How is this Effect for "Matting"?

[neovolatile]

Does it work for you?



I have been experimenting a bit and want to know if this sort of thing adds or detracts from the picture.

Please vote on the poll.

Thanks,
Ellsworth Weaver
http://www.pbase.com/neovolatile

[wangi]

I'd actually want to select all 3 options... But in the end, nah - dont think it works.

[floradoragirl]

I don't dislike matting on digital photographs to be displayed online - with some styles it looks very good, makes the image look complete in exactly the same way as a real mat does with a printed image. I don't like this effect though - ironically because I've used one similar myself. I don't like it because you look too much at where the image runs into the mat, rather than the image itself. I hope my answer isn't too garbled!

[halesr]

I think this matting works if the outside edges of your image are NOT important. But, I am sure when you are shooting you are concerned with the entire frame--center and edges. Shooting with that in mind, you want us to see ALL of the picture.--Rene

[neovolatile]

Well, I do crop photos; don't you? Instead of a crop, I thought we might just indicate that the view is always much bigger than the pic. That was my intent. Not sure it works. Might look at reducing the information in the matte even more, reduce it to cartoon or line drawing.

Thanks for looking and commenting, everyone,
Ellsworth

[jeanb]

Your eye should be drawn into an image. This effect draws it out, losing impact.

[clickaway]

I think jean is right. It doesn't do it for me.

[neovolatile]

Selected the "matte" area and used Find Edges, adjusted brightness and contrast.

Does this work any better?
Ellsworth

[rsub8]

Yes, but also was thinking that the effect might be better if the center part had higher contrast / saturation. I was looking at it as though I were imagining viewing the scene through a large picture window, with etched-glass edges.