[Guest]

[BF-109 F4]

Foggy day.
Great pic mate

[JG52Batz]

More please thats great

[Guest]

Thanks a lot, F4, Batz! It's kinda different so I think it's one of those that either you like it or you hate it! :lol: :wink:

Hi'ya, Batz!

How is it coming with the editing, M8? :?:

Oh man, I remember trying to get started with PS! Day after day after day of pulling my hair out, cussing and generally throwing a tantrum! :lol: I STILL don't know half of what it can do! hock:

The problem is that the syntax is NOT intuituve. It's like learning an entirely new language. When you finally figure out what they mean. you say, "Well, why didn't they just call it 'toast and jam' like everyone else does! :lol:

BTW, that's one of the nicest looking sigs I've EVER seen! Really spectacular! hock: Who made it, M8? :?:

[JG52Batz]

Hi mate well the sig was done by Avala i thank him greatly for that.
Well last night was the first go at editing and ended up spending more time reading editorials and trying stuff out (and working out what the editorials were telling me :oops: )
i managed to get a few pics which im not entirely happy with but not bad i guess for first go.



with this pic im trying to create an impression of fast movement but wasnt quite sure how to do it but it kinda works (any pointers please)



and then the same with this one i want the aircraft in focus bnd the background blured but not quite sure how that is done.



Then finaly this one is messing around with soften and glow effects i like this one just a shame about the markings :wink:

[Guest]

Hey, Batz, those are GREAT, especially for someone just reading through tutorials on an unfamiliar editing program! hock:

Ufortunately, I know nothing at all about paint.net so can't be of much help. I can offer some suggestions for what you want to do based on general principles, however. Questions: does paint.net allow you to work in layers and does it have "selection tools" or "mask tools" which allow you to work on one selected area at a time? If I know that I may be able to offer some general ideas.

From what I see thus far it's clear that you are motivated, a fast learner, have definite ideas about what you want to say in your images and have a native talent. If you decide to stick with it, you're gonna be real good! :!:

Also, from what I see, you definitely need to get to Photoshop eventually. That is the program which is going to allow you to make what you see in your mind's eye. A new version of PS is expensive, too expensive for my wallet right now, but there are ways around that.

Unless you've got about $700 US to spend, you should consider looking for a used, older version of PS. Where? Amazon, Ebay, flight sim sites where there is a "Wanted" or "For Sale" section, other general graphics sites. Sometimes there are stores which specialize in used books and software and you might find a copy there. You could try posting in one of the forums here and see if anyone has an older version for sale at a reasonable price.

A few cautions: Don't get a version older than PS5 because the earlier versions don't have an "Undo", something which is extremely useful. The preferred older version of PS seems to be PS7. I haven't found any of the "lite" versions of PS to be very useful for the kind of stuff we do.

Another program, which is very similar to PS and a lot less expensive, is Paintshop Pro. It's versatile, a good value for the money and a new version won't cost you an arm and a leg. I've seen it new for about $100 US. Most of the freeware plugins on the net will work with either PS or PSP so you shouldn't have any problems getting a bunch of nifty editing tools and effects for free.

I sense that you would get your money's worth out of a capable, user friendly editing program because you've got the fire in the belly and I think you would get countless hours of enjoyment from making images. I'm using PS5, which shows you how long a basically good program can last, even if it isn't the latest and greatest.

Kudos to Avala for that sig! Does he make screenies and edits too?

Keep on keeping on, M8! You've definitely got something going there! 8)

Cheers,
Fats

[JG52Batz]

Thanks for the good advice mate i will look in to paint shop pro. And yes you can use layers in photo.net. But using layse is a new thing for me but getting there slowly but its good fun just messing around with the pictures.
Made this yesterday using cloud effect. I call it The Pheonix Returns

[Guest]

Whoa! What happened, Batz? It was big and now it's a thumbnail that won't enlarge! :!:

Anyway, I saw it when the large version was up. Pretty good! I can see you starting to play around. Looks like you cut out the canopy glass. That's one trick up your sleeve! :wink:

If paint.net does layers and has selection tools, to cut or to apply effects to a limited area, then it has some of the important features of of PS and PSP. You can do a LOT with those features. You might also consider getting Irfanview, a freeware editor which is very simple and user friendly. I use it all the time, along with PS, for certain things. It won't do layers or selections but it does have some nifty features which are easy to use. :wink:

If you're having fun, Batz, then you've got the whole enchilada. Utimately, that's what it's all about.