' work. I simply would like to see people get some enjoyable use from my card designs. Hope all have a Merry Christmas! 

Christmas Cards: "Teddybears"
Christmas Teddybear
(vertical) 
Christmas Teddy art by/copyrighted to Artsieladie

PNG image link:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vVZO8nafrVPMre73mlY8PoNdsJvubFGMxMSilrLLcSsm1krm4gVTq60Wb5mRRJzuNzn5MZ9MYZfEADCSDtCZ5cJFhIGWlCsBs4LLZbOxJjRt-oiBueOSa1CyPrdame7Lhszqr9Z5euWR/h612/ChristmasCardV-TeddybearGoldRedCCByArtsieladie2018-12-02_396x612-72res_5.5x8.5.png

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎅🤶🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
More? Maybe.
(horizontal or vertical) 
(image)
PNG image link(s):
Top: link
Bottom: link

💗 Merry Christmas! ðŸ’—
By Artsieladie /Artsieladie Sharon Donnelly 
©2018-12-02
All rights reserved.
To see more posts, check out the Sitemap.

💖 ðŸ“– ✍ ðŸ’– ðŸŽ¨ ðŸ–Œ ðŸ’–

Website: www.artsieladie.com
Blog (here): http://artsieladie-creative-corner.blogspot.com/
Blog: http://artsieladie-heartbeats.blogspot.com/
Blog: http://artsieladie-quotes.blogspot.com/
Blog: http://artsieladie-rhymetyme.blogspot.com/

"Giving is the joy of living." 
~ Quote by Artsieladie
Art by Artsieladie