PortraitsImagine how surprised your friends and family will be, when you carve a pumpkin or watermelon with their face! To create personalized portrait carving patterns, there are a few things you will need.
* Photograph with lots of shadow and contrast
* Scanner or Photo CD
* Graphics Editing Program (we use Paint Shop Pro)
* Practice!
Step 1Crop the area of the scanned photo you wish to use.
Reduce or enlarge to 700 - 750 pixels wide.
Step 2Reduce the brightness by approximately 20% and increase the contrast by approximately 80%.
Step 3Reduce the number of colors to 16.
Windows colors
Nearest colors
Step 4Increase contrast by approximately 100%.
Step 5Decrease the number of colors to 2
Red components
Weighted
Nearest color
Connect any "floating" or unconnect areas shown in black.
Your pattern is basically completed, or you can continue to produce a "pin on" pattern.
Step 6Create a negative of the image.
Step 7Increase the number of colors to 16 Million. This allows you to access your graphics program's advanced features.
Select: Image / Edge Filters / Trace Contour
Step 8Reduce the number of colors to 16 (to save file size).
Windows'
Nearest color
Fill in the enclosed areas with grey. This is what you will remove.
Step 9Enjoy the expression on the face of your victim when they see your jack-o-lantern.
Please note the graphics have been reduced from their original size, and the steps are presented as an example of one particular pattern. Each photograph will require slightly different color, brightness and contrast settings. Please also note that not all photographs are suitable for this process.