Using GIMP to make photos....

[kearns643]

I have been using GIMP (a free downloadable program) to make photos for TTM send outs for a few years. With the help of my son and friends I have progressed to a level where I believe that the quality is outstanding. Take a look at the progression.

(A) Simple design, not many extras but still works
(B) An oval eclipse make the photo pop out
(C) The 1959 Topps design now reigns as the choice.

Our photo collection is somewhere around 3,000 but with the new ‘59 style will predominately be the featured optioned.

It took my son and I about 2 hours (and some help from friends) to get it down but I think they are great. What I do is send three in the mail asking the players to keep one. What has happened in the past with option (B) the players tend to keep them all or send only one back…so offering to keep one of the three seems to work.

Anyone using this program. Would love to share other skills.

Chime in!

(C)
scan0037.jpg
(A)
scan0036.jpg
(B)
scan0038.jpg

[kearns643]

GIMP has allowed me to make the 1959 Topps style of many older players that cards are hard to come by or too expensive.
It does a great job in taking smaller pixel sized photos into a printable 4x6 or 8x10 photo size.
Some are them here on the photobucket page:

http://s128.photobucket.com/albums/p194/basesjammed/Old%20Timers/

[kearns643]

Making progress

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p194/basesjammed/1959%20Yankees/compare.jpg

[hairmetalfreek]

Looking good, keep it up!

[kearns643]

Our 1st return of the 1959 Topps remake. A few things about that I have noticed. The players tend to give a better looking signature and placement on a well put together effort. Player will also tend to keep some, or most, as was the case here...we sent 3 asked for him to keep "1" but got one back.
scan0003.jpg

[hairmetalfreek]

I was just going to ask if you offered one to the player. They look good, it's cool that they like them enough to keep one (or more).

[kearns643]

I was just going to ask if you offered one to the player. They look good, it's cool that they like them enough to keep one (or more).

Hey I do...I believe its a good thing....I am sure they like them and it better increases our return rate. Not on this style, but others I have done and have been asked to send some extras after.

I made this set and did some IP'ing at the Sea Dogs game doing the Altoona Curve and the players loved them. Its a good way to start a conversation...."This is a 1959 Topps card style photo, I think they look great" and then the player starts...and it begins. Some of the Curve asked me send some to them and will send them out this week.

[kearns643]

But not in this case...as both Mr. Pyecha and Mr. Goggin kept two of the three..I guess I will have to BOLD and capitalize the ONE from now on.
What I do like about the photos, though, is that the poor shadowing on the Pyecha photo, it still looks nice in the red border and grey border makes all the points on the Goggin photo look real nice.
scan0009.jpg

[kearns643]

When it all comes together, nice photo, using GIMP and then the player matches the color with blue sharpie...the return is awesome~!
scan0003 (3).jpg

[kearns643]

And at the ball park the players will take an extra moment to sign the photos nicely...
scan0012.jpgscan0004 (3).jpg

[kearns643]

and Tyler Moore
scan0008 (2).jpg

[kearns643]

Hobby is great when it works like this
scan0005.jpg

[metrotheme]

Does your printer print at a higher resolution? Almost all of the scans looks very pixelated. You may want to experiment with the fonts and / or how you crop the photos. Here is a custom I recently made. Some of the "noise" (specks of ink) is due to my scanner.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...heme/bxter.jpg

[kearns643]

Does your printer print at a higher resolution? Almost all of the scans looks very pixelated. You may want to experiment with the fonts and / or how you crop the photos. Here is a custom I recently made. Some of the "noise" (specks of ink) is due to my scanner.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...heme/bxter.jpg

Thanks for the input....the main issue is that it is the photo itself...some are too small to begin with and making them into a 4x6does distort some...so in essences there is not much I can do with those...here is an example....Luke Greinke's photo came in a big size where as Danny Godby's photo was small. I use the photo lab at CVS...so its not the printer or system.

The Greinke photo was in a size that was well over my formatted 4x6 but the Godby photo was under 2 inch in height and width.

luke greinke.jpgDanny_Godby_(Cardinals)_5.jpg



The way i figure it is, I'll take what I get...a little "smudged" is better than nothing and even some make the photo look a little "antigue".

[Mike D.]

I can imagine finding high res images of players online is tough, simply because by definition, images on the web are usually screen resolution (72 DPI) vs. print DPI (300+ DPI) since they're designed for quicker downloads and display on a screen, not print.

Are there any good sources for high-res pictures of players online?