Photo Enforced Lights = $$$

[e.ternalyLoathed]

Just a dumb idea that is not thought out too well, but hypothetically one could install cameras at similar vantage points like the Red Light Camera's with similar photo resolution and have it randomly take pictures and then photoshop the picture so that the light appears red. Then the said person could do a little background checking and send envelopes with "tickets" in them to the address that matches the plate numbers that appear to be from the county or whatever. The notices would have the only option to pay the violation off through the mail. This is very crude and I know has very little chance to work, but if somebody refined the idea by maybe having targets that they specifically picked out because they know they are an easy buck, IE old people, it could work. :twisted:

[Gobiggi]

okay i dont really follow this... what exactly are we trying to fake

[-inefficiency-]

He's trying to make people believe that they have been fined for running a red light and thus getting them to send him money.

[Gobiggi]

ooh now i understand... thanks for kinda clearing that up,

[Steve_TPF]

Eternal: where are you located? In Aust they don't send you a picture, just the notice. You have to pay for the picture if you want verification.
It's a fun idea, but you would realy need an untraceable (presumably off-shore) account to make it work. Scan an infringement notice and send it to a likeky victim, putting your own account details in the payment area. Just make sure that you pick someone who does their banking on-line. If they try to pay in person your scam will come to a rapid end.
Remember also they may go back to check the intersection to see if there is a camera.

[greenflame]

Problem is with the image work, the LED array in the traffic lights give off a strong corona, and the reflections are everywhere. To do it right you'de have to have something more advanced than photoshop. You also gotta deal with reflections by the original lit light, you gotta black it out but still leave texture.

[e.ternalyLoathed]

Yeah, I've never recieved one of these tickets, so I would definately get one before I tried to scam, but this idea is in its infant stages so anyone can add suggestions, I'm not too sure about the way it all works.

[e.ternalyLoathed]

Steve and Greenflame, you both make valid points and good suggestions.

GREENFLAME:

Question... What are some higher-tech photo-editing software than Photoshop?

[S25]

The Gimp

[greenflame]

Actually no, Gimp is an open source engine that's supposed to be competitive with the Adobe products. I and quite a few graphic designers I know have tried it, it lacks advance features, usability, and most of all image quality. It has a huge aliasing problem.

A advance engine would be something like Lightwave 8, or SoftImage. The truth is that Photoshop 8 could probably do it, but it would take expert knowledge to fool the human eye, and photoshop isn't a easy software to use, hence the reason I use Corel Draw and Xara X1.

[e.ternalyLoathed]

Thanks greenflame, I'm going to look into all the products you mentioned, mainly for personal use, not for the silly scam.