photo editing thread

[pontifex]

Can we get an official photo editing thread where everyone posts what they do to make their pics look better?

Maybe get some tutorials or something?

 

[Anubis]

auto levels are not always good

before
http://www.rootminus1.com/stuff/alexample1.jpg

after
http://www.rootminus1.com/stuff/alexample2.jpg

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Anubis
auto levels are not always good

before
http://www.rootminus1.com/stuff/alexample1.jpg

after
http://www.rootminus1.com/stuff/alexample2.jpg

i actually like the edited pic better.

 

[pennylane]

What do you guys think of this tutorial?

Also, what format do you save your finished pictures in? Do you have a lossless and lossy version? If you use JPEG, what "quality" do you use?

 

[pennylane]

bump because I want to know what good people do

 

[corkyg]

I process thousands of pictures annually. Usually burn them onto DVDs as slide shows with labels, music, etc. These are always at max JPG resolution the camera is capable of. I archive all images onto a pair of HDDs (duplicates.) For email, I use what ever gets each picture down to 100 KB or less. Usually 800 x 600 works fine.

In general, except for special effects, I ascribe to the theory that good photography requires very little editing - usually lightening or darkening depending on light conditions.

 

[troytime]

there's no predetermined steps in post processing usually...it really depends on the photo.

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: pontifex
<blockquote>quote:
Originally posted by: Anubis
auto levels are not always good

before
http://www.rootminus1.com/stuff/alexample1.jpg

after
http://www.rootminus1.com/stuff/alexample2.jpg</blockquote>

i actually like the edited pic better.

Same here...but it depends on what effect that Anubis is going for (beauty is in the eye of the beholder)

 

[scott916]

Benjamin Kanarek has a great workflow method that will give you a good idea on what settings to use to make your shots really pop.

 

[pennylane]

Originally posted by: scott916
Benjamin Kanarek has a great workflow method that will give you a good idea on what settings to use to make your shots really pop.

He recommends unsharpen mask of:
Amount: from 240 to 330 percent
Radius: 0.3 pixels
Threshold: 0 level

Followed by another unsharpen mask of:
Amount: from 10 to 15 percent
Radius: 40-60 pixels
Threshold: 0 level

Then duplicate layers and either desaturate the new layer through soft light blending of 50-80% or leave it as it is.


I'll try that out. I was hoping for more situation specific tips like that in this thread.
"To get a medium-format film look, do this."
"To emphasize blacks, do this."

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: fanerman91

Originally posted by: scott916
Benjamin Kanarek has a great workflow method that will give you a good idea on what settings to use to make your shots really pop.

To sharpen the fine detail in the picture:
He recommends unsharpen mask of:
Amount: from 240 to 330 percent
Radius: 0.3 pixels
Threshold: 0 level

To give overall "pop" to the image. You can increase the amount for even more pop if desired.
Followed by another unsharpen mask of:
Amount: from 10 to 15 percent
Radius: 40-60 pixels
Threshold: 0 level

Soft Light
Then duplicate layers and either desaturate the new layer through soft light blending of 50-80% or leave it as it is.

Bolded are the rationales for the steps and a link for Soft Light Blending.

 

[scott916]

Originally posted by: fanerman91
I'll try that out. I was hoping for more situation specific tips like that in this thread.
"To get a medium-format film look, do this."
"To emphasize blacks, do this."

He posts quite frequently on the photo.net and steves-digicams pentax forums, he's always giving PP suggestions.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: fanerman91
What do you guys think of this tutorial?

Also, what format do you save your finished pictures in? Do you have a lossless and lossy version? If you use JPEG, what "quality" do you use?

I keep copies of the unedited RAW files from my camera, I then have a working .psd with all my changes, but with NO sharpening applied. From that file I generate .JPGs or whatever else, making sure to size the image properly before sharpening it for final output

 

[benjikan]

Originally posted by: scott916
Benjamin Kanarek has a great workflow method that will give you a good idea on what settings to use to make your shots really pop.

Thanks for the compliment...

Benjamin Kanarek