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Photoshop Help
samran
Registered Users Posts: 102 Major grins
I just got Photoshop CS4. I am learning how to use it. I have noticed in several photographer's work a tecnhique that I would like to learn. Essentially, it looks the photographer brightens the whole picture. It doesn't look blurred, but it is really soft. Anyone know how to do this? I would love the help.
Thanks,
Samantha
Thanks,
Samantha
0
Comments
Sounds like you need to start with the basics.
There are tons of tutorials online some good, some bad, some great.
I suggest you scoot on over to http://www.thedigitalphotographyconnection.com/
and click on the Photoshop tab. There are a whole slew of really good video tutorials. Watch 'em all and be amazed at the power of Photoshop.
If you want more urls to good tute sights let me know.
Hope this helps.
Dennis
aka: the Pixel Doctor
http://thepixeldoctor.smugmug.com
Your request is a little vague as to what you are really wanting to learn. There are at least a dozen different ways to lighten an image in Photoshop.
I suggest you post a link to the images you are asking about, so that your responders do not have to try to guess what you are referring to. OK?
Here is a whole page of tutorials on Photoshop right here on dgrin. - http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/6885600_qzSwN
Learning to drive Photoshop well, is a learning experience that continues over an extended period of time. To make it easier, just about when you begin to get it figured out, Adobe brings out a newer version, and you get to start over again
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
Turn the "midtone contrast" slider to the left to get the soft focus look. It may not work with some images but tends to work with most.
I do best with book in hand. The digi-editing 'thang' is somewhat new to me too. I 'played' w/ PSE 5 for a couple years, thinking that as I stumbled, I'd also learn. NOT! I really accomplished little.
I've now turned a new leaf.... I'm still not hooked up w/ PS (just PSE 7) but a week ago I bought a dedicated "how to" book on the program, and have to admit, I've gained more in 7 days than I have in the past two years! I FINALLY feel like I'm a part of the learning curve, not just someone standing there, looking at it.
The book I bought was done by; Scott kelly and Matt Kloskowski. It cost a fair bit of $$$ from chapters (~$70.00 CAD) but worth every penny IMO, and I *think* they did one on PS 4......
Hope this helps - G'Luck!
Not sure if this is what you are looking todo but I'll throw this sugestion in as well. Open the picture in Camera Raw (it comes with PS).
Boost the exposure/brightness to your liking.
Drag the clarity slidder all the way to the left. Pull back to the right if this makes the shot too soft.
Readjust exposure / recovery / shadows / fill as neccessary.
Thanks to everyone that responded. I will follow your advice and give you a couple of examples of the photographs that I would love to learn how to do the techniques on in Photoshop. The photographer's website is www.artistiphotography.com.
If you click on her gallery link, then senior pics, then the second pic on the left, top row. It's black and white but almost looks soft and grainy at the same time. Anyone know how she did that.
Also, if you click on the "Weddings" tab, then click on page 4, and then the third picture from the right on the bottom row. It is a picture of a bride standing on a dock by herself with her arm raised up. The photographer has the subject and surrounding area soft and vibrant. This is what I was asking about previously. Any clue how she did it?
Thanks so much everyone!
Samantha
In Photoshop there are about a zillion ways to do the same thing. Different folks take different approaches. Depends on the style you develop. If it's special effects you are looking to achieve such as the two you mentioned then once you have acquired a solid foundation in the basics of Photoshop get yourself some top notch plugins. You can do the efects you mentioned with this plugin:
http://www.niksoftware.com/colorefexpro/usa/entry.php
It's on of the top five that I use. A lot of the images in my galleries (http://thepixeldoctor.smugmug.com) are done with Color efex Pro 3.0 (and/or a combination of many plugins in addition to CS4 manipulations).
Be careful as to what you buy for plugins because there are a LOT out there. Some really good, some bad and some just so-so.
The first image you mentioned is kind of high-key in a way with a touch of glamour glow and blown out highlights.
The second has a bunch of things going on with glamour glow and white neutralization, levels, probably some layer masking and the list goes on and on.
There is no "cookbook" recipe. Well, maybe for some images. It's an art. And everyone develops their own styles. You have to learn, learn, learn and develop your own style. It takes lots of time and LOTS of patience and trial and error. It can be very intimidating at first but it gets better and easier. It really does. If there's one word I would use it's perseverence.
If you want to learn a lot about Photoshop then subscribe to
https://www.kelbytraining.com/
It's VERY reasonable and will keep you busy learning for quite a while.
Good Luck and Happy Photoshopping!
Dennis
aka: the Pixel Doctor
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