Picasa Special Interest Group -

October 23, 2008

Standing Out in a Crowd –

Using Focal Black & White Effects and Applying a Collage

 

Focal Black&White - This option is available in Edit Mode under the Effects Tab

 

What does it do?

This feature will allow you to retain the color in a circular area of a photo while the rest of the photo changes to black and white.

When to use this effect:

  1. To highlight an object in a busy picture so that the object will stand out
  2. To cause background objects to recede or be less prominent

How to use this effect:

  1. Select your picture, enter Edit Mode and select the Effects Tab
  2. Click on the Focal Black & White option
  3. There are three setting to be made:
    1. The location of your colored area(indicated by green cross-hairs)
    2. The size of the colored area–increased or decreased by a slider
    3. The sharpness of edges (feathering) and color(intensity)–increased or decreased by a slider
  4. First move the sharpness slider to the extreme right. This will give you a basis for the size and location settings but may be adjusted later.
  5. Use the green cross-hairs and drag your circle to the area to remain in color.
  6. Use the size slider to adjust the size of the circle of the area to remain in color. As edges are feathered, the colored area will increase a small amount.
  7. Adjust #5 and # 6 as needed
  8. Adjust the sharpness slider to the left for feathering and color intensity.
  9. Click Apply.
  10. To make these changes permanent, click File, Save or Save a copy. Save allows you to rename the photo (or not) and replaces the original. Edits are not reversible. Save a copy will duplicate the photo with undoable edits.

 

Variations:  A photo may have more than one area which is worthy of being highlighted or the area may not be circular.

  1. Make two copies of your original– File>Save a copy - twice
  2. Copy 1– use Focal Black and White technique to highlight first area. Apply.
  3. Copy 2– Repeat to highlight second area. Apply.
  4. Return to Library and add both photos to the photo tray.
  5. Click Collage and choose MultiExposure option.
  6. Choose Save.
  7. Use Effects, Saturation to bring out the color lost by layering a black and white area over the portion in color.