photos for engraving on black granite

[SAEngraver]

Hail the reader,
I have downloaded 56 photo paint pro x6 and other tutorials, all videos... learnt a lot, but am stumped at the position from which the questions here below emanate.
At the outset, please forgive the basic questions, but i am new to this sort of program, I have a sort of wish list, but I'll start by asking only 2 questions, as I do not want to feel that you think I am taking unfair advantage of anyone's superior knowledge. So thank you for understanding to whomsoever will assist... it gets a little more difficult to learn modern technology at my age... (80), but I simply love it. So here goes...

1. I need to place a series of pictures which themselves are on a black background into a black background rectangle of which the final engraving's size will be 300mm long by 150mm wide. When in place I will add some wording.

2. ... and this could be difficult I presume... I need to place a black person on a black background - a cut out head and shoulders - it will be a grey scale photo - the engraving machine understands and converts colour right across the 256 range. The mane challenge for me in this is to get the photo as light as possible without losing good contrast.
I have appended a typical photo from which I work, the vector filigree image is a typical sort of corner piece which I will use to pretty up the engraving... this is to be removed off its background and than inverted as the machine engraves anything that is white, white being 256 where black is zero and the machine passes it by.
I am only able to attach 1 pic so the photo of a typical black person to be engraved is not herewith.

I have a computer with a big heart 8 gig of memory and a fast processor. Run Windows 7, and to do the above work I have bought photo paint pro X7

I thank whomsoever is to assist me.

Hans

[MarkZ]

Hans:

Welcome to the forum. I'll take a stab at starting this dialog - I hope others pitch in.

From what you have written it sounds as if you are just starting to use PSP and it appears you have been diligent in trying to learn how to use the program. I'll start with some basics.

I think the first thing for you to do would be to create a new file with a raster layer. Let's call this Engrave. It should be in a ratio of 2:1. I suggest it should be larger than the final image you will produce and something like 300 or 200 dpi. Since your machine works with black and white I suggest that this bottom layer be transparent (or black?).

Next, open a few of the images you wish to include in the final. I use the tabbed view, others prefer cascade as selected in the Windows menu item. Select one of the images, then (menu) Edit/Copy. Now select Engrave. Select Edit/Paste as new layer - let's call it image-1. Note that you now have two layers in Engrave. Ensure that image-1 is selected. Using the Move tool (hover over the tool icons for the tool names to be displayed) image-1 can be moved to any part of the canvas. So the image you posted can be moved to the lower right corner of the canvas. To adjust the size of image-1, use the Pick tool. Click anywhere on the image and nodes will show up in the corners of the image. Click and drag the corners to resize.

Continue adding other images as layers in Engrave. Save as .pspimage and save periodically as you work. This allows you to continue working with the layers until you are happy and want to save in another format such as jpg or TIFF. Be very conscious of which layer is active as you work on various parts of the whole.

Regarding the picture of a black person - I have photos from Africa so should do some experimenting myself, perhaps tomorrow. Try editing this image before bringing it in to Engrave. I suggest you try working with Adjustment layers. You can select that from Layers in the menu or icons at the bottom of the layers palette - note, some of us experience incorrect icons so hover to check which is which. I prefer Adjustment Layers because you can go back to tweak the settings. Try the Histogram for the brightness adjustment and Curves for contrast control. The best way to learn these tools is to just try them.

I'm trying to visualize what you will end up with. From what you write it seems your other images are black and white. In that case, you may need to have the bottom (starting) layer black. Use the flood fill tool for that. Be aware of the Undo button - I'm sure you'll use it often. If you want to get fancy, use the history palette. Be aware of the layer you are working with. I trust you know how to invert black to white.

Once you are happy with the finished product, if the final image must be 300x150 mm, use Image/resize and save or Save as new image.

I expect you'll be back with specific questions. You've done very well in providing much info. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks - I'm just a few years younger and it seems there are many participants in this age bracket.

[SAEngraver]

Hans:

Welcome to the forum. I'll take a stab at starting this dialog - I hope others pitch in.

From what you have written it sounds as if you are just starting to use PSP and it appears you have been diligent in trying to learn how to use the program. I'll start with some basics.

I think the first thing for you to do would be to create a new file with a raster layer. Let's call this Engrave. It should be in a ratio of 2:1. I suggest it should be larger than the final image you will produce and something like 300 or 200 dpi. Since your machine works with black and white I suggest that this bottom layer be transparent (or black?).

Next, open a few of the images you wish to include in the final. I use the tabbed view, others prefer cascade as selected in the Windows menu item. Select one of the images, then (menu) Edit/Copy. Now select Engrave. Select Edit/Paste as new layer - let's call it image-1. Note that you now have two layers in Engrave. Ensure that image-1 is selected. Using the Move tool (hover over the tool icons for the tool names to be displayed) image-1 can be moved to any part of the canvas. So the image you posted can be moved to the lower right corner of the canvas. To adjust the size of image-1, use the Pick tool. Click anywhere on the image and nodes will show up in the corners of the image. Click and drag the corners to resize.

Continue adding other images as layers in Engrave. Save as .pspimage and save periodically as you work. This allows you to continue working with the layers until you are happy and want to save in another format such as jpg or TIFF. Be very conscious of which layer is active as you work on various parts of the whole.

Regarding the picture of a black person - I have photos from Africa so should do some experimenting myself, perhaps tomorrow. Try editing this image before bringing it in to Engrave. I suggest you try working with Adjustment layers. You can select that from Layers in the menu or icons at the bottom of the layers palette - note, some of us experience incorrect icons so hover to check which is which. I prefer Adjustment Layers because you can go back to tweak the settings. Try the Histogram for the brightness adjustment and Curves for contrast control. The best way to learn these tools is to just try them.

I'm trying to visualize what you will end up with. From what you write it seems your other images are black and white. In that case, you may need to have the bottom (starting) layer black. Use the flood fill tool for that. Be aware of the Undo button - I'm sure you'll use it often. If you want to get fancy, use the history palette. Be aware of the layer you are working with. I trust you know how to invert black to white.

Once you are happy with the finished product, if the final image must be 300x150 mm, use Image/resize and save or Save as new image.

I expect you'll be back with specific questions. You've done very well in providing much info. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks - I'm just a few years younger and it seems there are many participants in this age bracket.

Mark... Thank you for the time you have taken to help What a great reply - already a lot wiser than before your reply was to hand. I have actually copied to a word doc and am using it as we speak to "read and do".

I could send you a completed image, (for this I need your email) but this would have to be private as it belongs to a.n. other and I told him I would not use it in any public forum or domain, but since you have been good enough to assist me I would like you to see the image, and I am sure you will be able to deduct the technique they use. Their software of choice is Photo Paint pro X6 - as this is his profession I will do as I undertook and keep it private.
That is why I must learn myself - can't keep paying others for things I can do myself. I also have PPPx6

I also work a lot with line art which I optimize, using photo paint in the Corel Graphics Suite. I use the very effective add on Photo Zoom Pro.

So yes lots to learn but will be back with more questions I am sure.
Thank you again, Hans

[MarkZ]

Here is a B&W image with the original colour photo. I tried Histogram adjust and Curves and in the end used Histogram only - Gamma and the midtones slider. The slider was in the positive range for this image, reducing the degree of contrast. This being B&W, the range of colour values is the same regardless whether the subject is caucasian or black. I don`t know if this is what you are looking for - you may need to try it on the granite to see if this works. And you would use a black background.

In PSP X7 the black and white looked lighter than here.

[SAEngraver]

Here is a B&W image with the original colour photo. I tried Histogram adjust and Curves and in the end used Histogram only - Gamma and the midtones slider. The slider was in the positive range for this image, reducing the degree of contrast. This being B&W, the range of colour values is the same regardless whether the subject is caucasian or black. I don`t know if this is what you are looking for - you may need to try it on the granite to see if this works. And you would use a black background.

In PSP X7 the black and white looked lighter than here.

Warrior-sm.jpg

Thanx Mark,
I will be sending you some detail under separate cover. Once we get it right we might tell the forum - it is not an easy task, the company who sells these machines has a separate art studio to whom one can send a pic to have it prepared for engraving. However that is an expensive way to operate.It is at all times important to have max contrast as the white (or nearly white) pixels are the ones hit by the needle That which is totally black does not get touched by the needle - The white or lighter grey, the deeper the needle penetrates the surface. So black is not touched.
More from me later
Thank you

[trueblue]

Hail the reader,
I have downloaded 56 photo paint pro x6 and other tutorials, all videos... learnt a lot, but am stumped at the position from which the questions here
I have a computer with a big heart 8 gig of memory and a fast processor. Run Windows 7, and to do the above work I have bought photo paint pro X7

I thank whomsoever is to assist me.

Hans

I'm hoping you mean PaintShop Pro X7. Photo Paint is a different software.