The
final result. This photo taken in Spain a couple of weeks ago.
I could have asked a passing tourist to take it for me. But
I took one half and My wife took the other. They are not a perfect
match because she stood closer than me. Here are the two photos
from which this one was produced.
As
you can see I am about twice the size and there is less background
than in the one with Diane. So I decided it would be easier
to add me to the photo of her and crop it to a new size. To
do this I selected a rectangle of me from my picture and copied
it to the clip board. I then created a new image from it. I
then guessed the size reduction I would need and reduced it.
I then copied it again and pasted it as new layer onto the photo
of Diane. By trial and error and repeating this action using
undo to remove the layer each time, I found a size I could live
with. Next having pasted it onto the photo for last time I selected
an eraser of about 30 points and began to remove from the “Me”
layer, the background that I did not need. Then I selected a
small eraser of some 7 points and began to remove the close
detail. To do this I zoomed in to quite high magnification and
spent about 10 minutes removing the background from the layer
until only the parts I wanted for the new picture were left.
Then after a final check I merged the layer into the background.
Next I took the select rectangle tool and selected that part
of the photo that I wanted for the final picture. I copied it
and pasted it as new image and there you see it. Of course I
can do better.
The
Lament of a gadget freak!
Sometimes
I think I was borne 40 years too early. Nothing pleases me more
than to see and play with gadgets and gizmos but then you all
knew that didn’t you? For many years I have strived to
what I wanted as soon as I could get enough money together.
However I have in retirement had to temper my ambitions a bit.
If you are like me you have a choice. You can pay top dollar
to have it as soon as it comes onto the market, or you can wait
until the price comes down and be last into the technology.
An example. Panasonic introduced a DVD RAM recorder several
years ago at about £1,000. I watched and when it got down
to £800 I bought one. Now I believe the manufacturers
monitor my buying habits because as soon as I buy the backside
drops out the market so quickly it is mind boggling. It took
ages to drop £200 but following my purchase the technology
took off. Disregarding all of other DVD recorders available
I could now get Panasonic DVD HDD recorder for less than £500.
Should I have waited?
Take my Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Version one over £1,000.
I wait patiently until it drops to £625 with £100
cash back and a 256 Meg card. Zap I am in. November 2004. February
2005 Dixon's have them for £499.
The rule for the game is what ever you buy now it will either
be cheaper or superseded tomorrow.
About 4 years ago I saw my first 42 inch Plasma TV in Currys
Fosse Park. It was £10,500. Wow, I thought how can anyone
ever consider one of those? Today a Samsung 42 inch Plasma TV
£1,400. When do I buy?
There is some hope. If you watch some of the accessories, they
don’t reduce in price. Take Ink Jet printers. Now as low
as £39.00 each but the Ink?
Buy a digital SLR and look at the price of the telephoto lens
or electronic flash. Wait as long as you like you will not see
it’s price reduce like the camera does.
Freeview Boxes. Came on the market at about £50 some Sony
and Panasonic nearer £100. How much have they reduced
in the last two years? Not a lot. I remember paying £240
for Philips CD Player some 15 years ago. Almost free with cornflakes
now. I clearly need to review my buying habits. Do you?
