Image Arithmetic is the capability of Paint Shop Pro to combine two images by blending pixels between the two images to make a third image. Since the introduction of layers in Paint Shop Pro 5, many of the effects obtained with Image Arithmetic can be accomplished quicker and easier using layers. However, there are still some effects that can not be obtained any other way and are also fun with some amazing results.

 

Arithmetic Basics

  • Open the two images that you want to work with.

  • From the Menu Bar select Image>Arithmetic

  • Confirm the images you are going to use in Source Image#1 and Source Image#2 drop down boxes. Image # 1 will determine the size of the new image you will be creating

  • From the Function Panel, select a method for combining the two images. The color data from the two images is combined on a pixel-by-pixel basis and determined by the function chosen

Formula Functions

Function

Color Values Equals

Add

Image 1 value + Image 2 value

Subtract

Image 1 value - Image 2 value

Multiply

Image 1 value x Image 2 value

Difference

Absolute value of (Image 1 - Image 2)

Lightest

Maximum value of (Image 1 + Image 2)

Darkest

Minimum value of (Image 1 + Image 2)

Average

(Image 1 value + Image 2 value) div by 2

Or

Binary Or

And and

Binary And

 

  • From the Channel Panel, select the color channels to combine:

    • Select "All Channels" to use all the color channels in both images. This will produce a 24 bit image.

    • Select a specific channel for each image to produce a greyscale image

  • Select the the Divisor and Bias Modifiers. The modifiers are applied to the color values produced by the Formula Functions and the Channel selections.

    • The Divisor number is used to divide the color values. It can reduce the effects of the other selections.

    • The Bias number shifts each color value by a fixed amount. The number is added to the color value produced by the Formula Function, Channel, and Divisor selections.

  • Selecting or clearing Clip Color values determines how Paint Shop Pro handles the final color values greater than 255 and less than 0.

Clip Color Value

Setting

If Value is less than 0

If Value is more then 255

Selected

Value = 0

Value = 255

Cleared

Value = 256 + Value

Value = Value - 256

 

  • Select OK to create the new image.

 

Lesson Plan

Now that we have covered the basics of image arithmetic you are ready to go have some fun. Here are three(3) online tutorials. Please submit at least one tutorial result to the group or you can submit one for each tutorial.

You can do anything you like, use any image you like and you can use plugins and filters. Be creative and experiment with Image Arithmetic.

PSP 7

  1. Image Arithmetic with Kaleidoscope Frame:  http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/hos/arithmetic/arithmetic.html

  2. Combining Pictures Using Arithmetic: http://www.essexgirl.uk.com/arithmetic.htm

  3. Texturizing using Arithmetic:  http://www.jacindaswebdesign.com/PSP/texturizing.html [written for 6 & adaptable for 7, just go slow]

 

PSP 8

  1. Blending images:  http://moonsdesigns.com/tutorials/psp8/arithmetic.html

For 2 and 3, choose from among the PSP 7 tutorials above.  Arithmetic works pretty much the same in 8 as in 7

 

Bonus Tutorial

 

 

Lesson Resources

 

Lesson Submittal

Please remember to resize your final image so that it is no larger than 350 pixels on the largest/longest side.

Submit your results to the group at

http://pspimaginarium.com/forum

 

::Index:: ::Intermediate Series:: ::Glossary:: ::Short Cut Keys:: ::Resources::

 

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