AV News 189 - August 2012
In my example a value of '42' was used but this will depend on the size of your
own image and you may well need a completely different value. However the
actual value is of little importance because you can see the changing effect as
you move the slider, simply select something appropriate for your own image.
Under the 'Depth slider' is a choice of two radio buttons, 'up' or 'down',
choose the 'up' button to create embossing that appears to stand proud of the
subject surface. The next control 'Size' may be a little misleading as movement
of this slider will change the
sharpness or smoothness of the
embossing. In my particular
example a value of '100' was
used, but you may need to select
something entirely different as
again this will depend on your
own image, its size and its
intended
purpose.
Almost
certainly you will need to fine tune
your initial settings to achieve the
required result, this is quite
normal.
When satisfied with the size, shape and softness etc you will then need to
ensure the angle of lighting on the embossing resembles that of your main
subject. This is simply achieved using the 'Angles' and 'Altitude' setting under
the general heading of 'Shading'. Nothing complex here, a few tweaks of the
'Angle' setting is usually all that is required. When satisfied with all effects
simply click on the OK button. Because adjustments undertaken using the
'Bevel and Emboss' control panel are visible in real time it's simple to achieve
any effect without having any
knowledge of the values
involved, so don't be afraid to
experiment.
Of course you may have
no interest in creating an
illusion of a Hovis loaf,
however this technique can
be transposed to good effect
on many subjects, it's
especially
attractive
on
textured surfaces, such as
rusty metal, course fabric or
wood. This bottom picture
with its sharp foreground and blurred background is taken from the Nostalgia
sequence with lots of loaves present all given the same treatment to achieve
embossed wording. They are of course all the same loaf photographed from
different angles.
The garden birds enjoyed the remainder of the loaf when I'd finished with it!
Page 49