If he’s honest with himself, the cat will admit that this toilet paper tube is now 100% more entertaining than it was when he first started playing with it. (When it was still just a tube. That’s so boring. We can do better than that.)
I made that spiraling dangly thing just for him. Is he grateful? Not that I can tell.
The above photograph was bad from the start (poor lighting), and I over-brightened and over-sharpened it in Photoshop, just to make it somewhat viewable. Anyway, it’s still a bad photo, but something about it started to intrigue me. I liked the shapes, and the shadow of the spiral.
I decided to mess around with Photoshop filters. The Cutout filter yielded this…
…which was kind of interesting, but not enough on its own. I took the Cutout file and copied it into a file with the original photo. With the Cutout on a layer above the original, and the Blending mode set to Multiply, I ended up with this:
Which is an improvement on the original, I think. The same file, but with the Blending Mode set to Exclusion results in this:
Cool!
Returning to the original photo, I used a filter that I have never had any success with. The Stained Glass filter. Always a disaster. So, why even bother trying it? That’s the triumph of hope over experience. And…
OMG! I really kind of love that!
Every time I use Photoshop filters I hear voices in my head, the clamor of professionals saying, Take a competent picture to begin with! Filters are cheating! And I get what they’re saying. I really do.
On the other hand, this started out as a toilet paper tube. You know?
If your cat is anything like mine, the photos will give him more enjoyment as he views it from atop your keyboard
Love it!
Ha! Yes. He does like to “help.”
This is such a fun creative post…..I love your complicated squiggles, even if your cat isn’t impressed
Thank you! I will tell my cat that someone appreciates my efforts.
what a clever cat you are – unique post and toilet roll tube
Thank you, Laura!
It’s not just a cat toy. It’s art!
My cat begs to differ. But I thank you!
These pics take a toilet paper tube to a whole new level! I really like the blue background pic.
I like how that one looks a little mysterious…
Well done experimenting
I like the transformational aspect. I ended up liking something that had originally seemed to be a complete failure.
My cat loves this post!
Ha!
Hate cats. Like you. Love this post.
Cats aren’t that bad!
great job
love it
Thank you, uncommon girl and rezmiah!
Very cool. I don’t have cats, anymore. But I do tend to have an excess of small children around me almost all of the time. They love toilet paper tubes. LOVE THEM. I showed my son (he’s four) your stained-glass pic and he said, “COOLIO!” which is about as high of praise that anyone can possibly earn from him. So, kudos to you. It’s not cheating when it’s awesome
I don’t think anyone has ever said “COOLIO” about my work before. Please thank your son for me!
Will do!
Fun stuff.
Enjoyed your post. 
hahaha too cool. I like, I like.
Thank you, Jason and Phoenix!
I love working with photoshop filters, especially in layers. Tony
They’re so versatile, and capable of so many different effects. I can get lost in all the possibilities.
If carefully used and layered with intervening layers of misty white you can get alternating effects some areas affected by the filter, others not. I love using them for the unexpected results. After a while I can predict what is likely to happen and so aim to get a particular result. Keep up the good work! I love the paper cut. Tony
Nice! I do not have a cat or children but if md when i do, i know what to look for. Never it before.
*done it before.
Typos!
My cat is utterly delightful at least 50 percent of the time. I hear that the same thing is true of children…
The 50% rule is only true if you don’t count the time they’re asleep.
Cats just never seem to appreciate hard work, do they?
I’m not even going to pretend to understand Photoshop so I’ll just stick with saying that the third one’s my favourite because it’s oddly pretty…
Have a good day
I think understanding Photoshop is a never-ending process. Much like cats! I like the challenge though (with both of them).
That’s really cool! you may just inspire me to take up teaching myself photoshop again…
Yes! Photoshop is so much fun!
I like it. Fun photography and …You’ve inspired me to make yet another cat toy!
Your cat thanks you for that!
Very cool. Did your cat ever play with the prototype?
Surprisingly enough, he did. He ended up thinking that the spiral was worth his attention after all.
Tell the voices to hush, photoshop is kinda fun.
It definitely is.
I wish someone had told me when i first got my cat to never spend money of toys!
If your cat never played with the toy then at least you took some nifty photos! (though i do hope the kitty at least looked at your fun creation)
As soon as i touch anything that my cats had previously found amusing it instantly kills the joy for them…I wonder if it’s me?
Great post!
Tallulah
http://choosesimplicitydotorg.wordpress.com/
Now we need to see a picture of your cat playing with it!
Cool..
Nice paper post done electronically.
Reblogged this on Dan Allens – Media & Services Reviews.
I really love how that last one turned out! Thanks for this post. It reminded me that sometimes simple is best when it comes to toys for my cats!
I will share this with my students. Loved the concept of simplicity morphed into complexity using filters. I think you just inspired a great lesson for us using after effects…thank you!
Wonderful photographs.
My cat would destroy that in about five minutes. And not be the slightest bit grateful either.
Your cat will never admit it, but deep down I’m sure he appreciated with a smirk the potential you saw and he never saw coming in that dead toilet role and the awesomeness you ventured out to create with it.
I don’t think that manipulating photography through the use of Photoshop filter is cheating. how we interpret the photo and transform it is the process of art itself. Nice transformations and great descriptions.
I love it when a cat owner have more fun with the toys than the cat! I think this is actually a really neat idea.
Great post! You are quite the artist
And congratulations on being freshly pressed!
Huh. Why doesn’t my cat have amazing toilet paper roll art toys?
I will make it so.
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So now my mind is hovering over the idea of your cat in photoshop with lots of different filters, maybe with the cat toy superimposed over the cat… (I’m with you, by the way, the mosaic filter is generally a disaster. That said I think you’ve used it well here.)
Oooo! I might have to try that! Cutting up the tube into a dangly, squiggly thing, I mean. Yes, I actually try to gain my cats’ approval with new playthings…I only wish I had Photoshop to play with for myself! Very creative post!
If you can duplicate that again, you’ve got art! I almost got into photography…but now I write, then take a few photos every once in a while.
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“Take a competent picture to begin with” – RIGHT?! I love listening to podcasts about photography especially food photography butttttt…it’s kind of soul/dream crushing. I love your zest for experimenting both with photography and with cat toys. Rock on!
Amazing idea!
so much fun!!. i had no idea you could do this with photoshop. Some of these look like prints! Yum.:)
I struggle with, (is it) “guilt”, every time I go to the filters!! I believe I am a Digital “Artist”. Is changing a photograph, taken by me, and altered by my use of amazing digital tools, a trick, a gimmick, a bad act? I am being dramatic because I’ve read posts that say, “Just Take the damn picture, or how about, “Some people should not be allowed to use Photoshop.”
Well, I do and I will continue. If what I produce/create is not your cup of java, move on. If you like it…all the better.
I love the effects you achieved with the “cut out” filter and I want to try the blending mode using Exclusion too! Great post!
Judy, aka The Lioness
My Art Cards can be visited on my blog, CardTales By The Lioness
Just give him a twist tie from a loaf of bread, highlighters, or a rubber band.
hahaha. very inventive!! i just get a piece of string and run around the house while it runs along after it…. cats are adorable
Love the stained glass image. I used to be a bit of a purist about editing and enhancing images but I did a workshop with Trey Ratcliff last year and learned a lot about how to improve an image. How much you apply it makes a difference, and you can get a nice effect without it screaming OMG I USED PHOTOSHOP!! Course, knowing when to draw the line is the hard part
Congrats on FP
Reblogged this on Oyia Brown.
Cool Work!!
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Thats cool
The toilet paper roll is the greatest invention in the history of mankind. That little cardboard tube provides hours of amusement to my dogs. I save them up and when they get two in a row, it’s like Christmas. Great, creative post