Digital techniques of Photomontages By: Nicolás Berlingieri (or The Dalinian Inspiration)

Digital techniques of Photomontages

By: Nicolás Berlingieri

(or “The Dalinian Inspiration”)

Introduction Nicolás Berlingieri

INTRODUCTION

The limit between the several arts is every day less and less defined.

There are “Mixed Techniques”, “Facilities”, “Digital Art”, etc., where several techniques are mixed to make a certain work.

Introduction Nicolás Berlingieri

INTRODUCTION

The “Dark Camera” was used by the painters before the photography existed.

Introduction Nicolás Berlingieri

INTRODUCTION

When photography was only black and white, the copies were painted to do them in color.

Introduction Nicolás Berlingieri

INTRODUCTION

With programs of image manipulation (Photoshop, Corel PhotoPaint, Photostyler, etc.) techniques of drawing and painting are mixed to modify the photographic images.

But the “Altered” photos and thetechniques of “Photomontage”exist from the beginnings of photography.

Introduction Nicolás Berlingieri

INTRODUCTION

William Henry Fox Talbot (1800 - 1877) already made assemblies of “Calotyps” to form a single image.

Introduction Nicolás Berlingieri

INTRODUCTION

And Oscar G. Rejlander (1813 - 1875) in 1856 made the work “Both ways of life” (40 x 79 cm) stitching the images of 30 negatives.

Introduction Nicolás Berlingieri

INTRODUCTION

It is very common that an author is inspired by another one, or that it tends to copy itself to itself, generating therefore a style form.

The examples are innumerable is this sense, and, in Salvador Dalí, they become very evident.

Introduction Nicolás Berlingieri

INTRODUCTION

Smart influence of “La Maja desnuda” byGoya and repetition of objects and patterns (the sailboats) between its two works.

Dalí (1923) “El niño enfermo”Dalí (1922) “Desnudo en un paisaje”

Goya (1800 h.) “La Maja Desnuda”

Introduction Nicolás Berlingieri

INTRODUCTION

Many pictures of Dalí have inspiration in the “Angelus” of Millet.Sometimes he has even reproduced it like a picturehung in the wall.

Millet (1933) Angelus Pray Dalí (1922) Gala and the “Angelus” of Millet….

Introduction Nicolás Berlingieri

INTRODUCTION

Several authors inspired to Salvador Dalí, as well as he inspired whom they followed him…

Dalí (1933) “Atavismo del crepúsculo” Dalí (1935) “Reminiscencias arqueológicas del Angelus de Millet”

Introduction Nicolás Berlingieri

INTRODUCTION

We will see next some “Tricks” to make photomontages with the Photoshop program (sometimes inspired by Dalí….)

Dalí (1934 y 1946) “Destete del mueble alimento y La tentación de San Andrés”

Títle: “Camellos de Dalí” (“Dalí’s camels”)

Images organization Nicolás Berlingieri

IMAGES ORGANIZATION

It is advisable to have a good organization of the “folders”, grouping the photographies like in an “Image Bank”

Images organization Nicolás Berlingieri

IMAGES ORGANIZATION

In the folders we will keep the images in hi-res and, as far as possible, with the elements already “trimmed” for its use.

Images organization Nicolás Berlingieri

IMAGES ORGANIZATION

The images should be saved as TIF or PSD, in order to be able to maintain the “transparency” of the trimming.

Windows Explorer allows to visualize TIF files, but not the PSD ones.

But PSD files allow to save the layers options (Properties and Styles) and the Layouts.

Images organization Nicolás Berlingieri

IMAGES ORGANIZATION

Points should not be used in the file-names, because these are those which separate the “Suffix” from the name, so the Operating System can recognize the file type.

Photomontage.PSD

Photo.TIF

Image.JPG

Sound.MP3

Document.DOC

Spreadsheet.XLS

Portrait of Mr. Pérez.JPG

Images organization Nicolás Berlingieri

IMAGES ORGANIZATION

A “must” folder in your PC, it’s the corresponding one to CLOUD images….

Images organization Nicolás Berlingieri

IMAGES ORGANIZATION

You should have a wide assortment, with different light conditions and in different schedules of the day, in order to be able to cover all the possible future necessities.

Images organization Nicolás Berlingieri

IMAGES ORGANIZATION

Clouds can easily be distorted, stretched or compressed, in order to obtain more dramatic effects.

Templates Nicolás Berlingieri

TEMPLATES

It is advisable to have a folder with different types of “Templates”, which are “empty Images” you can use it as a “base” for future photomontages.

Templates Nicolás Berlingieri

TEMPLATES

These templates can already have “Guides” saved, to mark the “Thirds” for the composition of the photomontages

30 x 40 cm 35 mm (2,4 x 3,6) 6 x 6 cm

Templates Nicolás Berlingieri

TEMPLATES

A template for one photo of 30 x 40 cm must have vertical guides at 13.33 and 26.66 cm, and an horizonta one, at 10 and 20 cm.

The intersections will mark to the “Golden Points”.

30 x 40 cm

Templates Nicolás Berlingieri

TEMPLATES

You can also add “Perspective lines” or “Escape Lines” in a transparent “Layer”.

This can help you tofind the the propper position of the objects, will help to define the distances and the sizes of the different objects.

Proportions Nicolás Berlingieri

PROPORTIONS

Drawing up in a layer the perspective lines, these will define zones which can be filled up with colors.

Proportions Nicolás Berlingieri

PROPORTIONS

This way it is possible to easily define the sizes of the several objects which will be inserted.

Proportions Nicolás Berlingieri

PROPORTIONS

Lowering the opacity of the layer by 50%,through it’s transparency we can see where to locate the objects.

So they will match the previous established zones.

Proportions Nicolás Berlingieri

PROPORTIONS

These objects can be easily adapted to the proportional sizes , in order to obtain an harmonic result .

Proportions Nicolás Berlingieri

PROPORCIONES

Estos se pueden adaptarfacilmente a los tamañosproporcionales a fin deobtener un resultadoarmónico.

Títle: “Cappadocia Daliniana” (“Dalinian Cappadokia”)

Proportions Nicolás Berlingieri

PROPORTIONS

The perspective lines help us to compose, to distort and to trim the objects, obtaining a more realistic perspective, even with elements intentionally out of proportions.

PROPORTIONS

The perspective lines help us to compose, to distort and to trim the objects, obtaining a more realistic perspective, even with elements intentionally out of proportions.

Proportions Nicolás Berlingieri

Títle: “Estiramiento al atardecer” (“Sunset jerk”)

Color chart Nicolás Berlingieri

COLOR CHART

It is convenient to have a folder with “fixed” colors.

Those colors will help us very much when we need to put color in a determined zone.

They can be defined with the R (Red), G (Green) and (B) Blue values.

Color chart Nicolás Berlingieri

COLOR CHART

In the presses, the numerical values of the colors are expressed as Cyan (C), Magenta (M), Yellow (Y) and Black (K).

It’s more direct and easy the Hexadecimal number (#).

The “Skin color” changes according to the race of the person.

Color chart Nicolás Berlingieri

COLOR CHART

There are some products which have a very determined color.

It must be respected.

Color chart Nicolás Berlingieri

COLOR CHART

Metals as Gold,Bronze, Copperand others, they have a well defined color among little variants.

Textures Nicolás Berlingieri

TEXTURES

Another important folder, is the one corresponding to “Textures”.

In it you can put textures of walls, sands…

Textures Nicolás Berlingieri

TEXTURES

It may contain textures of floors, rush matting…

Textures Nicolás Berlingieri

TEXTURES

…or fine and thick grass textures, venetian tiles, etc.

Textures Nicolás Berlingieri

TEXTURES

You can “build up” a texture.

Let’s see how…

Take an image where you find a texture you like.

Textures Nicolás Berlingieri

TEXTURES

Let’s enlarge the zone to have a better work.

Textures Nicolás Berlingieri

TEXTURES

Select the four corners with the “Poligonal Lasso”, even if they are not properly aligned.

Textures Nicolás Berlingieri

TEXTURES

Once you have the area selected with the lasso, choose “Edit / Copy”, then make a new image with the menu command “File / New” and past with “Edit / Paste”.

If the selected area was not perfectly alligned, there will be a border with no image…

Textures Nicolás Berlingieri

TEXTURES

With the “Grid” activated, and with the option: “Transform / Distort”, let us make the drawing perfectly aligned horizontally and vertically.

Textures Nicolás Berlingieri

TEXTURES

Let us trim the leftover of the edges and, with the command “Image / Size of image”, let us put equal values for “Width” and “Height”, in order to make a sqared image.

Textures Nicolás Berlingieri

TEXTURES

We will obtain a “Tile” or “Floor tile” which can be defined as “Motiv” (Option: “Edit / Define Motiv).

Textures Nicolás Berlingieri

TEXTURES

With the “Motiv Stamp”, in a “New” image, we will be able to make a “wall”

Textures Nicolás Berlingieri

TEXTURES

Duplicating the layer of the wall, moving it downwards and distorting the perspective, we will be able fix the “floor”.With the tool “Degrading / Multiply” we will add realism.

Textures Nicolás Berlingieri

TEXTURES

Adding elements and shadows we will form the “Photomontage”

Textures Nicolás Berlingieri

TEXTURES

And adding lightning effects we will obtain a more interesting image…

Textures Nicolás Berlingieri

Títle: “Odalisca Daliniana” (“Dalinian Odalisca”)

Motivs Nicolás Berlingieri

MOTIVS

A folder with several “Motivs” will allow to freely choose among differents textures.

Motivs Nicolás Berlingieri

MOTIVS

Some examples where it was used the“Double Arch” motiv

Motivs Nicolás Berlingieri

MOTIVS

Sometimes motivs can be mixed and distorted to obtain interesting effects

Motivs Nicolás Berlingieri

MOTIVS

A motiv can have a transparen background, as this Un motivo puede tener un fondo transparente, like this wire of prongs, which allows “to make a wire fence” on any background in very simple way.

Personages Nicolás Berlingieri

PERSONAGES

A folder with personages already “extracted” from their original back-ground, allow us to easily choose them and to “paste” them in other back-grounds.

Personages Nicolás Berlingieri

PERSONAGES

A folder with personages already “extracted” from their original back-ground, allow us to easily choose them and to “paste” them in other back-grounds.

Personages Nicolás Berlingieri

PERSONAGES

A folder with personages already “extracted” from their original back-ground, allow us to easily choose them and to “paste” them in other back-grounds.

Personages Nicolás Berlingieri

PERSONAGES

Some examples….

Personages Nicolás Berlingieri

PERSONAGES

Some examples….

Personages Nicolás Berlingieri

PERSONAGES

Some examples….

Personages Nicolás Berlingieri

PERSONAGES

Some examples….

Personages Nicolás Berlingieri

PERSONAGES

Some examples….

Shapes Nicolás Berlingieri

SHAPES

To create “Shapes”, rounding and softening their curves,first you add the layers with the shapes…

Shapes Nicolás Berlingieri

SHAPES

Then you blur the image using “Gaussian Blur”(the image must be black and white)…

Shapes Nicolás Berlingieri

SHAPES

Then, using “Image / Adjust / Levels”, you can narrow the opposite side cursors (Black and White) toward the center of the “Histogram” to reduce the softness.

Shapes Nicolás Berlingieri

SHAPES

The layer wich contains the shape, can be used to make a fast selection, using the “Magic Wand”.

Shapes Nicolás Berlingieri

SHAPES

You can color this “shape”, add elements (ear, glases), lighting effects, shadows, adding more holes (like the nose in this case), etc.

Shapes Nicolás Berlingieri

SHAPES

Then they will be part of the final image…

Shapes Nicolás Berlingieri

FORMAS

Luego integrarán una imagen final…

Títle: “Cabeza hueca” (“Empty head”)

Shapes Nicolás Berlingieri

SHAPES

Some “Shapes” examples…

Shapes Nicolás Berlingieri

SHAPES

Some “Shapes” examples…

Shapes Nicolás Berlingieri

SHAPES

Some “Shapes” examples…

Nicolás Berlingieri

Nicolás Berlingieri

www.berlingieri-photo.com

THE END