how do you remember what you've done in photoshop?

11/01/2010 11:23:51 AM · #1

So, I took a massively large amount of photos for the wildlife challenge. I started writing down my editing steps for the first couple that I edited, because I liked them very much. After a few, I stopped writing down the steps. It was taking far too long.

Of course, I entered a photo for which I didn't write down the steps. It's easy to see the curves, hue/sat, etc. I was smart enough to duplicate the layers when I did some sharpening. But I have a layer that I duplicated and called "burn", but I obviously had done some sponge tool saturation on it as well.

How do you keep track of your editing?

11/01/2010 11:29:23 AM · #2

Edit> preferences > general> history log

It saves in metadata by default; you also have the option of saving this stuff to a text file in a location of your specification, or both. When I am using it, I save both. The text file is what you'd append if asked to list your editing steps for validation.

R.

Message edited by author 2010-11-01 11:32:02.

SaraR

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM

11/01/2010 11:34:36 AM · #3

Doesn't that only record the last 50 steps (so if you do say dodge/burn strokes, or erase or whatever, that could eat up most of the recorded history) - or is there a way to set it to record everything?

11/01/2010 11:39:33 AM · #4

Originally posted by SaraR:

No, that's the history palette. This is the history "log", it's a text file that lists all the steps you make whilst editing, in excruciating detail. By default, it's not turned on. You can't use it to revert to a previous state or anything, like you can with the history palette; it's just a record of what you've done.

R.

SaraR

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM

11/01/2010 11:45:55 AM · #5

Ah, learnt something new! Now to work out how to turn the facility on.

11/01/2010 11:50:24 AM · #6

I have turned that on, and when I read it -- it's a bunch of gobbledegook that doesn't really make that much sense. However, if I can append that with the validation file, instead of listing everything, that is truly incredible!

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/01/2010 11:56:28 AM · #7

Originally posted by vawendy:

... it's a bunch of gobbledegook that doesn't really make that much sense....

How about posting the first 20-30 lines and let's see if there's a key to understanding the report?

11/01/2010 11:59:02 AM · #8

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by vawendy:
... it's a bunch of gobbledegook that doesn't really make that much sense....

How about posting the first 20-30 lines and let's see if there's a key to understanding the report?

I turned it on about 3 months ago, and found it then. I just started looking for it again when Bear mentioned it -- but I can't seem to remember where it is stored.

11/01/2010 12:02:04 PM · #9

Just click the "save as text" button and it will show the location you've chosen to save to; that's where to find 'em.

Sara, you turn it on in the PS menu: edit> preferences> general> history log (click button).

R.

SaraR

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM

11/01/2010 12:03:27 PM · #10

TQ, Bear!

11/01/2010 12:09:26 PM · #11

Ok -- found it. I just looked under file->file info history instead. It's actually making more sense now. (I looked at an easy one)

which brings up another point -- in looking at the file I just submitted for validation -- I realized that I forgot a step. But I can't get back to the screen to send things in for validation. Can I get back to that? Or do I have to submit a separate ticket to relay the step I had forgotten?

11/01/2010 12:19:50 PM · #12

Seems to me I recall that ALL your edits are stored in the same log; in other words, each time you open an image and start working, it adds a new "chapter" to the existing log. You can start a new log anytime by specifying a new location; but you'd want to do it before you opened the file on which you were about to work. And then everything you ever worked on from then on would be saved to this new log, until you changed it to yet another location, or file name.

R.

11/01/2010 12:22:13 PM · #13

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

yup -- that's one of the obnoxious things about it -- that's why it's nice that you can go into file - file info - history. Then you're just seeing the history for that one file.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/01/2010 12:30:02 PM · #14

Originally posted by vawendy:

which brings up another point -- in looking at the file I just submitted for validation -- I realized that I forgot a step. But I can't get back to the screen to send things in for validation. Can I get back to that? Or do I have to submit a separate ticket to relay the step I had forgotten?

I suggest just sending in a ticket -- it will take less time than figuring out another way.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/01/2010 12:32:37 PM · #15

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

You can start a new log anytime by specifying a new location; but you'd want to do it before you opened the file on which you were about to work. And then everything you ever worked on from then on would be saved to this new log, until you changed it to yet another location, or file name.

R.

In which case it might be a good idea to create a new one each month or other suitable time period, to keep the log file relatively small and organized.

I don't think my usual ancient version of PS has this feature ... :-(

JustCaree

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

11/01/2010 01:11:34 PM · #16

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:
You can start a new log anytime by specifying a new location; but you'd want to do it before you opened the file on which you were about to work. And then everything you ever worked on from then on would be saved to this new log, until you changed it to yet another location, or file name.

R.

In which case it might be a good idea to create a new one each month or other suitable time period, to keep the log file relatively small and organized.

I don't think my usual ancient version of PS has this feature ... :-(

thats ok I dont think Paintshop has it either :(

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/01/2010 01:49:14 PM · #17

Originally posted by vawendy:

How do you keep track of your editing?

For challenge entries I always write the steps into the "additional info" section at the time of submission, which is almost always right after I've finished editing, so I can remember the steps. For non-challenge entries I rarely bother to keep track, though I keep a PS file with layers so it is largely there to be reconstructed; sometimes, but not often I've regretted not remembering more detail about how an image was edited.

BTW, this is an excellent reason to always edit at full-size ... there's nothing more frustrating than editing a downsized image (to save time, storage, to "experiment first" or whatever) and achieving a wonderful result, which you are then unable to recreate on the fill-sized image ... :-(

PS: Remember to hit the "Save" command often during editing!

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/01/2010 02:04:34 PM · #18

RE: how do you remember what you've done in photoshop?

Regression Hypnosis.

Jedusi

11/01/2010 02:17:41 PM · #19

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

RE: how do you remember what you've done in photoshop?

Regression Hypnosis.

That's ok - but what if the hypnotherapist implants false memories deliberately in a Machiavellian scheme to get you DQ'd ?

Ever think of that Mr Artypants Roflmao ?

:- P

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/01/2010 02:18:19 PM · #20

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

RE: how do you remember what you've done in photoshop?

Regression Hypnosis.

I just heard a story that Keith Richard used to sleep with his guitar and a tape recorder next to the bed. One morning he woke up to find that "something" had been recorded during the night -- the riff which eventually became (I Can't Get No)Satisfaction -- probably their all-time #1 song ...

There's also a story of a scientist -- sorry, can't remember exactly who -- who slept with a pad and pencil next to the bed, in case he had any ideas during the night. One night he had an idea for an experiment, woke up enough to write it down, and went happily back to sleep. Of course, the next morning he couldn't read a word of what he'd written. That night, just as he was falling asleep, the same idea came to him. Taking no chances this time, he went in his PJ's down to the lab in his basement and performed the experiment right then.