Computer Graphics with Photoshop - Re: Converting an image to a graph.

Author

Re: Converting an image to a graph.

Mike Russell

2007-10-12, 6:14 am

<scorp@work.now> wrote in message
news:69otg3lc9omebsiotcr175rglppmv5p3gh@4ax.com...
> Hi,
>
> I'm looking for a way to convert a 1 bit image (TIFF) to a graph,
> simply put, to collapse the bitmap image.
>
> Lets say my bitmap image is 320 x 200, with a box around the edge 10
> pixels wide, I'd like to end up with an image where the first 10 rows
> are full (as they were) and the next 300 rows with the bottom 20
> pixels full (the 10 from the bottom of the box, plus the 10 from the
> top of the box), and the last 10 rows full again.
>
> My purpose is to show coverage across the image to preset ink keys on
> the printing press. I'd probably want to compress this image down to
> match the throw on the ink keys.
>
> Any way to do this in Photoshop easily.

I can think of two suggestions. One is to do this once manually, probably
as a sequence of copy and paste operations, using guides to align the
pieces, and finishing up with a crop operation. After rehearsing this a few
times, record what you do to an action. You have several choices on how to
re-use the action later, either within Photoshop, or by creating a droplet
which will allow you to perform your recorded operation on one or more
files, without explicitly starting Photoshop. You can also use Photoshop's
batch facility to apply the operation to one or more folders of images.

The second method uses slices. Again, start by manually slicing the image
to include the ink keys. Select the slices you want and export the selected
slices as files. You can record this operation, as before, or open
subsequent images and drag them to a layer in your sliced image, then export
the slices. This has the advantage that you can give the slice files
meaningful names, and even organize the slices into a series of html
documents for storage and sharing via the web.

It's outside the scope of your question, but I should mention that a color
or grayscale will probably give a more accurate rendering of the coverage
than a bitmap.
--
Mike Russell - www.curvemeister.com

Joe

2007-10-12, 6:14 pm

"Mike Russell" <RE-MOVEmike@Curvemeister.comRE-MOVE> wrote:

> <scorp@work.now> wrote in message
> news:69otg3lc9omebsiotcr175rglppmv5p3gh@4ax.com...
>
> I can think of two suggestions. One is to do this once manually, probably
> as a sequence of copy and paste operations, using guides to align the
> pieces, and finishing up with a crop operation. After rehearsing this a few
> times, record what you do to an action. You have several choices on how to
> re-use the action later, either within Photoshop, or by creating a droplet
> which will allow you to perform your recorded operation on one or more
> files, without explicitly starting Photoshop. You can also use Photoshop's
> batch facility to apply the operation to one or more folders of images.
>
> The second method uses slices. Again, start by manually slicing the image
> to include the ink keys. Select the slices you want and export the selected
> slices as files. You can record this operation, as before, or open
> subsequent images and drag them to a layer in your sliced image, then export
> the slices. This has the advantage that you can give the slice files
> meaningful names, and even organize the slices into a series of html
> documents for storage and sharing via the web.
>
> It's outside the scope of your question, but I should mention that a color
> or grayscale will probably give a more accurate rendering of the coverage
> than a bitmap.

Hmmm I can't get the picture of what the OP wants, so I am pretty much
blind to follow your technique. Especially the term "droplet" and 'slice"
which I know what "droplet" and "slide" are, but with Photoshop then I am
1/2 blind and 1/2 deaf <bg>