Photoshop

Retouching and Post Production Resource List

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Below is an extensive list of retouching and post production videos and tutorials which I highly recommend.

CONCEPTS

**New Article** -
http://www.diyphotography.net/the-power-of-color-and-color-harmonies-in-composition/

Thoughts on Contrast by Guy Gowan
http://www.guygowan.com/focus/video.php?&userid=169

Thoughts on Colour by Guy Gowan
http://www.guygowan.com/focus/video.php?&userid=167

Thoughts on Sharpening by Guy Gowan
http://www.guygowan.com/focus/video.php?&userid=168

Thoughts on Recovery by Guy Gowan
http://www.guygowan.com/focus/video.php?&userid=2164

Thoughts on HDR by Guy Gowan
http://www.guygowan.com/focus/video.php?&userid=2157

Thoughts on Black and White by Guy Gowan
http://www.guygowan.com/focus/video.php?&userid=2138

Videos

Editorial Retouch from Start to Finish Series Episodes 1-13 by Krunoslav Stifter

The Differences between brightness and Luminosity with Conny Wallstrom

[embed width="123" height="456"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Mq3O0ahTU[/embed]

Adding shine or Pop the Highlights with Gry Garness

[embed width="123" height="456"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUtd2wf-ca8[/embed]

An Overview of Colour Grading with Natalia Taffarel

[embed width="123" height="456"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25QarOEIPkY[/embed]

An in-depth analysis of Colour Palettes and Retouching with Natalia Taffarel

[embed width="123" height="456"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzchCaOJ67g[/embed]


Full Edit with Natalia Taffarel 

[embed width="123" height="456"]https://vimeo.com/68360962[/embed]

Retouching Hair - Clone in Darken Mode by Natalia Taffarel

[embed]https://vimeo.com/25667413[/embed]

Opacity vs Fill by Natalia Taffarel

[embed]https://vimeo.com/13868502[/embed]

How to use Supporting Layers for Editing images with Jonas W

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBK83DZpdEQ[/embed]

Glamour Retouching Part 1 With Carrie Beene

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42MUfe1llO8[/embed]

Glamour Retouching Part 2 With Carrie Beene

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAVzBLyoqDY[/embed]

Capture One Pro 8 Webinar | Retouching workflow with Pratik Naik

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PCK8rXgj9I[/embed]

Dodge and Burn Technique by Sean Armenta

[embed]https://vimeo.com/14381588[/embed]

The differences between Brightness vs Luminosity inside Photoshop

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If you are struggling with the concept of how Brightness and Luminosity affect colour check out the video above.

My good friend Conny Walstrom talks about the differences between Brightness and Luminosity within Photoshop.

He covers a few modules of how Photoshop Handles colour inside HSB (Hue, Saturation, Brightness), HSV (Hue, Saturation, Vibrance), HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminosity), Grayscale, Luminosity and Perceived Brightness.

Photoshop 101: My Custom Photoshop Preferences

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Below is a series of my own preferences which you can easily customise how Photoshop can work for you.

GENERAL SETTINGS

To access your photoshop settings, simply press Command/ctrl + K to bring up the Preferences dialogue box.

Interface:

I have set my Standard Screen Mode to a Custom Colour of White (252, 252, 252)

I have set my Standard Screen Mode to a Custom Colour of Grey (128, 128, 128)

File Handling:

I typically have "Disable Compression of PSD and PSB Files" Checked; however It creates a bigger file yet saves 1/3rd faster then normal.

Performance:

Cursors:

My brush settings are set to 'Normal Brush Tip' with the option of showing the Crosshair whilst brushing. All the other cursors (mainly the pen tool) is set to precise.

Palettes Layout:

Curves Options:

I typically have my curves display options set to pigment/ink % so that I can work in percentages rather then light values.

Levels Settings:

I have my levels display options enabled to Enhance Monochromatic Contrast so that It clips the channels independently preserving the colour of the image. I have set the Shadow clipping point to 0, so that it keeps as much of the shadow detail as possible within the adjustment of "Auto Levels"

Photoshop 101: How to create a simple grunge effect in Photoshop

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Below is a series of steps to follow of how you can create a simple way of creating a grunge effect within Photoshop.

1. Create a duplicate of your background or a copy of a merged layer (command/ctrl + shift + option/alt + e).

2. Create a solid colour fill layer above the merged copy/duplicate layer. Set this layer to Colour

3. Merge both the Solid Colour Fill layer and the Duplicate Copy together.

4. Select either Normal/Multiply/Screen/Overlay/Softlight for your chosen grunge effect.

Note: If you don't want the hassle of creating the adjustment yourself, click the download link below.

SCREENSHOTS OF THE STEPS

Step 1.


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Step 10.

 

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE FREE ACTION SET?

Bleach - A bleach by-pass effect with channels
Grunge [with Multiply] - A muted grunge effect which darkens the image.
Grunge [with Screen] - A muted grunge effect which lightens the image.
Grunge [with Overlay] - A muted grunge effect which adds contrast to the image

HOW DO I INSTALL THE ACTION INTO PHOTOSHOP?

Method #1
1. Open your downloaded folder or file and navigate to the actions file. It will end in the .atn file extension.
2. Double-click the .atn file and then open Photoshop.
3. Now the set of Photoshop actions should show up in the actions panel and should be ready to use.
To access the actions panel, simply go the top bar in Photoshop and click Window > Actions. The panel should then appear somewhere within Photoshop.

*Remember to 'Enable Button Mode' (simply navigate to the drop-down menu within the Actions Panel) so that each of the actions are instantaneous*

Method # 2
1. Start this method by opening Photoshop and navigating to the drop-down menu in the Actions Panel.
2. Next click the load actions link that is highlighted in the image above.
3.Clicking the load actions button will open your folders.
4. From there navigate to the downloaded folder with the specific Photoshop actions file you have downloaded.
5. Now select the file and click Open.
6. After all this your Photoshop actions will be visible in the Actions Panel and you are ready to start using them!

Enjoy!

Photoshop 101: How to Automate Your Workflow using Actions and Droplets in Photoshop

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Actions are simply recorded tasks in Photoshop that create automated steps or parameters, which once executed, produce desired results depending on the pre-recorded steps they contain. These steps can be quite simple, for example general exposure or contrast adjustments, or something more advanced like the Frequency Separation technique setup.

Actions are designed to simply speed up your workflow and make your processing and retouching images more efficient. They give you specific options of what you would like to edit.

If you are not familiar with Actions, and the Actions panel isn’t currently in your Photoshop workspace, you can open it Window menu:

When you first open the Actions panel, there is a default set of Actions already installed in Photoshop.

To remove your default set of Actions and start creating your own custom actions, just drag the Default Actions folder onto the Trash Can at the bottom of the Actions palette.

To create a new Action Set, simply click the Folder icon next to the Play button at the bottom of the Actions palette.

To create a new Action simply click the Create New Action icon at the bottom of the Action palette.

Record your own desired adjustments after pressing the Begin Recording button.

Once all the steps of your new Action are completed hit the Stop command to finish recording your custom Action.

Make sure to  backup your custom Actions, so you don’t lose them even if your Photoshop crashes, or you get a new updated version installed on your computer. To backup your Actions, select the Action set you’d like to save, go to the drop down (wing menu) of your Actions palette, and select Save Actions. Save these out in your desired location on your hard drive (or external hard drive). Actions are typically saved out as an .atn file.

Please be aware that if you do not save your Actions, and Photoshop crashes or becomes unresponsive within the same session (after you created your new Actions), you may lose them for good. Remember to save them out to a desired location right after you created them. Once you have recorded and saved your new custom Action/Actions, close Photoshop and then reopen it. This saves new Actions in the Photoshop memory and in your Workspace.

SOME TIPS AND TRICKS WHEN WORKING WITH ACTIONS

TIPS:

  1. Open your Action palette (drop down menu) and select “Button mode”. This will allow you to instantly play each Action as a button.

  2. From the Action drop down menu, use “Insert Stop” commands to insert a pause in your Action. This enables you to adjust any settings and then re-press your Action to continue playing. For example, if one of the steps in your custom Action is adding Curves Adjustment layer, most likely you’ll need to adjust the Curve differently for each shot you work on, so inserting a stop will allow you to do that rather than playing the entire Action with pre-set adjustments.

  3. From the Actions palette drop down menu, click “Insert menu item” when the desired Action is selected – this will allow you to select any desired menu as an adjustment in the middle of a playing Action. For example, if you include insert menu item Gaussian Blur, you will be able to control the desired Radius when the Action is played.

TRICKS:

  1. When building your Actions, always work non-destructively. Start your custom Actions from creating a duplicate of the background layer, and then build your adjustments on top of it , so that you don’t work on the original background layer.

  2. As you are writing an Action, which should be run at the very beginning of your retouching, always select the background layer before building new layers or adjustments on top of it. It creates a reference point for the Action to work off.

  3. Group any important layers together into their own folders in the layer stack. For example, group Adjustments of contrast within its own folder. Keep these layers separate from other Adjustments. Keeping your Layers stack uncluttered and well-organized will help you work efficiently.

  4. Insert “Purge” command to reduce History states or memory issues when creating large and complex Actions: Photoshop > Edit > Purge > choose Histories or All

WHAT ARE BATCH COMMANDS?

Batch Commands are automated Actions on a global scale both in Photoshop itself as well as in Adobe Bridge. To enable a Batch Command on your Actions simply go to File -> Automate -> Batch.

  1. Set – Choose the set which contains the Action you’d like to run

  2. Action – Choose the Action you’d like to run for the batch

  3. Source – Specify files you’d like to process

  4. Choose – Choose the folder containing the source files

  5. Override Action Commands – Use source files when opening (select this option if your Action contains an “open” command, and the open commands in your Actions will be ignored).

  6. Include All Subfolders – Process files in all folders within the specified source folder

  7. Suppress File Open Options Dialogs – Do not show File Open Options Dialogs

  8. Suppress Color Profile Warnings – Do not show Color Profile Warnings

  9. Destination – Final Destination of processed files; Save and Close or to a specific folder.

WHAT ARE DROPLETS?

Droplets are simply automated Actions from outside Photoshop. These work similarly to a Batch Command however can be simply run by dragging and dropping any files or folders onto a Droplet icon. To create a droplet simply go to File -> Automate -> Create Droplet

  1. Choose – Specify name and location for Droplet file

  2. Set – Choose the set which contains the Action you’d like to run

  3. Action – Choose the Action for the droplet

  4. Override Action Commands – Use source files when opening (select this option if your Action contains “open” commands. The open commands will be ignored).

  5. Include All Subfolders – Droplet will process all folders and subfolders within the chosen one

  6. Suppress File Open Options Dialogs - Do not show File Open Options Dialogs

  7. Suppress Color Profile Warnings - Do not show Color Profile Warnings

  8. Destination – Final Destination of processed files; Save and Close or to a specific folder

MY PREFERRED SETTINGS WHEN CREATING DROPLETS:

  • Save the droplet out on the desktop (or your designated folder for custom Actions) for easy access and use.

  • Uncheck or disable Override Action “Open” Commands

  • Check or enable Include All Sub-folders

  • Check or enable File Open Options Dialogs

  • Check or enable Color Profile Warnings

Retouching 101: Retouching Considerations and Guidelines

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The general term “Retouching” can be categorised under the following subject-specific areas of Portrait, Editorial, Commercial, Beauty and Creative Retouching.

Each of these areas possesses its own assembly of considerations around what “retouching” is when editing the image in question. In other words, the decisions and actions one undertakes when editing in the area of “Portrait” will be different from those undertaken when editing an image in “Beauty”.

So how does one determine the category (and its implicit techniques and time allocations) to be applied to any image?­­­ The following questions can help you evaluate which category your image falls under and how much time is needed to retouch each image.­­

1. Who is the client and what is the image to be used for?

2. How many images are to be retouched and delivered?

If you can answer both of these questions before you begin retouching it will give you an outline as to what is required and how long you should spend on each image.

As mentioned above, each retouching “category” will still have its own set of reference points that will need to be followed if one is to achieve the desired end result.

PORTRAIT RETOUCHING

With regards to Portrait Retouching, we typically try and keep all of the personal qualities and characteristics of the person intact. The image should appear as natural as possible, as if it hasn’t been retouched. Headshots and Model Tests are generally considered in this category, as they require depicting the subject as naturally as possible for them to be given potential work based on their natural appearance.

We try to leave all permanent features like scars, freckles, and moles alone. Depending on the image, you may wish to emphasise these or reduce the intensity of these features on the image you are working on. However non-permanent features like pimples, redness of skin, bruises should be cleaned up and removed.

The skin is generally left intact apart from removing non-permanent features.

Please keep in mind that if you are wishing to improve the skin texture, add contrast, adjust colour correction and sharpen the image; keep it subtle. Do not detract from the original image or depiction of the subject.

EDITORIAL RETOUCHING

With regards to Editorial Retouching, we once again try to keep the image as natural as possible and only remove distracting elements. This form of retouching typically needs to sell a product or service as the images are commonly used for lookbooks/editorials/advertising in magazines or publications.

We try to remove all permanent features like scars, freckles and moles. However we tend to reduce the intensity of wrinkles and adjust any skin discolorations within the image. Typically the skin is cleaned however it is not excessively evened out.

Editorials are typically a series of images. Adjustments of contrast, colour correction and the chosen grade of the image all need to match and be consistent across all images.

COMMERCIAL RETOUCHING

Similar to Editorial Retouching, Commercial Retouching is typically used to sell a service or a product. The main difference between the two categories is that the viewer needs to be able to relate to the subject on a personal level.

Once again, we remove all distracting elements. Depending on what this means in any image it can take a number of hours to complete. While each image will have its own considerations in terms of this element, one cannot forget that the client will also have their own requirements about how the final image should look. The important thing to remember here is that the collection of images needs to have a level of consistency above all else.

BEAUTY RETOUCHING

We try to remove all permanent “imperfections” within the image. Typically the skin is flawlessly cleaned and evened out. For a more highly polished look additional dodging and burning is used.

Depending on what is required for the image, beauty retouching can easily take more then 4 hours per image to complete.

CREATIVE RETOUCHING

Unlike the other forms of retouching, Creative Retouching is seen as an artwork or a particular creative vision rather then depicting “the truth” about a subject. Compositing multiple image or elements fall under this category as they can create different realities or imaginative realms that can’t be achieved from a single image. Thus this work will be the most time intensive and demanding in terms of ensuring that the image as it is “built” and completed still maintains its own integrity as an image.