How do I straighten out a detailed graphic line that is curved

I'm working on an image of a video cable. The conductors in the original photograph are a little bent/curved looking and I'd like them to be straighter.

I thought maybe using the clone tool or liquify tools would work, but I have been unsuccessful. Any expert tips on how to get it straight without losing detail or quality? This image will be used for print, web, and multimedia applications.

I posted the image on our website so that you can view this.

<http://www.isotecwire.com/images/RGBHV_Close.jpg>

Thanks for your help!

Valerie

Erase the bent wire and create new ones.

create new ones...it looks hokey with a copper gradient...it will be used in high res so it needs to look like it was photographed with the rest of the image. Also, the reflection and lighting on there will be noticed.

I know it is probably not as noticeable on the jpeg but it will be in large format. I'll probably blow this image up big for a trade show booth graphic...

There has to be a better way!

Copy the good wire and paste it where you want it. Straightening out the crooked ones should be cake using Liquefy.

wrote in message

create new ones...it looks hokey...

Maybe ... but with the proper care taken...???

See attached.

Oh well....I guess file attachments don't work using the NNTP version of this forum.

Rose,

With the good one, use the lasoo tool, (L) and draw around it, Copy (Ctrl>C) and Paste (Ctrl>V). But before you paste, give about a 10% Feather, (Ctrl>D). Using the transform tool (T), position your new wire, (Which is on a new layer) Then use a big eraser (E), say 50% feathered and erase around the area, to reveal "The good one".

Let's know how you get on. XD

Regards

Mark

BTW. Within transform you can "Skew", "Align" and stretch all your pixels to suit your design.

Valerie,

The conductors in the original photograph are a little bent/curved looking and I'd like them to be straighter.

I think Peter's and Mark's more detailed approach could work. However, I'm not certain the wires need to be straightened. The slight bends make them look more "real".

If I had much work that required corrections like this, which amount to precise morphs of the image that require more accurate control than Photoshop's Liquify can deliver, I would get Human Software's Squizz < http://www.humansoftware.com/pages1200/Squizz/HSsquizz11.htm l>. Squizz has several ways to morph, transform, or distort an image or part of an image.

In your case with the bent wires you would use Squizz's Advanced Grids feature < http://www.humansoftware.com/pages1200/Squizz/HSsquizz1111.h tml>. That feature can also be used to straighten a distorted image < http://www.humansoftware.com/pages1200/Squizz/HSsquizz1114.h tml>, and you could use it in that way to straighten the wires. You would draw a gridline along the centerline of a bent wire and then simply straighten that gridline to straighten the wire. That gives you a degree of control that you can't get with Liquify. And by simply morphing the original wires you avoid getting any "fake" look from pasted on wires.

-- Burton -- (not associated with Human Software or Squizz!)