Help with color casts

head2heel

I am still trying to learn good post-processing techniques and am having some trouble with color. I'm wondering how many pros get that muted look that seems to have a subtle layer of color over it, similar to the Colorshift actions. The colors are still nice and saturated and the palette works very well. Is it possible to get a similar look to those by yourself in PS without using the actions? If not, is there a less expensive alternative?

Thanks!

BinaryFx

head2heel wrote:

I am still trying to learn good post-processing techniques and am having some trouble with color. I'm wondering how many pros get that muted look that seems to have a subtle layer of color over it, similar to the Colorshift actions.

I am not familiar with the results of these actions. However it sounds as if you are talking of basically a "grayscale" monotone image layer, that has the original full colour image layer blended in at a low opacity? There are many ways to go about this in Photoshop.

The colors are still nice and saturated and the palette works very well. Is it possible to get a similar look to those by yourself in PS without using the actions? If not, is there a less expensive alternative

Saturated colour is not what I would have in mind when talking of muted colour, so I am confused here.

Since Photoshop actions are simply Photoshop commands, yes it is possible to do the same thing manually - if you know the steps (there could be many steps).

To deconstruct an effect, the forum would likely need to see a before and after sample - in order to come up with a similar method.


Regards,

Stephen Marsh

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/
http://prepression.blogspot.com/

head2heel

Stephen, thanks for your response. Here is the link to the creator's website: http://enlighten.jeshderox.com so you can see examples of what I mean. The colors are still very vibrant, just "shifted," and still look good.

Wil Davis

I took a look at the site you posted, and I'm impressed with the thought and marketing which went into the product. I think what clinched it for me were the titles of some of the schemes: "Memory of A Friend", "Light From A Star", "Sound of Laughter", "Rainforest"…

At $145 a pop, I say good luck to him and may he "share his vision" with many other photographers (it never ceases to amaze me as to what folk would rather have than money).

…so, read any good books on Feng Shui recently?

- Wil