Playing with Geraniums

Ever since I took those pictures of the geraniums on my back deck, I've been wondering what they might look like run through some of the filters in Paint Shop Pro. Unlike a lot of photos I play with, these had a very limited palette and not much variety in shapes either so I thought it might not produce anything of interest. Boy, was I wrong. So while this hemisphere gives way to the warm colors of autumn, I filled another spare block of time before dinner playing with the pastels of summer.

When I play like this, I don't actually manipulate the settings myself but use the "roll of the dice" feature, clicking through changes randomly chosen by the program until I see something I like, something that may have potential for inclusion in one of my fiber pieces. This setting of the topography filter produced the least amount of change, but one I really liked. I could see thread painting over this one or using as is as part of a fabric collage.

I usually get some interesting abstract effects when I use the distortion map filter but this time the only one that did much was the "wet fall leaves" tiled across the picture. It has turned my geranium into more of a carnation with those frilly edges.

This is quite a different look than I usually get using the ripple filter. Reminds me of refracted light.

The twirl filter is one of my favorites. I always seem to like what it produces. This looks so rich and yummy to me.

Wave is another one I use a lot but with limited colors and value, it was giving me some very different options. I could see this one printed out as a good basic fabric one could cut up for piecing or use as a border or binding.

I saved the kaleidoscope filter for last - it can tie me up for hours producing dozens of options I save because they are just so beautiful and intricate. But again - what would this limited photo produce. I needn't have worried. When this one flashed on the screen, I immediately wanted to put it on the cover of a padfolio.

But this one took my breath away and is perhaps my favorite. I want to print it on fabric and bead it!

I guess you don't need a lot of colors and contrast to get usable images through filters. As I mentioned above, some of these would be good candidates for thread painting. And I'm always trying to think of ways to use my vast store of reference photos in my quilting. As if the universe heard those thoughts, I recently won a drawing over on Terry Grant's blog for a copy of Sarah Ann Smith's dvd "Art Quilt Design From Photo to Threadwork." I must have some major karma going on here - seems I've been the recipient of quite a few give-aways of one kind or another this year. I have to say - it really makes my day and keeps my inspired!