editing techniques - DPChallenge Forums

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

12/04/2003 11:25:06 AM · #1

with the December rules experiment, it might be good to get some tutorials or discussions together on best practices for:

Spot removal/ editing techniques
clone tool, healing brush, smudge tools

Selective masking
mask creation techniques (lasso, magic wand, brushes, quick masking, gradient masking)

Contrast/ luminance masking
Using the image to start the selection

Filtering mask layers
(Gaussian blurring, USM on masks, Maximise/ minimise filters)

Selective tonal range adjustments

Selective channel mixing

Creative split and multi-toning

Dyanmic range extension
Depth of field extension (last two not dpc legal)

These are all the fairly fundamental techniques used for realistic photo finishing that I've come across - any others people want to share/ talk about ?

Message edited by author 2003-12-04 11:26:01.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

12/04/2003 11:28:42 AM · #2

One thing I have been very unsuccessful with is adding realistic looking grain to an image.

goodtempo

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

12/04/2003 11:29:59 AM · #3

I'd like to learn more about any of the masking techniques you mentioned and most of the others.

TooCool

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

12/04/2003 11:38:37 AM · #4

OK...This may sound dumb, but I'd like some help on making selections. Good ways to use the pen tools, using the magic wand to get EVERYTHING you want selected, adding to and subtracting from selections, using 'paths' to make selections, etc. (get the picture?)

Edit: And while I'm at it, how do you add a selection from one layer to a mask on another layer? What do all those damn blending options REALLY do? Is there a way to replace totally a selection with a color of your choice (and how?)

I know that you CAN do a LOT with ps, but HOW????

Message edited by author 2003-12-04 11:42:56.

TooCool

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

12/04/2003 11:45:29 AM · #5

Originally posted by Gordon:

Dyanmic range extension
Depth of field extension (last two not dpc legal)

Are they with the new (temp) rules?

12/04/2003 11:48:45 AM · #6

Originally posted by TooCool:

Originally posted by Gordon:
Dyanmic range extension
Depth of field extension (last two not dpc legal)

Are they with the new (temp) rules?

Nope. They both require multiple shots of the same thing, one varying exposure, the other varying focal point.

TooCool

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

12/04/2003 11:49:37 AM · #7

Originally posted by Gordon:

Originally posted by TooCool:
Originally posted by Gordon:
Dyanmic range extension
Depth of field extension (last two not dpc legal)

Are they with the new (temp) rules?

Nope. They both require multiple shots of the same thing, one varying exposure, the other varying focal point.

My next question was is DOF extension POSSIBLE! :-P

kosmikkreeper

Nikon D300s

12/04/2003 11:55:29 AM · #8

Originally posted by goodtempo:

I'd like to learn more about any of the masking techniques you mentioned and most of the others.

I'm with you on this one! I know nothing about masks and I would love a tutorial on it!

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/04/2003 11:56:33 AM · #9

Masks, selections and alpha channels (and to a lesser extent paths) are all just different versions of the same thing.

As such they can be changed back and forth into each other. A couple of key concepts there:

A normal image is made up of 3 channels (red, green and blue)

An alpha channel is another 256 level greyscale channel, that can be used to select areas, or mask layers. You can do everything to a channel that you can do to a normal image channel. This includes filtering it, making selections on it, painting it with brushes, doing gradient fills. This is a key idea.

You can also use existing channels (or combinations of channels) in an image, and turn that straight into an alpha channel. This can give a great starting point for a selection - without having to draw everything from scratch, or try to use lassos or magic wands from scratch.

When making a selection, I try hard to make the image do the selection, rather than starting with the selection tools.

So. I look at the image, and examine the thing I want to select. I try and work out what is different about it, compared to the background. Figure/ ground/ negative/ positive relationships also need to be considered. For example: selecting a complex, multi-coloured object can be really difficult. If that object is on a single colour, solid background, it makes more sense to select the background, and invert it. So find the easiest thing to select.

Then, identify what is different about it - it could be colour (chromakeying) it could be tone (bright vs dark) or it could be a regular shape (architectural things, etc)

From this, I choose my masking approach:

Colour : use select: colour range or the magic wand tools.

Tone: look at the R, G and B channels to see which is the clearest version of the image. Turn that channel into a mask (drag the channel to the [ O ] icon in channels. Then turn that selection into an alpha channel (save selection). Directly edit the channel (select/ highlight it) and filter it (adjust contrast/ thresholds with curves, filter to smooth (gaussian blur) or sharpen (USM). Then edit with brushes to tidy up (smooth/ hard brushes depending on feature)

Structure: Use the various lasso tools, or pen tools, or shape based selection tools to build the selection.

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

12/04/2003 11:59:02 AM · #10

Originally posted by TooCool:

My next question was is DOF extension POSSIBLE! :-P

Yes, with some effort. See this article.

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

12/04/2003 12:09:39 PM · #11

Originally posted by TooCool:

My next question was is DOF extension POSSIBLE! :-P

Yes, it is pretty trivial, for near/far relationships (i.e, you've got something close in the foreground and something far away)

You can make it as arbitrarily complex as you want, but in principle it is as simple as extending dynamic range.

The hardest things are : registration (easy if you use a tripod, hard if you don't) and mask creation (although that can be relatively easy as mentioned in an early post - it just takes some practice)

Message edited by author 2003-12-04 12:10:49.

tolovemoon

Canon EOS Rebel SL1

12/04/2003 12:19:18 PM · #12

This guy is awesome! Referred by techtv show The Screen Savers or Call For Help! //www.bertmonroy.com/
or try Alex Lindsay he will even fix a photo for you if your having trouble learning the process lots of tips and tutors here!

//dvgarage.com/

Alex Lindsay on Call for Help

Message edited by author 2003-12-04 12:21:11.

space amoeba

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/04/2003 12:23:04 PM · #13

I'll second this. I'd love some step-by step, high level instruction on basic photoshop techniques. In snips and bits, I've learned stuff here that made me realize that I've been doing things wrong (or, at least not as intelligently) as I could. I can only imagine there's a whole lot of things I don't know about the digital darkroom that I would sorely love to learn.

tolovemoon

Canon EOS Rebel SL1

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

12/04/2003 12:32:54 PM · #14

Originally posted by space amoeba:

Then you for sure need to check out Alex Lindsays theres even some video stream to show step by step makes it a little easier than reading. Alex Lindsay

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

12/04/2003 12:38:59 PM · #15

Originally posted by tolovemoon:

Then you for sure need to check out Alex Lindsays theres even some video stream to show step by step makes it a little easier than reading. Alex Lindsay

Is any of it about photography ? It looked like a lot of stuff for cutting and pasting images together and a load of digi art/ modeling techniques.

tolovemoon

Canon EOS Rebel SL1

12/04/2003 12:44:14 PM · #16

Is any of it about photography ? It looked like a lot of stuff for cutting and pasting images together and a load of digi art/ modeling techniques.[/quote]
Yeah scroll to the bottom of the page on that link lots of articles and stuffÂ· Photoshop Tip: Fill in Missing Details
Â· Photoshop Tip: Fix Faded Photos
Â· Photoshop FAQ
Â· Photoshop Tip: Alien Encounter
Â· Photoshop Tip: Fill in Missing Details
Â· Photoshop Tip: Curves
Â· Photoshop Tip: Remove Light Flashes
Â· Photoshop Tip: Photo Repair 101
Â· Photoshop Tip: Bluescreen
Â· Photoshop Tip: Colorize Black-and-White Photos
Â· Photoshop Tip: Understand Resolution
Â· Photoshop Tip: Sharpen Your Images
Â· Photoshop Tip: Blend Your Layers
Â· Photoshop Tip: Lighting Effects
Â· Photoshop Tip: Forge Old-Time Photos
Â· Photoshop Tip: Color Range
Â· Photoshop Tip: Cloning Basics
Â· Photoshop Tip: 'Level' Your Photos
Â· Photoshop Tip: Make Selections Like the Pros

Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS

12/04/2003 12:55:39 PM · #17

Originally posted by tolovemoon:

Is any of it about photography ? It looked like a lot of stuff for cutting and pasting images together and a load of digi art/ modeling techniques.

Yeah scroll to the bottom of the page on that link lots of articles and stuffÂ· Photoshop Tip: Fill in Missing Details[/quote]

Ahhh. Thank you. I missed those because of the huge ads before them !

coolhar

12/04/2003 01:35:06 PM · #18

I think it would be nice to remember that not all members have the same photo-editing software. Whenever possible, please try to speak in terms that are not specific to one program or another.

space amoeba

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/04/2003 02:00:52 PM · #19

Originally posted by tolovemoon:

Originally posted by space amoeba:
I'll second this. I'd love some step-by step, high level instruction on basic photoshop techniques. In snips and bits, I've learned stuff here that made me realize that I've been doing things wrong (or, at least not as intelligently) as I could. I can only imagine there's a whole lot of things I don't know about the digital darkroom that I would sorely love to learn.

Then you for sure need to check out Alex Lindsays theres even some video stream to show step by step makes it a little easier than reading. Alex Lindsay

Thanks for the tip! I'll check that out for sure...