37 replies to this topic

[stuart]

Hi all,
For my second layout I'm having a go at Super Blackjack Club. What I'm trying to do, which I don't think I've seen before, is use two actual photographs, one with the machine turned off and one with it lit. In fact I've had to take about a dozen 'lit' images because you can't get all the bulbs lit at the same time, and then paste each lit bulb onto the unlit image. This is a very early WIP and it looks like a patchwork quilt in places at the moment, but I think the end result I'm after is possible...
Happy New Year to all,
Stuart

Attached Files

•  SBJ.jpg   199.34KB   207 downloads

[ady]

One hell of a job stuart....surely impossible, i'd say even using a tripod it will move very very slightly which will show on the Emu causing the lamp to jump.

Hopefully you'll get around it though, looking forward to the result.

[Bencrest]

I'd considered doing this before but wasn't sure of how it would look... if that WIP is anything to go by though it could be a very good idea

[ady]

I'd considered doing this before but wasn't sure of how it would look... if that WIP is anything to go by though it could be a very good idea

Really don't think it's possible though......surely theres no way to get 2 images spot-on (Machine off and On) even with a tripod

And to take pic's at random (eg by hand) there is no way every lamp can line up without flicker between On and Off...however good at Photoshop you are...it'll take an age to do them all given some 60 odd lamps?

[miked]

i use to play this in the club i use about to download it and will let you know

[ady]

i use to play this in the club i use about to download it and will let you know

Whats this the answer to???????????????????

[ady]

thats why i would like the artwork in an off state only and do all the lamps individually......

Call me thick but..........it's being asked for 2 images.........it's nearly impossible to create One image with no flicker...........they would have to be 100% identical....and that isn't possible.

[ady]

The easiest way I can see is to take the On image and simply darken..no more hard work than that...

I have attached an Example of One I did on cashpack as I used this method on that....if you switch between the 2 images below they don't move as they are the same.

Attached Files

•  images.zip   125.95KB   29 downloads

[RB]

Easiest way to do 2 identical flicker free images is to use a tripod and step timer take the first image with all lamps lit in test mode then switch off the machine before the second image is shot...and if your using and old fashioned SlR camera, get a cable release.

RB

[ady]

Easiest way to do 2 identical flicker free images is to use a tripod and step timer take the first image with all lamps lit in test mode then switch off the machine before the second image is shot...and if your using and old fashioned SlR camera, get a cable release.

RB

Then RB trying to match them....................Major headache

[RB]

as long as the tripod isnt moved or the camera, which you shouldnt have to do if the step timer option on digital camera is used then they should be near identical except in the on/off state...and if your using an SLR then make sure it has power wind...

A little preparation in making the power switch easily accessable within the step timers range..makes things a little easier.

1. Open Backdoor enter test mode all lamps lit
2 position camera on tripod
3 set camera for best fit of the fruity full screen res etc.
set step timer, say 3 images 20 secs apart
4 set off 1st exposure...
5 run to power switch before 2nd/3rd exposure

then if you are using the standard Top half/ Bottom half scenario, move camera on its vertical axis and shoot second half.
Using a program like Autostitch makes piecing the final images together rather splendid...

[stuart]

Hi all,
What RB is saying is pretty much what I did; I mounted the camera on a sturdy tripod and took about 20 - 30 pictures using a remote release, with the machine in attract mode. Across all of the images I therefore have at least one with each lamp lit. Alignment with the unlit image has turned out to be easier than i thought - the original images are all 2272 x 1704 so by working on them at that size and using the zoom, pixel-perfect alignment is not too difficult to achieve. I know that this isn't the normal way to go about things; when I did 'Stake Up' last year I used software to light each lamp individually; but since I have SBJ in my back bedroom at the moment I thought I'd take the opportunity to try something different. It'll be a while before it's done though as it's only my second layout...
Stuart

[DildoDez]

How's this coming along?

[ady]

I'd say it was given up as an impossible job..........

I still cannot see how you can, with a tripod of not use Two seperate images (On/Off) and merge them.

We all know the slightest misalignment causes a massively noticeable flicker.

[mocochoco]

I'd say it was given up as an impossible job..........

I still cannot see how you can, with a tripod of not use Two seperate images (On/Off) and merge them.

We all know the slightest misalignment causes a massively noticeable flicker.

But as RB said if you are using a digi camera with i tripod and using the time delay then all it is is a case of lamps on in test mode.... then off. I cant see how that would go wrong. you would have two identical pictures apart from one lit and one unlit.


moco

EDIT: the only problem i can really see occuring is once you have the pics im sure they are gonna need some slight touching up here and there and you have to make sure that this is exactly the same on both lit and unlit images.
On a normal glass scan or flyer based dx you can get all the touching up done on the original image before you start on a lit one.
But tbh that really wont be a very hard job at all (might not need much doing to it at all depending on the quality of the pics).

[ady]

I have bought 6 machines purely to emulate..........I also have a Digi Camera and tripod.........and have tried this in practice long before this thread was written!

I still disagree that it's an easy task............

No Two pictures will EVER be identical.