I recently created a few image assets to help analyse how Colour Luts and Actions can effect the Hue, Saturation and Brightness of your image.
HUE - Image Asset
Example: This Hue Colour palette below is designed with 10% shifts of Hue from 0 - 360
SATURATION - Image Asset
Example: This Saturation Colour palette is designed with 10% shifts of saturation.
BRIGHTNESS - Image Asset
Example: This Brightness Colour palette is designed with 10% shifts of brightness.
"Discover some of the styles below that are included in DxO Optics Pro or included in DxO FilmPack. You can apply these renderings to your photos in just one click, and you can also edit and customize them. Take a look, too, at some of the additional styles that you can download. These renderings have been carefully crafted by our Image Masters to work with all use cases — Portrait & Landscape, Black & White, Atmospheres, Single-shot HDR, etc." - http://www.dxo.com/intl/photography/styles
Recently the developers of DxO Labs released an update to DxO Optics Pro 10. This included various standardised atmospheric styles or presets. I have successfully been able to recreate these filters as Photoshop Actions. These will provide the same outcomes as using DXO Styles but in Photoshop. It is simply a one-click effect to alter the contrast, tone and saturation of your image.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE ACTION SET?
+ Atmospheres • DXO - Generates the build for the action. It creates the appropriate contrast, tone and saturation layers
Reset • Atmospheres - Resets the build for the action.
•Mist - A film-like matte effect
•London Night - a bleach bypass effect
•Blue Hour - a slight cool (blue) grade
•Twilight - a slight warm (brown) grade
•Old Film - Antique tone effect
•Polar - A monochromatic blue tinted tone
•Heather Purple - A punch of contrast with slight purple tones in the shadows
•Old Film - A warm brown desaturated antique tone
*Please be aware that when each desired effect is pressed, it will regenerate the appropriate grade.*
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!
My recent images from Laura Cammarata's Editorial Workshop hosted by Train to Create at Apiary Studios
Photography & Post Production by Brock McFadzean
Assisted by Theo Albanis, Mirko De Nicolò and Laura Cammarata Photography
Model - Charlotte from FM Agency
Hair and Makeup by Michelle Dacillo - Makeup Artist
Styling by Marina de Magalhaes Styling
Garments supplied by Code Le Vush, Shaan Bevan, Elizabeth Grace
London Fashion Week 2014 - Emerging Trends
See below a variety of images from the new season collection from Azzurra (India), Fleur Kelinza (UK) and Stefan Meuwissen (Belgium), Shefali Couture (Dubai), Anya Lesnik (Germany), Leonora Asomanin (UK), Capital T by Terita Enda (Indonesia), Prieston (Hungary) and Naveda Couture (USA).
Photography by Brock McFadzean
The Ultimate Facebook Output Workflow for Photoshop CC and CC2014.
In this blog post, I am wishing to introduce Facebook Power Tools which was developed by Conny Walstrom. Conny is a photographer, retoucher and software developer from Sweden.
As you can see in the image below, Facebook Power Tools is a panel extension built for Adobe Photoshop CC and Adobe Photoshop CC2014. It is designed to specifically improve the quality, and reduce the time it takes to save images for Facebook.
One of the best features of the panel is that your original document isn't effected when you choose the quality of your output. If you choose to use Resize for Maximum Quality it will resize to 2048px (to the longest edge) or 960px (to the longest edge) when you choose Normal Quality. You also have the ability to add and confirm your copyright information to your file.
Being a Facebook user, you also have easier options to create profile pictures and cover photos. This is a serious add-on for any user of Facebook.
The Official Features Include:
Creates a merged duplicate before doing any resizing, so that you do not accidentally overwrite your original file.
Resizes the image without sharpening! Separate buttons to sharpen for a better result.
No input needed! Simply press the buttons and it will do all the hard work for you.
‘Add Noise’ button to help with banding.
Create header and profile images with ease.
Warns you if you forgot to set a copyright on the image.
Easily edit the copyright information.
Separate setting for JPEGmini software – If you are hardcore serious about image quality, this is a must!
Facebook Power Tools
DISCLAMIER NOTICE:
We are neither affiliated nor endorsed by Facebook. These tools are provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non infringement. In no event shall the author or copyright holders be liable for any claim, damages, or other liability, whether in an action of contract, tort, or otherwise, arising from, out of or in connection with the software or the use or other dealings in the software.
WHAT IS BLEND IF?
One of most overlooked features of Photoshop is the Advanced Blending options and the Blend If sliders. The Blend If sliders are located in the Layer Style dialog box - right click on any layer and select Blending Options. Blend If sliders can be used to either remove the information from the current layer selected This Layer - or bring up information from the Underlying Layer. The adjustments are similar to those of a Levels Adjustment Layer 0-255 (256 levels of information) from shadows to highlights
HOW DO I USE BLEND IF?
If you move the shadow marker (right) or highlight marker (left) you will partially remove or separate what information is to be used or affected in the adjustment. In the illustration below I have moved the shadow slider to a value of 42; meaning that the information between 0-42 levels can be seen. It is represented as an absolute value (showing defined pixel edges).
To create a smoother transition (gradient) of information, you can split the Blend If sliders. Press ALT or Option + Click on either side of the slider separate the marker. In the illustration below I split the shadow marker between values 42-62. This has feathered the transition only affecting those values.
Targeting Highlights Only:
This Blend If split is now ignoring the Shadows and only targeting the adjustment to the Highlights and Midtones.
Targeting Shadows Only:
This Blend If split is now ignoring the both the Highlights and Shadows and only effecting the Midtones
This Blend If split is now ignoring the Highlights and only targeting the adjustment to the Shadows and Midtones.
Targeting Midtones Only:
Here is an action set I have made for Blend If, it can be used on any layer or adjustment. I personally use it with a range of adjustments of Contrast or Sharpening as I can effect Highlights, Shadows or Midtones independently.
OVERVIEW:
A typical issue that photographers face when capturing digital images is limited dynamic range of DSLR cameras. We always have to choose between which detail we would like to keep, and which detail will unfortunately be lost. If you choose to expose for the highlights – the shadow detail may be compromised. Likewise, if you choose to expose for the shadows – the highlights may get overexposed and you’ll end up capturing no detail in the brightest parts of the image.
This is a quick tip that will show you how you can enhance and retain the light and dark information within an image.
Typically this is used for landscape photography, however can be applied to any type of image. This technique enables you to adjust the contrast of the scene to try and reflect your initial vision, to show “why” you decided to capture this image in the first place.
Feel free to download and view the PSD file of the photo above:
From Dropbox
From Google Drive
HOW DO YOU USE APPLY IMAGE?
Follow these steps to add contrast and drama to your image:
1. Duplicate your background layer: press Ctrl + J or Command + J on a Mac.
2. Select “Apply Image…” from the Image menu:
Now depending on the image at hand you will have a few adjustment options.
HOW TO CLOSE DOWN HIGHLIGHT DETAIL:
With this particular adjustment, you are darkening the image, specifically targeting the highlight detail within the image.
Change the blending mode in the Apply Image dialogue box to Multiply.
HOW TO OPEN UP SHADOW DETAIL:
With this adjustment, you are lightening the image, targeting the shadows in the image.
Change the blending mode in the Apply Image dialogue box to Screen.
HOW TO ADD CONTRAST:
With this adjustment, you are darkening the shadows and brightening the highlights, in other words, adding contrast. Change the blending mode of the Apply Image dialogue box to Overlay or Soft Light, depending on how much contrast you wish to introduce.
QUICK TIP:
All of these adjustments can be refined using Blend If slider. If you are unfamiliar with Blend If you should check out my Photoshop 101: How to use Blend If Article
You can apply each or some of these adjustments as separate layers and then selectively mask out the areas where you wish those specific effects to be shown. For example, for the image above, I used two Apply Image layers for the highlights and one for contrast. This is a simple, yet very effective way to adjust either the contrast or specifically target the shadow or highlight information.
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.
Open your Action palette (drop down menu) and select “Button mode”. This will allow you to instantly play each Action as a button.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Insert “Purge” command to reduce History states or memory issues when creating large and complex Actions: Photoshop > Edit > Purge > choose Histories or All
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.
Set – Choose the set which contains the Action you’d like to run
Action – Choose the Action you’d like to run for the batch
Source – Specify files you’d like to process
Choose – Choose the folder containing the source files
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).
Include All Subfolders – Process files in all folders within the specified source folder
Suppress File Open Options Dialogs – Do not show File Open Options Dialogs
Suppress Color Profile Warnings – Do not show Color Profile Warnings
Destination – Final Destination of processed files; Save and Close or to a specific folder.
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
Choose – Specify name and location for Droplet file
Set – Choose the set which contains the Action you’d like to run
Action – Choose the Action for the droplet
Override Action Commands – Use source files when opening (select this option if your Action contains “open” commands. The open commands will be ignored).
Include All Subfolders – Droplet will process all folders and subfolders within the chosen one
Suppress File Open Options Dialogs - Do not show File Open Options Dialogs
Suppress Color Profile Warnings - Do not show Color Profile Warnings
Destination – Final Destination of processed files; Save and Close or to a specific folder
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
