Hello
Hello, I'm ~
KsouthV2 (primary acc.) [~
ksouth (4yr old acc)], and I'm a photography resources mod. I figured I'd write an article/blog to try and help people out.
*This was written based off photoshop CS2. Most of this should apply to versions as early as photoshop 7. This also applies to Elements I think.
**All the images in this were taken by meHotkeys/Shortcuts
Although not needed, having shortcuts will definitely improve your workflow. Here's some I use regularly:
New LayerMy work with wallpapers and such normally requires multiple layers. A lot easier than going to the layer panel every time just to add a new clear layer
Apply imageThis can be found through Image>Apply image. What this does is make a duplicated layer of everything in your window. What I mean by this is that, with using duplicate layer, you'll only get the last layer duplicated. However with this, this will duplicate all layers, and compress them into a single layer. Before I found this out I would normally just make a new layer than close stamp the whole thing. It's best to do this on a NEW LAYER and not on a PRE-USED layer
Duplicate layerSelf explanatory
**Also, remember the shortcuts for undo and redo. CTRL+Z will only redo one action. CTRL+ALT+Z will redo multiple actions. Same goes for CTRL+Y and CTRL+ALT+Y (unless you changed these, these are the default)
Adjustment layers
These can be found through new layer>New adjustment layer. This is more or less the same as doing Image>Adjustments, with the exception that it's a lot easier to delete/correct if you mess up. Here's some I regularly use:
Levels
A lot of people like using curves. However, I'm a levels guy. With curves your restricted to that...curve. With levels you can correct darkness a lot better and give your photo's a faded effect.
Color balance
This is my saving grace. When I want to give my photo's that extra "umph!" (yes I really just typed that), this is my go-to adjustment. For shadows i'll normally use cool colors like blue's and purple's. For highlights i'll use warm color's like yellow/orange/red.
Selective color
If you want Adobe Lightroom but don't have the $, this might be the next best thing. This lets you change individual colors and gives you more control over highlights (white) and shadows (black)
Gradient Map
Nomally I'll do this, then set the blending mode to Lighten to give my photo's a washed out effect (just a warning, groups don't really like that as they don't know you've done it on purpose)
Photo filter
If i don't like the temperature in a photo (too blue/too orange) I'll normally use this to offset it
**And in case you guys have After effects, color balance and levels can also be applied to videoLens flares and Lighting
These can be found through Filter>Render. I'll sometimes try and sneak a lens flare into my photo's just to give it some more impact. The way I do these (as they can't be applied to clear/opaque) layers is do Apply image to duplicate the image. Then I'll put the lens flare somewhere where there's a light source (lamp/sun/etc...) For lighting, I like using Soft Omni.
Real lens glare |
Fake lens glare
Blending Modes
Feel that your photo's a little bland! Look no further! It's blending modes!
*Remember, I'm using CS2. If I remember correctly CS5 had a few more blending modesNormalDefault blending mode
DissolveWill turn the layer into a really pixelated,spread out layer. Never been a big fan of this mode
DarkenAny dark spots will remain in the photo. All the light spots will disappear. Think of it as a stencil mode of sorts.
<MultiplyThe equivalent to a lower exposure. Great for washed out sky's. Not so great for things with hard shadows.
Color burnSame as multiply, except with more vibrance, and harsher dark spots
Linear burnLinear burn + Multiply combined
LightenOpposite of darken. However, the layer underneath will try and fill the dark spots of your current layer instead of the dark spots disappearing
ScreenSame as a longer exposure/More bright
Color DodgeAll light spots become much brighter, remaining dark spots become vivid
Linear DodgeDumbed down version of color dodge
OverlayLights become lighter. Dark spots become darker. Midtones get more color. Great for washed out photo's/Bland photo's.
Soft LightSlightly lighter darks than overlay. Much darker lights than overlay. Think overlay but a little less.
Hard LightExcept in rare cases, the same as overlay
Vivid lightLike color dodge except more vibrant and less over exposure
Linear lightSlightly lighter version of vivid light
Pin lightLike darkner/lighten, except it keeps midtones.
Hard mixVivid light on acid/Over vibrant version.
DifferenceCreates a neon-esque effect in some cases.
ExclusionEquivalent of inverting the colors.
HueKeeps lights and darks, turns midtones into the color(s) of the blended layer
SaturationVaries. Don't really use this that much for a detailed explanation. When applied to a gradient map works better than hue sometimes
ColorUnlike hue, turns the whole image into the color(s) of the blended layer.
LuminosityLike saturation, this varies. Sometimes results in a washed out effect
Photography Websites
DPS[link]This is the website that's taught me almost everything about photography. This website features photography tutorials and tips like composition all the way to camera reviews and lens choice help. (It also lead to my fetish for landscape photography
)
NYIP[link]It's kind of wierd for a college to have photo help right on their website, but NYIP (thankfully) does it. Great how-to articles written by pro's
Programs
PhotoshopIndustry standard when it comes to photo manipulation. The only bad thing about it is the steep price.
GIMPFree to use software which I used extensively for about 5 years before switching to photoshop. Great free alternative.
Paint.netAnother free alternative to photoshop.
(Adobe) Lightroom 3The only reason I prefer 3 (over 2) is because of the insane noise reduction feature. A photo I took with an ISO of 6400 had no noise after I tampered with it. Also, it's functionality with RAW formats is great.I'd even say that if you mainly shoot in raw and don't do alot of photomanipulation,go for Lightroom over Photoshop
Fonts
Calibri (Microsoft Word 2010 default)
[link]Really great,easy to read, sleek, font
Helvetica (Advertising standard)
[link]Somewhat costly but well worth it. Netflix had a documentary about it, and from there I fell in love with it
Georgia
[link]Times New Roman, but much better
Images Formats
RAWAlthough briefly discussed earlier, I feel like it's worth mentioning again. I prefer RAW (or RAW+JPEG) over non-RAW format's due to the editing flexibility. With JPEG you lose a lot of camera data after the photo's been taken, and are restricted. With RAW formats however, you can reset the exposure, white balance, and more at your leisure.
Different types of RAW formats
Via
[link] .DNG (Adobe).CR2 / .CRW (Canon)
.MOS (CREO)
.RAF (Fujifilm)
.K25 / .KDC / .DCR (Kodak)
.PXN (Logitech)
.MEF (Mamiya)
.MRW (Minolta)
.NEF (Nikon)
.RAW (Panasonic)
.PEF (Pentax)
.TIF (Phaseone)
.TIFF / .TIF / .PEF (Samsung)
.SRF / .SR2 / .ARW (Sony)
.ORF (Olympus)
Opening RAW in photoshop
Camera Raw update [link]Different version for different version of Photoshop and newer camera's
Adobe DNG Converter[link]Converts the RAW to DNG format I guess
(Joint Photographic Experts Group)
The format you see everyday
JPEG 2000A better but more uncommon version of JPEG. Used professionally.
EXIFNormally included within JPEG, this is what tells you all the details of the photo (shutter/aperture/date and time)
TIFF (Tagged image file format)
Basically one notch down than RAW file's, although not as well supported.
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
Doesn't keep detail well, but is the only format that accepts animation
PNG Portable Networks Graphic
Successor to GIF. I've found it to hold more quality than JPEG, and it supports transparency
BMP (Windows Bitmap)
Very common for windows, along with some internet photo's
PPM, PGM, PBM, PNMUsed for ASCII
WEBPDeveloped by google, the hopeful-successor to JPEG as it loads faster
CGM (Computer Graphics Metafile)
Used for vectors.
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
Also used for vectors. Used more than CGM.
!!!!!!!
...my fingers are hurting from formatting all that. I can only imagine how ~
KsouthV2's fingers feel lol. It took me an hour to format, I can only imagine how long it took him to actually type all that ><
-~
SL-Photography
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