Use of Camera Raw Processor
See screencast on Stunik of this software.
Can do much of what we could do in Photoshop.
Accessing software interface
Shoot in Raw and double-click image in Photoshop Bridge or right-click JPEG to access Camera Raw Processor (but there are fewer adjustment options). I can shoot in Raw for better editing, but I will have to change file format after I'm happy.
Inspecting an image
Use Zoom tool to inspect photo
Handtool, moves image around for inspection
Preferences - make sure I can open shots in JPEG, TIFF and RAW.
Some problems detected
Digital Noise - speckles, related to ISO sensitivity ie turn up the ISO in lower light conditions and it becomes grainy.
Distorted lines - through use of wide-angle lens.
Chromatic aberrations - light splits into prisms when it hits surfaces, especially corners
Level of Detail - use Colour sampler to take readings from shadows, mid-tone, highlights and use numbers to see what the level of detail is - is it too low? Looking for mid-range numbers?
These sort of issues are usually a problem unless deliberately employed (or happy chance!) as an asthetic concern or if image will only be used at lower resolution.
Some tools
Cropping and straightening tools to adjust crocked image or remove unwanted edges.
Spot removal and red-eye - removes, at pixel level, things I don't want in the image.
Local adjustment - I can adjust colour, exposure etc in a local level
Histogram
On the RHS is a histogram of the image and a number of other tools to adjust the image.
More options in RAW format.
White balance - colour temperature of entire shot. Add space - cooler tones, remove space - warmer tones.
Exposure - move the slider and the histogram values moves the pixels left or right. Might drag Fill light down to increase detail...
Clarity - what exactly is it? Some combination of Saturation, Hue, Vibrance....can enhance image overall.
Hue/Saturation/Lumenisence - like mixing paints, can alter each colour. eg Hue might make the colouring more autumnal
After these adjustments - click File Open and Photoshop will open.
Photoshop - changing appearances
In our interests to get the shot correct rather than correcting the shot in Photoshop.
Correct wide-angle-distortion (eg if lines are important)
Drag down guides to check lines.
Select Filter, Distort, Lens correction.
Use slider tools allow to correct the perspective of vertical and horizontal lines.
Need to use guides and crop tool to account for the change in the canvas.
Colour Sampler (eye-dropper tool)
Take four readings in highlights, mid-tones and shadows.
Tells me the level of detail in each area and, therefore, how it will display eg areas that are too bright.
Image, adjustments and Levels (histogram box of combined RGB channels).
Look for any problems - select each channel. Where there are gaps in ends of histogram on each channel drag slider in and click OK. Removes colour casts. This is the only time we need to edit pixels.
Layers, New Adjustment Layers
Makes adjustments in tone, colour etc on a mask on top of the entire image without editing the pixels. That means I can remove bits of the mask locally if I choose.
Curves
Use Zone System - hold down Cntrl key. 0 = black, 25 = tone appears
Hit black swatch and pick up paintbrush and can then make local changes. So most of image could be warm, but a single window cool.
Can adjust only shadows or highlights, depending on which part of the curve I move.
Levels
Adjust contrast, brightness etc of whole image.
Black and White
Better to shoot in colour and then use a layer in black and white and, for instance, selectively reveal colour.
Hue and Saturation
Can adjust one or more colour making it more or less saturated (pop out more or recede).
Edge Sharpening (to take account of the digital guesswork at the pixel level)
Is the image crisp? Depends on size.
Duplicate the layer - Layer, Duplicate layer and OK
Click on Filter, Other, High Pass
Edges are shown clearly in solarised version of image.
Use slider to increase sharpness and click OK.
On Layers palette choose Blending tool: Soft Light
Then check sharpness by turning layer on and off (click eye symbol).
No comments:
Post a Comment