CONCEPT

The

Photo Experience

 

Technical

Work Flow

     

Tech. Intro

 

  

1.  Make the image look like what you saw!

2.  Adjustments that you could create with the traditional chemical process.

3.  Destructive process - no adjustment layers, layers, or masks

 

SELECT RAW FILE

CONVERT TO TIFF

POST PROCESS

FRAME & BORDERS

PHOTO MECH. --->

CAPTURE NX --->

DXO --->

PHOTO SHOP --->

PHOTO DRAW

  1.  Select RAW images in PHOTO MECHANIC (Camera Bits) and copy to different drive.

  2.  Pre-process from RAW to TIFF with DXO (corrects vignetting, chromatic aberration, etc...)

  3.  Post-process in PHOTOSHOP (see below).

  4.  Add frames & borders in PHOTO DRAW (extinct).    

 

 
  PHOTOSHOP WORKFLOW:

  

1

PRELIMINARY ADJUST

       

 (layer...dup layer...image adjust....AUTO COLOR...opacity 50%...flatten)

 Image adjust....AUTO LEVELS...OK     (skip if not effective)
2

STRAIGHTEN image:

CROP image:

 Eye drop/measure tool...drag ruler...image...rotate...arbitrary

 Perspectives: 10" x 14" horizontal/vertical or 7.5 x 16 for stitched images
3  SPOT image  Use CLONE TOOL
4  DODGE & BURN

 Using CURVES:  (image...adj...curves...bend curve) (history brush)

  Tip: (curves changes color): Click HISTORY BRUSH... Mode > Luminosity
5  SELECTIVE COLOR CORRECTION    CURVES:  (image...adj...thresh) (blk & wht slider - shift/left click)  (escape) (image...adj...curves)  (left dropper click blk / right click white) (middle dropper move line to taste) 
   

 Selective: (image...adjust...HUE & SAT...edit: select color...sliders...OK)

  Tip: (repair blowout): IMAGE...ADJUST...LEVELS...Output white value: 245
6  POP - High Pass Filter  (layer...dup layer...filter...other...HIGH PASS...HARD LIGHT...flatten)
7  NOISE reduction:    (layer...dup layer...filter...Imagenomic Noiseware ... adj opacity ...flatten)
8  SHARPEN:  Nik Sharpener: (layer...dup layer...filter...opacity 30% ...flatten)  (history tool)
9 FINAL ADJUSTMENT

 Pictographics I-Correct Pro:  (auto black point / auto white point)

: Layer...dup layer...filter ... opacity...flatten)
10

 CHARACTER /

    

    STRUCTURE:

Topaz Detail:  (select 1st image upper left) 

:    (layer...dup layer...filter ... opacity...flatten)

NIK Vivesa:  
11  RESIZE - thumbnail  (file...automate...save as ...jpg... 96pxl-jpg)
       Objective  LEVELS graph should be properly positioned for the applicable image.
 
  STANDARD SIZES:

  

1

 10 X 14
2

 10 X 10
3  7.5 X 16
 
  WHEN IS AN IMAGE DONE:

  

1

 Image looks good on monitor
2

 Histogram looks good
3  Auto-levels to check if any change in image.
4a

 if prints dark - LAYER... ADJUST ... LEVELS  > middle input level = +.1     (or)
4b

 if prints dark - IMAGE ... ADJUSTMENT LAYER ... LEVELS  > SCREEN ... OK ... OK ... opacity 25-50
 
  CHEAT SHEET: (each step requires closing & reopening file)

  

- AUTO-COLOR (opacity)... AUTO LEVELS ... STRAIGHTEN ... CROP
- spot with CLONE TOOL
- dodge & burn with CURVES   (multiple times if necessary)
- pop with - HIGH PASS FILTER
- noise reduction with NOISEWARE  (opacity 50%)
- sharpen with NIC SHARPENER (opacity 30-50%) ...  BRIGHT/CONTRAST (10)
- selective color correction with HUE & SATURATION
-

adjust with PICTOGRAPHICS ICORRECT PRO
-

add structure to select flat details NIK VIVEZA   

             - character - TOPAZ VIBRANCE / DRAMATIC (opacity 20%)

             - apparent sharpness - TOPAZ DETAIL (opacity 50%)

             - color boost - NIK COLOR EFFECTS POLARIZER
  confirm exposure balance with AUTO LEVELS
- size set
 
  EXTREME CORRECTIONS:

  

   Very flat image:

 (layer...dup layer...filter...TOPAZ...VIBRANCE...30...flatten)

     (layer...dup layer...filter ... opacity...flatten)
 
  IMAGE NAME PROTOCOL:
 

Below is a file naming protocol that I use (I'm pretty sure no one else does) but it serves my requirements very nicely.  the file name is set up to provide me the information I need to know what the file is! 

  

DSC_2355                                                        

08-1210-surfing-usopen08-2355-heat1-andyirons-1-35mb-tiff

08-1210-surfing-usopen08-2355-heat1-andyirons-1-96pxl-jpg

08-1210-surfing-usopen08-2355-heat1-andyirons-1-bdr-frm-12mb-tiff

08-1210-surfing-usopen08-2355-heat1-andyirons-1-bdr-frm-100pxl-jpg

       

 
  WEB FILE NAME PROTOCOL:
 

                                        

12-surfing-usopen08-2355-heat1-andyirons-1-081210-htm