{Visual} Transformation Class: Examples, Tutorials, Disscusion

[MCDahB]

Welcome to {Visual} Transformations Class. This is a place for people who make Harry Potter related art--or want to do so--by using {computer-aided} magic to transform found images into artistic works of there own.

This thread is a place of learning, so you are encouraged to post examples of your work along with information on how you made them (i.e. source image, programs and filters used, etc.).* We also welcome questions about the specific spells and techniques used in {image} transformation in general and in specific images posted as examples.

The purpose of {Visual} transformation class is to learn together about different ways to transform images. Transformation can occur in enumerable ways and is flexible in definition. However, as with other Transformation practices, we would like to uphold a standard that images posted here be significantly or fundamentally altered from their original form. For example, a screen capture from a file overlaid with text may have great merit, but it would not necessarily belong in this thread. Further and generally speaking, a Transformation based on a photograph should cease to look like a photograph once it has been transformed. There may be exceptions to this, however, if the overall effect of the piece is substantially altered.

Also, in this class, there are no stupid questions and no wrong answers.

*If you simply want to display your art for and get feedback without sharing and discussing how you made it, we suggest you use or create the traditional Magical Masterpieces artist/feedback threads.
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As an example, I, McDahB, will start with a piece of my own:

Source Image: This screenshot from one of the films. This source image worked pretty well (a couple other's I tried didn't), but it did require some extra cleaning up since it wasn't super high-contrast, which is the sort of image you want for this sort of stencilish transformation.

Programs Used: Inkscape for vectorizing and general manipulation and GIMP for cleaning things up.

Techniques/Tools Employed:

• I traced the bitmap (.jpg) into series of vector paths (.svg) using the Inkscape Trace Bitmap->Multiple Scans-Greys function. I think I did a three color scan but I forgot to write down the exact setting (I will next time).
• In any case I discarded all but one of the paths so I just had the single color graphic (changed color to black) with a transparent background.
• I tried to get rid of the lingering background elements in Inscape, but the vector path was really complicated and started freezing up my old laptop.
• So I exported the image as a .png file and did the rest of the cleanup by hand using the eraser in GIMP. I resized it and saved it. The end.

Notes: I intentionally kept the background transparent and save the image as a .png (.gif would have also worked) because I wanted it to blend in well and not have any visible rectangular border. The way the image is now, the background will be whatever the background of the page behind it is. To see this in action, you can change the forum's theme with the little buttons just under the COS logo at the top of the page. One side effect of this though is that, if you put this image on a black (or nearly black) background, it will be invisible (or nearly invisible).