Early Spaceflight-Esque Screenshots - Picture Heavy

[metalmouth7]

I've been messing around with some screenshots I took on a recent Soyuz-Mun mission, something I've been cooking up for a long-term mission log, and found that something about them was lacking. So, after photoshopping about for a bit, I turned to old actual photos from the early era of spaceflight. Using these images as inspiration, I've created a short series of photos based on my circummunar jaunt. I thought I'd toss them up here and get some feedback before I go any further.

As Soyuz-Luna 3 breaks Kerbin's orbit, Bill Kerman takes some video footage out the window, looking out over the planet's Deserts.

Before committing to the Circum<unar burn, Jeb and Bill hopped outside to do a quick inspection, with Bill recording on a video camera.

As the Mun draws closer, Bill captures some more footage.

His camera at the ready, Bob gets an excellent shot of the Mun, catching an excellent view of one of it's Mare.

As they enter Munar Orbit, Bob steps out for a short spacewalk. Jebediah joins him with a new color camera to get a few shots.

As they pass around the Mun, Bill catches some more footage with the video camera, alternating viewports.

As they pass around the Dark side, back into the light, an external camera on the Orbital Module catches this shot of the Sun and Kerbin.

As they exit the Mun's SOI, Bob takes one last parting photo of the Mun.

Coming in over Kerbin, Bill catches a few final seconds of film, as their home glides back beneath them.

As they streak back to the surface, ground film crews are sure to catch shots of their capsule streaking back to the ground.

So, comments/criticisms? I plan on doing a few more of these before I start my mission log, so any feedback will directly impact those.

[LaydeeDem]

That's badass! Any tips on how to do stuff like this? This is the best I can make:

[metalmouth7]

I gradually build up the distortion with the various pixellation tools, and blow out the exposure just a little bit. I also find that mezzotint can have an awesome effect if you apply it before you use any other pixellation tools. If you have any more specific questions, I'd be more than willing to answer them. If you want, I could do a quick tutorial as well.

[astropapi1]

This is my favorite.

It looks like someone actually took that picture, not like a game.

[Capn]

What photo-shopping programs do you use?

[metalmouth7]

astropapi1 - Thanks! I'm rather fond of that one myself. It just happened to turn out pretty well, I suppose.

Capn - Photoshop CS6.

[metalmouth7]

Since there seems to be some interest in this style of image, here's a (really) short tutorial on how I achieved this look.

Here is our starting image, a shot of my first ever Mun landing:

First, I like to find an image to use as inspiration for the distortion of our image. For this one, I like this TV footage still from Apollo XI:

Now that we know what we want for our image, lets begin by converting it to black and white.

After we've done that, go to the exposure settings, and crank both the exposure and gamma correction up. This will help to really darken the black parts of the image, and blow out the whites, just like our example image.

Next, create a new layer, and create some noise in it. After you've done that, use a box blur on it, aiming for this effect:

Now, adjust your blur layer's opacity to about 8%, and then merge all layers when you're happy.

Now we start with the pixellation of the image. First we'll use a mosaic filter, with the size of each pane being set to 2-3 pixels.

Now duplicate this layer. With the new layer, apply a Mezzotint filter, and use the short strokes setting.

Set the layer opacity to around 10%, and then merge the layers.

Next, use a crystallize effect, and then we'll be just about finished.

To finish this image off, play with the contrast until it reaches a suitable balance, and then you're finished! I aimed for a really degraded look for mine, so this is what my final image looks like:

Note that layering of the different effects can create an even better looking image, but that's really just trial and error. This simple overview should at least get you started. Feel free to ask any questions.

[Dogface]

Brilliant! imaginative idea and excellent skill in execution. Kudos

[bellino]

...wow

I built a lego Moonwalk dedicated to Apollo, but i know what i must do now

Thank you

[metalmouth7]

Dogface, bellino - Thanks! I'm working on a mission log of sorts, and there will be plenty more of this screenshot manipulation in it.