PP Tips 24 - Using 'Masks' In Photoshop

This is part of a 'How To' series on post process work.

This one deals with some techniques to create masks in Photoshop, and how to then apply editing steps with/within the masks.

There are several techniques to accomplish this, and I am simply showing some of them.

I have made an overview using several different images, and using different styles of masking for different purposes. As it will be difficult to see the process steps here, I have created a PDF file which can be downloaded - Click here

Due to its size, the document is in four sections. The above link will take you to part one and all the other parts can then be downloaded from there.

Please download and, above all, enjoy.

For reference, here are a couple of the original 'as-shot' images followed by the image as edited using the techniques as described.

In this first one, the idea was to completely remove the background to create a 'clipping mask'.


The original image.

The completed image.

With this next one, the goal was to balance shadows and highlights.

The original image.

The completed image.

Hope you find it helpful.


Cheers


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For other posts in this series, please click here

PP Tips 23 - Simple Photoshop Black And White Technique

This is part of a 'How To' series on post process work.

This one deals with a technique to convert a colour image to a black and white one, using some of the tools in Photoshop.

There are many techniques to accomplish this, and to accomplish different effects, this is just one of them.

I have made a very quick overview of a couple of image edits using this technique. As it will be difficult to see the process steps here, I have created a PDF file which can be downloaded - Click here

Please download and, above all, enjoy.

For reference, here is one of the original 'as-shot' images followed by the image as edited using the technique.

Hope you find it helpful.


Cheers


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For other posts in this series, please click here

PP Tips 21 - Using A Provia Curve And Sharpening Action

This is part of a 'How To' series on post process work.

I came across a set of film simulation curves for Photoshop a while ago. One of the curves was to simulate Provia film and I have since used this quite extensively with some of my images.

One of the things I then did, was to add my sharpening routine to it and created an action called 'Provia + DLSharp 2'.

I have made a very quick overview of an image edit using this action. As it will be difficult to see the process steps here, I have created a PDF file which can be downloaded - Click here

Please download and, above all, enjoy.


For reference, here is the original 'as-shot' image followed by the image edited using the action.

Other posts in this series - Click here for the index page.


Cheers


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FujiFilm F200 EXR - Velvia On Velvia

Went for a walk the other night and I was playing around with shooting my F200 EXR at ISO 1600 (Auto) and using Velvia film simulation. This was in P Mode, M Fine, DR 200% and minus 0.33 EV. Pretty much my normal settings except for the ISO 1600 and Velvia parts.

As I was processing them, I decided to apply a small amount of exposure and noise adjustment in ACR and, once opened in Photoshop, I used a Curve adjustment to apply a 'Velvia' curve. Once that was done, I applied my normal sharpening routine. With some I also used 'Despeckle' on parts of the image for some localised noise control.

I did not write the Velvia curve preset, but downloaded it from where it is available on another site. It is here. Have a look at the bottom of the page. There are also presets available for Provia and Portra. Details about the sharpening action are here

Anyway, this is what I came out with. Simply in chronological order. The ISO's range from ISO 200 to 1600 with a little over half shot at ISO 1600.

Enjoy.

Since posting this, I have adopted a different approach to the noise reduction routine. Rather than reposting them all, I'll shoot some new ones and do a walk-through of the edit process when I post them.

However, here is just the last one re-done.

Cheers


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PP Tips 17 - Paint It Black

This is part of a 'How To' series on post process work.

This tip is about using the Vivid Light brush in Photoshop. Similar technique would probably work in any editor which has a paint brush palette where a 'lightening' effect can be applied.

The Vivid Light brush is is one of my favourite tools and is invaluable for adding some extra light, or even darkening parts of an image selectively. In other words, doing localised contrast adjustment.


Image one

This is the original image which I wish to adjust. It is straight from camera.

Image Two

Selecting the paint brush tool from the tools palette, I next select a brush type (soft), and then set the size I wish to use, use the drop down to select Vivid Light, the colour I wish to use and the level of Opacity.

So, my settings are soft brush, Vivid Light, white colour, 380 pixels, Opacity = 5%.

Note : Opacity of 5% is a good all round setting. You can always paint over an area more than once

I have a preset for these values (AA Vivid Light 380) and this is easy to add to the brush menu.

Image Three

Here, I have simply used my 'white' brush to paint over parts of the harvester and also any grass areas. I have avoided the sky and also the bags in the foreground.

Image Four

Having lightened parts of the image, I have now switched my brush colour to black, and painted over the tops of the bags and the grass at the right foreground.

Image Five

Switching back to the white brush, I have now painted over the tops of the bags and some of the grass next to the bags.

What this has done is to create some more localised contrast around the top of the bags.

Well, that's it. Finished.


Image Six

The original, again.

Image Seven

The adjusted image.

Image Eight

The original left, and adjusted image at right.

Hope you found it helpful.


Note : You can use any colour, not just white or black. For example, you may wish to use orange to add lightness, or glow, in areas in a sunset scene. Always good to experiment


Update 26th December - Here are a couple more examples, using the same technique.


Image One

Original image from camera.

Image Two

What I have done here is to do one brush sweep of black over the sky, mountain, tree areas, and then one pass of white.

For the foreground, I have used a couple of passes of white, and then one pass of black, and one more of white. Nothing else was done.

Image Three

The original left, and adjusted at right.

Image Four

The original image, as shot.

Image Five

What I have done here is to do several passes over different areas, simply using white or black. As a final step, I did a pass over the sky area with blue, and a pass over the mountain area with a red/orange shade.

Image Six

The original left, and adjusted at right.

Cheers

Other posts in this series - Click here for the index page.


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