SPLAT

[deeky]

This was inspired this spring during a bit of plumbing work, but didn't have time to work with it then. My wife wanted the water turned back on......

I've played with it and would like a little more out of the grain, but can't get it without trashing the splat.

Let me know what you think.


IMG_1480a1 by breckmiller, on Flickr

 

[Demers18]

Looks like someone used a little too much solder here.
It's an interesting image although I'm betting that wasn't the surface it landed on originally?

 

[deeky]

Here's another.


IMG_1488a1 by breckmiller, on Flickr

Actually, the first is exactly where it landed. The solder would hit, splatter, and bounce. Every last one of them would be completely loose from the board. Could be the colder air temps outside when I was playing - somewhere around 32-34 degrees. Cooled it off a little quicker than normal.

 

[Demers18]

Here's another.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/81305320@N05/8286156994/
IMG_1488a1 by breckmiller, on Flickr

Actually, the first is exactly where it landed. The solder would hit, splatter, and bounce. Every last one of them would be completely loose from the board. Could be the colder air temps outside when I was playing - somewhere around 32-34 degrees. Cooled it off a little quicker than normal.

Looks like hardwood! You didn't use a drop sheet?!! Solder will "splat" like that when you are using too much of it. It won't stick to anything that doesn't have pours for it to latch onto. So for smooth surfaces it will peel off quite easily. It will occasionally turn into little balls as well if it hits water and cools too quickly.

 

[KenC]

The "splats" are very interesting, with some good contrast and tonal range. I'd just put them on flat medium gray backgrounds and crop pretty close.

 

[deeky]

Here's another.


IMG_1488a1 by breckmiller, on Flickr

Actually, the first is exactly where it landed. The solder would hit, splatter, and bounce. Every last one of them would be completely loose from the board. Could be the colder air temps outside when I was playing - somewhere around 32-34 degrees. Cooled it off a little quicker than normal.

Looks like hardwood! You didn't use a drop sheet?!! Solder will "splat" like that when you are using too much of it. It won't stick to anything that doesn't have pours for it to latch onto. So for smooth surfaces it will peel off quite easily. It will occasionally turn into little balls as well if it hits water and cools too quickly.

Just good old pine bought specifically for the grain for these photos, but a little higher grade that has a little smoother finish to it. For this little exercise, I literally just held the solder in the torch flame to melt and drop it. Different heights will give different splats, as will even the angle at which you hold the solder. It took a little playing. As for a drop cloth, for the actual soldering in the house, yes. In the garage it just peels right off of the garage floor like it did on the wood.

 

[Pallycow]

just make a copy layer, edit for the gain texture you want and mask back in the splat.

I loved solder splats when I was an electronic tech. when the solder would build up on the iron, we'd throw it at walls, people, stuff, it was fun.

 

[Demers18]

Just good old pine bought specifically for the grain for these photos, but a little higher grade that has a little smoother finish to it. For this little exercise, I literally just held the solder in the torch flame to melt and drop it. Different heights will give different splats, as will even the angle at which you hold the solder. It took a little playing. As for a drop cloth, for the actual soldering in the house, yes. In the garage it just peels right off of the garage floor like it did on the wood.

I misunderstood what you meant lol. I thought you meant that you were soldering and took a picture of where it landed, now this makes much more sense.

I agree with what Ken said about giving it a little more contrast. You are definitely on to something as it is and interesting and different subject to shoot.

 

[nycphotography]

I've played with it and would like a little more out of the grain, but can't get it without trashing the splat.

Use layers in PS.

Clone the layer, jack it around optimizing for the area you want, "erase" the part you dont want, allowing the original to want to show through from the lower (original) layer, then flatten it down.

Hint, you can erase w/ feathered edges and transparency so it can be a partial erase.