Something for the Weekend - Part 160 - Stay sharp!

[davescm]

Hi,

Thanks to all who took part in our last 'elevator' challenge, there were some great ideas and images.

This week we start with a safety pin. What can you make with this simple object?

The “rules”:

* Anything goes, as long as it meets the forum rules on decency, copyright etc

* Anyone, and everyone, is welcome to have a go, whether you are a complete beginner or a Photoshop expert. This is not just for our forum "regulars".

* There are no prizes apart from the chance to practice, show off, or bring a bit of humour and fun. Don't be shy, join in and have a go!

* The starter image is made available for you to use in this forum challenge only.

To download the image below at full size, hover over the image and click on the circle with the arrows at the top right. Then, when the image opens in its own window, right click and choose “Save Image As/Save Target As” (or similar depending on your browser). On opening, you should also find a path in the paths panel should you wish to use it to create a mask.

When posting back your image – please use the blue reply button in this first post. If posting a comment on someone else’s entry then please use the grey reply button next to their image post.

Have fun

Dave

[Dean_Utian]

Hi Jacob. We're being cryptic so will be more direct in this post. 

I assume what Dave saw, which is why he was amused, was a baby pin. That's what I originally had in mind.

Looking at it again, I saw the small pin as an arm.

[davescm]

I saw a pregnant pin - hence the laugh.

Dave

[Dean_Utian]

Dave - you saw what I had originally intended. 🙂

[Trevor.Dennis]

I'm assuming I'm seeing the same thing as Dave.  The idea could have come out of Ged's play book, and like Nancy's place setting, it has a nice designed feel to it.  As to how to do something like that, I like to use nested Smart Objects. Isolate the pin and make it an SO. Use FT > Warp > Custom > Bulge.  Make that a nest SO and use FT > Custom > Arch etc.  That you can step back and fine tune, plus using the FT > Custom tool tends to do a tidier job of reshapping objects.

[Dean_Utian]

Thanks Trevor. I tried to apply what you've suggested but couldn't follow all the steps.
I assume FT is Free Transform. My approach was - Edit > Transform > Warp and then manually move nodes to bend the line.

[Trevor.Dennis]

I always make elements perpendicular when possible, so the usual run the Ruler tool along the centre line and use Straighten in the Options Bar.

Make this layer a Smart Object (SO) and use Fre Transform (FT) > Warp > Custom Bulge to fatten the pin.

We can't perform another FT > Warp because being an SO it would only allow us to edit the previous FT, so we make the SO a Nested SO.  This also works when you need multiple layer masks .

Use FT > Warp > Custom again, but this time I have gone with Flag.  When I look at the result below I'm thinking I should have used a higer value with Bulge, but it's an SO so no problem

[Rafael Aviles]

Another way of doing this, which I found easier than using the Free Transform, is to use the Puppet Warp tool. Use the clipping path to create a selection of the safety pin and put it on its own layer. Convert to Smart obect. Invoke Puppet Warp. Play around with the number and location of pins you use (the fewer the better on the "belly" side, I used one at the sharp end, one in the middle, and one at the bottom). Include anchor pins on the top and bottom so it stays upright. Slide the middle pin to get the desired shape and the top pin to move the sharp end in. Since it is a Smart Object you can go back and adjust the pins as needed.

[Dean_Utian]

Thanks Rafael.

I tried the Puppet Warp. Still need to get the hang of it.

[Rafael Aviles]

You are welcome, Dean. The Puppet Tool is not very intuitive, for sure. The position and number of anchor pins has a major impact on the results. I watched a couple of tutorials on YouTube to pick up some useful tips. It seems best suited for rotating limbs or parts of the image around a pivot point. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h6AZ9XV9-I&t=303s

[EuanWilliamson]

That brought back some horrible memories for us of a certain age.

[davescm]

Oh that takes me back! Horrible memories indeed!

Dave

[War Unicorn]

One of Microsoft's blunders, along with "Bob." lol

[Jacob Bugge]

I am of a certain age, but lucky enough to have seen it just a few times on computers of the unlucky ones having (and even using) Worst, as I remember some of those victims call it.

[Trevor.Dennis]

Hah!  That's more like Clippy's evil twin with those eyes.  Another well seen idea Euan.  

[Dean_Utian]

I had not clicked that it was the old MS 'help' tool until the other replies started coming through. Now I remember. I must have repressed those bad memories. 🙂

[jane-e]

“It looks like you're writing a letter!”

Jane

[EuanWilliamson]

Sadly I hear that since Microsoft showed Clippy the door, he has not fared very well and is

currently in the gig economy.

 

[davescm]

Brilliant Euan 🙂 !

Dave

[War Unicorn]

"Anomalia"

[mamma murph]

Very cool movement! This reminds me of something that could be seen in Dr. Harold Edgerton's strobe photography!! NICE! - Murphy

[davescm]

It's like an old photo of a Ferris wheel - I like it James

Dave

[mamma murph]

... I had three different compositions started... THANKS for the challenge! Have a great week.  -Murphy

[jane-e]

❤️ I love this @mamma murph !

Jane

[mamma murph]

Thank you, Jane!

I combined the safety pin with 2 images from my vintage postcard collection! : )

[Trevor.Dennis]

I't so nice having proper artists involved with SFTW.  Where's Leslie?  Her original artwork made us all smile.  I'd love to have half of her talent.