Content aware photo stretching

[signmeup]

I don't really know what use this has but is sure is cool. I took a photo and stretched it without distorting the round sign in the middle. Done with very little effort at all in Xara Xtreme5. Might be useful to the wrap guys. This is the first time I've heard of this....is it a common function in other software?

 

[MachServTech]

I don't really know what use this has but is sure is cool. I took a photo and stretched it without distorting the round sign in the middle. Done with very little effort at all in Xara Xtreme5. Might be useful to the wrap guys. This is the first time I've heard of this....is it a common function in other software?

This can be done in PS with a couple of steps, but its handy to know xara can do this in one step.

 

[signmeup]

It took 2 steps...I had to mask the circle, then stretch it. The number of steps can be misleading....I had to start the computer, open the program, find the image.....you get the idea. But it was the first time I did the procedure and I found it very intuitive and easy.

 

[signmeup]

Please excuse the Xara posts....I'm like a kid with a cool new toy. The novelty should wear off soon.

 

[7oaks]

How do you do that in photoshop??

Ken

 

[Fred Weiss]

How do you do that in photoshop??

Ken

Select the logo and put it on its own layer. Then stretch the background layer.

 

[7oaks]

Cool thanks fred

Ken

 

[signmeup]

Select the logo and put it on its own layer. Then stretch the background layer.

Wouldn't that also stretch the logo that's still on the background layer so it peeked out the sides of the front layer with just the logo?

 

[Sparky]

There is an option for doing this in CS4 that is a two step deal, not what Fred said, cause you will have issues doing it that way.

Here is a quick tutorial - http://www.graphics.com/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=699

 

[signmeup]

Freds way doesn't actually work as near as I can tell. You would have to remove the sign from the photo, then do that.

Here's another example.

 

[Fred Weiss]

Wouldn't that also stretch the logo that's still on the background layer so it peeked out the sides of the front layer with just the logo?

No because i would cut the logo to its own layer. What would then be needed is to rubber stamp in the background where the sign covers it.

Here's a quick and dirty to show the approach using Photoshop.

 

[animenick65]

Signmeup is right. It can be done in photoshop, but not as seamless as this other program seems to be.

 

[Fred Weiss]

Signmeup is right. It can be done in photoshop, but not as seamless as this other program seems to be.

It would be seamless if one was starting with a photo of the background and a separate logo ... which I suspect is how the Xara version started out.

 

[signmeup]

No because i would cut the logo to its own layer. What would then be needed is to rubber stamp in the background where the sign covers it.

That would take me quite a while to do as good a job in Photoshop. I just thought it was cool that you could do it virtually at the click of a button in 30 seconds in Xara.

 

[signmeup]

It would be seamless if one was starting with a photo of the background and a separate logo ... which I suspect is how the Xara version started out.

Really?......send me a similar photo that would be suitable to the task and I'll send it back wider.

 

[Fred Weiss]

That would take me quite a while to do as good a job in Photoshop. I just thought it was cool that you could do it virtually at the click of a button in 30 seconds in Xara.

I question whether you actually can if you are starting with a single flattened image in Xara of the logo on the background. As long as the photo background is available separately, so it resides on its own layer, it is quick and easy to stretch the background layer in Photoshop without it affecting the logo.

 

[signmeup]

I question whether you actually can if you are starting with a single flattened image in Xara of the logo on the background. As long as the photo background is available separately, so it resides on its own layer, it is quick and easy to stretch the background layer in Photoshop without it affecting the logo.

That's two photos your way Fred. I did it with one flattened image. Send me a similar photo....

 

[RJ California]

It looks to me like it stretches the outside areas that you choose while leaving the selected area unstretched, even with a flattened image -- very cool!

 

[Fred Weiss]

That's two photos your way Fred. I did it with one flattened image. Send me a similar photo....

here ya go

 

[RJ California]

It looks to me like it stretches the outside areas that you choose while leaving the selected area unstretched, even with a flattened image -- very cool!

This would be a great filter or tool if available in PhotoShop -- Is Xara 5 a stand alone or does it work with PhotoShop?