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DPChallenge Forums >> Rant >> Why is desaturation so popular?
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10/25/2003 01:30:40 PM · #1
I'm trying to understand why so many people use this technique on their challenge entries. To me, it tends to degrade the quality of the image. With billions of colors in a photo, what's the chances that you'd be able to get one pure spot of color while eliminating all the other colors while also using the rules for the challenges? If you know you want to isolate a certain feature of the photo, why don't more people try to set the shot up before they take the picture to accent that aspect? I just don't get why someone would want a splotchy image.
BTW. I like desaturation on non challenge photos, where it can be done with more control. I've used it a few times myself.
I apologize to anyone I have offended with this comment. I've just looked at too many images this morning.
10/25/2003 01:47:33 PM · #2
I like this technique when it is done with a purpose; such as atracting the eye to the subject. This is why I desaturated all but red in this one ...



Berries

Message edited by author 2003-10-25 13:48:25.
10/25/2003 01:52:51 PM · #3
I agree with Jacko. There is a time and place for it. I see it used effectively here sometimes and not others.
10/25/2003 03:05:50 PM · #4
I also think that is a very relevant technique when properly applied.

At least, I really like it when it is well done.

Jacko offered an excellent example of it.
10/25/2003 03:37:49 PM · #5
Heres one i did with desaturation.

guitar rock
10/25/2003 03:46:10 PM · #6
That is a excellent example Jacko. And I like seeing it when it is done well. But would you do it if you saw that the results created an uneven color distribution, with specks and blocks of missing information within the berries?
Anyway. Thanks for replying.
10/25/2003 04:04:04 PM · #7
Originally posted by shutterfly:

Heres one i did with desaturation.

guitar rock


Not that it matters except my own curiosity, but that's not dpc legal, is it? :)
10/25/2003 04:10:58 PM · #8
I think sometimes people are just experimenting with desaturation. I know I just learned how to do it legally recently and entered a challenge using it. It scored badly! :) But it was fun to try it out.
10/25/2003 06:36:28 PM · #9
Not to sound ignorant, but how do you do this kind of desaturation using just the camera? Settings that I do not have on my Olympus C-750?
10/25/2003 06:40:46 PM · #10
Originally posted by drgsoell:

Not to sound ignorant, but how do you do this kind of desaturation using just the camera? Settings that I do not have on my Olympus C-750?


Desaturation of just some colors, possibly leaving only one color in the picture, cannot be achieved with the camera.

It is achieved in tools like Photoshop by picking the colors which should be desaturated (for instance via an Adjustment Layer which manages saturation individually for each color in a pretty easy way).

It is considered "legal", because it does not add or rearrange pixels in the Photo (if I have well understood the reasons behind the rules of legality in DPC).
10/25/2003 07:42:42 PM · #11
It wouldn't be DPC legal to do it with an adjustment layer. But you can do it with the "replace color" and "hue and saturation" menu items.
10/25/2003 08:00:48 PM · #12


I was expermenting and used it to bring your eye to the subject or idea.

It's difficult to get great contrast from the flesh toned bandaids so I went out and bought a box of neon colored one to really show off the feeling.

On the windmill one, the sky was incredible that day and I wanted to show a feeling of windpower by accenting the sky.

Message edited by author 2003-10-25 20:04:01.
10/25/2003 10:04:09 PM · #13
Originally posted by mavrik:


Not that it matters except my own curiosity, but that's not dpc legal, is it? :)


Done without using layers, it is legal. However, I wonder just how many valid photo editing techniques are being underused because they are not DPC-legal. (Outside challenges, that is.)

Although spot editing, for example, is universally accepted in the digital world, since becoming a member here, I've found myself trying to avoid doing it at times.

As for desaturation, if the result looks effective, why not use it?

10/26/2003 03:14:58 AM · #14
hmmm..guess I thought wrong. I thought I'd read here somewhere that you could use adjustment layers for saturation and desaturation, as long as the adjustment was for the entire image and not a selection. Not that I entered any like that, but it's good to know this now.
10/26/2003 03:36:39 PM · #15
Originally posted by Silent Sister:

hmmm..guess I thought wrong. I thought I'd read here somewhere that you could use adjustment layers for saturation and desaturation, as long as the adjustment was for the entire image and not a selection. Not that I entered any like that, but it's good to know this now.


I need to know this too. Adjustment layers.. legal or not?
10/26/2003 03:42:24 PM · #16
Originally posted by Silent Sister:

hmmm..guess I thought wrong. I thought I'd read here somewhere that you could use adjustment layers for saturation and desaturation, as long as the adjustment was for the entire image and not a selection.

This is correct. Adjustment layers (Levels, Curves, Channel Mixer, etc.) are legal if applied to the entire image in Normal mode.
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