This is a technique which mimics what can be done using large format cameras with the tilt and shift facility or tilt and shift lenses. Shift refers to a technique which is used to correct converging verticals in an image and tilt is a technique used to maximise the apparent depth-of-field. This tutorial will show how to use this technique to draw the eye from the less desirable areas of your image to the more desirable. See below.

1. Open the image you want to use. This should be a relatively flat image without 3 dimensional images in the foreground. Make sure you've made all the corrections to the image that you want before starting this process: colour, exposure, etc. As well, if you've shot the image in RAW make sure it's 8-bit. Open the Quick Mask mode or use the shortcut (Q).

2. Next you're going to use the gradient tool. Make sure it's in the reflected gradient type in the menu bar (little cylinder looking bar second from left). Click on the down arrow to choose the gradient preset and choose the third box over (black in upper left corner and white in lower right).

3. You should already have in mind an imaginary thin strip you want to remain in sharp focus. Click in the middle of your imaginary thin strip and drag to the edge of the canvas. Make sure this line is at right angles to your proposed sharp strip. When you release the mouse a red gradient tint will cover the image.

4. Next you're going to adjust the curves to exaggerate the difference between the sharp and blur detail in the image. Go to Image>Adjustments>Curves (or shortcut ctrl+M). Click in the middle of the diagonal line and drag it up as shown in this image:
- Note only the corners of the line touch the outside of the box. When you're done click OK.

5. Click the Standard Mode button or hit Q to exit the Quick Mask mode. This will bring up the "marching ants" selection which represents the gradient. Now it's time to add the depth-of-field effect so go to Filter>Blur>Lens Blur. This brings up a new Lens Blur window and this may take a few moments to appear depending on the size of the image.

6. Now you will be adjusting the settings to suit your image. First select, from the Source menu at the top, None. Set the Blade Curvature to 100, Brightness to 0, and the Noise Amount to 0. Finally, set the Radius to 70. If you have it set to preview the image will slowly change to what it will look like. If this is how you want it to look click OK. If not, keep adjusting the Radius 'till you get the effect you want.

7. After you've clicked OK with your desired results you'll need to get the "marching ants" off your image so go to Select>Deselect to remove the selection.

So now you have the image with the Tilt Technique. Keep experimenting 'till you get what you want. I find this can change a very blah image to something incredibly different. Have fun!!

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cute but stupid and always amy

Oh! Amy, this technique is marvellous. But from what you tell us, I think I could have used Photoshop many moons ago, before it even existed, to correct a photo I had to produce for my employers. I edited the Southern Alberta part of our Provincial Cancer Hospitals Board, Newsletter. Our old building was a continuation of the main street wing of the Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary. Anyway, I got a command performance request from the Admin in Edmonton, to take a photo of our building for the Provincial Annual Report (This came out each year with all the facts and figures statistics, etc. which I had to work on too with my boss, in glossy magazine format). So, armed with tripod, out I went to the sidewalk to try and capture the newly renovated Portico which had the name on it, plus a beautiful sky down the street with puffy white cloud in a deep blue sky. (Black and White photo) So using the appropriate filters for the sky, and my wide angle lens, I found to my utter dismay that I couldn't get this photo without converging parallel lines. And, that wouldn't do for an annual report. They weren't into funny angled, artsy photos. It couldn't be taken from across the street either - too many telephone posts and wires.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, my boss took a phone call for me from the full time paid photographer in Edmonton, that the shot I was attempting was impossible without an architectural "tip-tilt" camera. Next step - develop the film. When my negatives were dry I put the best one into the enlarger and sure enough - tilted. So I got an idea - lifted the easel up with the projected image on it and it straightened out the converging lines. The only worry was that when I propped the easel up where the image was straight was that it may throw the raised part on the easel out of focus - being a different distance from the lens. But it worked out OK. I had enough depth of field from using a wide angle lens for the photo, and the smallest aperture I could, and stopping down the enlarger lens too! I had invented my own "tip-tilt" technique in the darkroom! Eureka!

They asked for another one when our new building was eventually into the construction phase. The last one they asked for is an 8 x 10 in a sealed tube, and is still in the Cornerstone of the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary. It probably won't see the light of day until a new centre is once again built, and the Cornerstone opened up with all the mementos in it.

This could do with a before and after photo posting, but I currently don't have one in this computer. Will have to hook up the scanner and see if I can do that.

PS The image uploading thingy that free forums have added, worked out great for your photos. Anybody who reads can click on the See Larger Image link and you can see up to the original size that was uploaded - yeah! And you can even rate Amy's photo!

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You don't take a picture - you make a picture - Ansel Adams
http://annesgallery.aminus3.com

Hey Anne!!

Takes me awhile to realize someone has posted anything on my posts... sigh.. it's that cute but stupid thing!! That is too cool what you did with the easel at your enlarger!! Way to go with thinking outside the box!! Don't you love it when you can shove it in a know-it-all's face (the photograhper).

And I am sooo impressed with being able to upload images for examples. Makes this tutorial thing so much easier. Ya done did good with this forum my friend!!

Just an aside: I was born at the Holy Cross. That does age me doesn't it!!

amy

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cute but stupid and always amy