Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., Carolyn  Frayn 
<carolyn@u...> wrote:
(snip)
> 
> Yes, I'd like to use my 1200 for the Piezo, I'll be sure to get the 
CIS,
> thanks... A guru I ain't, just been doing this a while.  I had a 
Commodore
> 64 before I got my first little Mac!  It's all your fault I'm 
posting so
> much, nice to "meet" people with the same interests... it's bloody 
addictive
> though!

Yep!!

> > Here is a question you might be able to answer for me. One of many
> > things that drive me nuts in Photoshop and have lead me to believe
> > that no photographers were involved in designing the program.
> > 
> > In the darkroom one of the most important tools is a piece of
> > cardboard to use for dodging and burning during printing. Some 
people
> > just use their hands. One of the most common things is to burn in 
the
> > sky using the cardboard to mask the foreground. The sky gets 
burned
> > down as a gradient from the top. However, I typically bend the
> > cardboard slightly or even into an S shape achieving a gradient 
burn
> > that follows a curved path. As far as I can tell Photoshop only 
does
> > gradients along from a straight line or as a sphere. Is there 
anyway
> > to create a gradient off of a free hand curve or path?
> 
> I don't think you can create a gradient from a path, I've only seen 
what you
> have described plus diamonds etc... the gradient itself does not 
curve,
> would be nice though!  I'll look into it.
> 
> I would try making the canvas bigger than the image, using the 
magic wand
> tool with a very large feather... (it maxes at 250 px) draw your 
curve or S
> shape across, then go a bit outside of the canvas, up, across and 
down the
> other side to join the beginning of your curve. Click the layer 
mask button,
> fill with black. If the feather is to much then re-do. If the 
feather does
> not give you enough transition maybe try blurring it or filling 
with 50%
> gray instead of black. Also you can unlink the mask from the image 
and move
> the mask up or down to find the best place for the transition.
> 
> I suggested making the canvas bigger so that the feathered edge of 
the
> selection that will follow around the two sides and top will not be 
in the
> image.
> 
> Don't know if that is what you're after? Or if my writing made 
sense. Please
> let me know.


That sounds like it should work. I will give it a try and see how it 
goes.

Thanks,
Martin