Bi-Weekly Discussion Thread: Your secret / favorite tools

AgnieszkaAgnieszka Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 3,263 Major grins
edited March 18, 2011 in Weddings
Sorry it's taken me so long, it's FINALLY time for a new discussion thread :D

WHAT ARE YOUR SECRET / FAVORITE TOOLS?

I am not talking about pre-sets / actions!

Mine for example are:
• The history brush (PS)
• The patch tool (PS)
• dodge & burn + saturize / desaturize (of course!) (PS)
• ohhhh and the magic liquify tool ... (PS)

and for architectural backgrounds ... the DISTORT tool (also PS) :lust

What about you? :ear
Angie blog | website | facebook page | google+

Comments

  • QarikQarik Registered Users Posts: 4,959 Major grins
    edited January 25, 2011
    I am huge vignette fan. I add a modest (14 or so in LR) vignette in 90% of my shots ... just enough to lead the eyes and "spotlight" the subject. I use heavy vignettes (between 20-40) as wel quite liberally.
    D700, D600
    14-24 24-70 70-200mm (vr2)
    85 and 50 1.4
    45 PC and sb910 x2
    http://www.danielkimphotography.com
  • AgnieszkaAgnieszka Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 3,263 Major grins
    edited January 25, 2011
    Qarik wrote: »
    I am huge vignette fan. I add a modest (14 or so in LR) vignette in 90% of my shots ... just enough to lead the eyes and "spotlight" the subject. I use heavy vignettes (between 20-40) as well quite liberally.

    I'm a vignetter also. But I usually do it by hand (burning the corners)
    Angie blog | website | facebook page | google+
  • ShimaShima Registered Users Posts: 2,547 Major grins
    edited January 25, 2011
    I use the vignette tool in LR on occasion. My favorite tools are (all lightroom):
    Heal (bye bye acne), Teeth whitening (bye bye yellow smoker teeth for the old folks), Soften skin (for the occasional glam style shot), the black slider (I bump it up pretty often).
    Photography by Cat || My Gear List
    Facebook: Friend / Fan || Twitter: @shimamizu || Google Plus
  • tenoverthenosetenoverthenose Registered Users Posts: 815 Major grins
    edited January 25, 2011
    My favorite tool is in Lightroom - the reject key. One less image to deal with :)
    www.patrickpike.com | twitter | facebook
  • Moogle PepperMoogle Pepper Registered Users Posts: 2,950 Major grins
    edited January 25, 2011
    My favorite tools?

    Finding sneak spots. I also 2nd the reject flag!
    Food & Culture.
    www.tednghiem.com
  • AgnieszkaAgnieszka Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 3,263 Major grins
    edited January 27, 2011
    tenoverthenose wrote: »
    My favorite tool is in Lightroom - the reject key. One less image to deal with :)


    rolleyes1.gifthumb.gif
    Angie blog | website | facebook page | google+
  • ShimaShima Registered Users Posts: 2,547 Major grins
    edited January 28, 2011
    tenoverthenose wrote: »
    My favorite tool is in Lightroom - the reject key. One less image to deal with :)

    Oh yeah, I use that before I do any editing. Love hitting x on my rejects :)
    Photography by Cat || My Gear List
    Facebook: Friend / Fan || Twitter: @shimamizu || Google Plus
  • PupWebPupWeb Registered Users Posts: 166 Major grins
    edited March 2, 2011
    Don't do many weddings but.....
    I don't do many weddings, currently I try to avoid them.
    I'll share my most bestest tool for every photo involving a face -Anthropics Portrait Professional:

    http://www.portraitprofessional.com

    worth the $. Try it and you'll see.
    Why I like it:
    The main reason is you can very easily and quickly adjust the level of retouching where your client will not notice it. I get comments like wow, I don't think I never looked so good.
    -David (pupweb)
    DavidBroadwell.com, My Smugmug Home

  • lilbillymakerlilbillymaker Registered Users Posts: 14 Big grins
    edited March 8, 2011
    PupWeb wrote: »
    I don't do many weddings, currently I try to avoid them.
    I'll share my most bestest tool for every photo involving a face -Anthropics Portrait Professional:

    http://www.portraitprofessional.com

    worth the $. Try it and you'll see.
    Why I like it:
    The main reason is you can very easily and quickly adjust the level of retouching where your client will not notice it. I get comments like wow, I don't think I never looked so good.

    I've been looking at that one with interest....how much was it if you don't mind my asking and how much memory did it take up? (I'm working off of a lap top currently)
  • PupWebPupWeb Registered Users Posts: 166 Major grins
    edited March 9, 2011
    lilbillymaker wrote: »
    I've been looking at that one with interest....how much was it if you don't mind my asking and how much memory did it take up? (I'm working off of a lap top currently)


    Can't remember how much I paid for it? I think $99 for studio version 9. They have studio version 10 on sale right now for $59.95 click here.

    Anthropics drops there price for a brief time when they release updates. The program takes up a very small footprint. I'm not sure how much memory it takes though?
    I run it on my laptop with no problem I have 4gb ram and 64bit OS, but I have inlatalled and ran it on a netbook with only 1gb of ram 32bit OS.

    They have a 64 bit version to run on 64 bit OS, this will make it run faster but it cost a lot more.
    -David (pupweb)
    DavidBroadwell.com, My Smugmug Home

  • KinkajouKinkajou Registered Users Posts: 1,240 Major grins
    edited March 9, 2011
    PS clone tool! I use that guy all the time to clear up distractions in the background or stray hairs.
    Webpage

    Spread the love! Go comment on something!
  • marikrismarikris Registered Users Posts: 930 Major grins
    edited March 9, 2011
    The patch tool.

    Houston Portrait Photographer
    Children's Illustrator
  • Ed911Ed911 Registered Users Posts: 1,306 Major grins
    edited March 13, 2011
    Favorites are...most all of the previously stated and I'll add this one...the Adjustments brush in LR 3. Very nice for raising shadows and doing spot adjustments.
    Remember, no one may want you to take pictures, but they all want to see them.
    Educate yourself like you'll live forever and live like you'll die tomorrow.

    Ed
  • VayCayMomVayCayMom Registered Users Posts: 1,870 Major grins
    edited March 13, 2011
    I use this tool in 99 % of all my images : Nik Effex Color Pro at least I think that is the name..darken/lighten.

    I LOVE LOVE this!!! Does the work of a vignette , and lighting, so you can add light to just the faces, or anything in any part of the image, you decide the opacity, the size, the location, best tool ever.
    Trudy
    www.CottageInk.smugmug.com

    NIKON D700
  • Ed911Ed911 Registered Users Posts: 1,306 Major grins
    edited March 14, 2011
    PupWeb wrote: »
    Can't remember how much I paid for it? I think $99 for studio version 9. They have studio version 10 on sale right now for $59.95 click here.

    Can you put the down-loadable version on two computers...like your desktop and laptop. I checked the Portrait Pro website...they won't send you a disk...which will usually allow two installs...for most software anyway. They say that if you want the CD, you can buy it retail...but Amazon, which they list as a provider, doesn't have Portrait Pro 10 yet.

    Just wondering...anyone?
    Remember, no one may want you to take pictures, but they all want to see them.
    Educate yourself like you'll live forever and live like you'll die tomorrow.

    Ed
  • tenoverthenosetenoverthenose Registered Users Posts: 815 Major grins
    edited March 14, 2011
    I'm planning a full write up soon on my site about my full workflow and all of the secret tools that I use, but here's one of my favorite PP tools. A Motibodo Lightroom Keyboard. It's a full keyboard/software combo that allows me to process most of my images in lightroom without my fingers ever leaving the keyboard. It shaves a bit of time per image, but that time adds up to hours quickly.

    http://www.motibodo.com/
    www.patrickpike.com | twitter | facebook
  • PupWebPupWeb Registered Users Posts: 166 Major grins
    edited March 14, 2011
    Ed911 wrote: »
    Can you put the down-loadable version on two computers...like your desktop and laptop. I checked the Portrait Pro website...they won't send you a disk...which will usually allow two installs...for most software anyway. They say that if you want the CD, you can buy it retail...but Amazon, which they list as a provider, doesn't have Portrait Pro 10 yet.

    Just wondering...anyone?

    Not sure Ed? They are not clear on this. I copied this from their support forum

    Forum User: Can I have this on my tower and on my laptop
    Admin: If you contact our support people they can usually help with this.



    This doesn't tell me if their support people can help you as in its free to use on another PC or you have to spend more $.

    I have not tried to install it anywhere else myself.
    -David (pupweb)
    DavidBroadwell.com, My Smugmug Home

  • marikrismarikris Registered Users Posts: 930 Major grins
    edited March 14, 2011
    Actually, you can install PPro on a laptop and desktop. They officially only license one computer, but if you email them, they will give you a token for your laptop. What the rep told me was that they understand people work on their desktops and laptops.

    Houston Portrait Photographer
    Children's Illustrator
  • VayCayMomVayCayMom Registered Users Posts: 1,870 Major grins
    edited March 14, 2011
    tenoverthenose wrote: »
    I'm planning a full write up soon on my site about my full workflow and all of the secret tools that I use, but here's one of my favorite PP tools. A Motibodo Lightroom Keyboard. It's a full keyboard/software combo that allows me to process most of my images in lightroom without my fingers ever leaving the keyboard. It shaves a bit of time per image, but that time adds up to hours quickly.

    http://www.motibodo.com/

    So I took a look, does this work well for people that can only type with two fingers? I am asking for a "friend" of mine? lol
    Trudy
    www.CottageInk.smugmug.com

    NIKON D700
  • tenoverthenosetenoverthenose Registered Users Posts: 815 Major grins
    edited March 15, 2011
    VayCayMom wrote: »
    So I took a look, does this work well for people that can only type with two fingers? I am asking for a "friend" of mine? lol

    It's biggest benifit is in being able to process lots of images quickly. By not needing the mouse, you save lots and lots of time just moving the cursor around. For example, if you need to adjust the brightness of an image, you need to move the mouse there and adjust it until you get things just right. The you might need to adjust the contrast (again, mouse). Eliminating these simple steps and replacing them with only a couple of key strokes really speeds your workflow. You're not so much typing out written words, as you are pressing a few keys for each image that gets them where you want. To me its MUCH fast to press a key to adjust the exposure than it is to use the mouse. Do that 2000+ times and you really save time.
    www.patrickpike.com | twitter | facebook
  • JaedaJaeda Registered Users Posts: 16 Big grins
    edited March 17, 2011
    tenoverthenose wrote: »
    My favorite tool is in Lightroom - the reject key. One less image to deal with :)

    rolleyes1.gif
    I have seen your work and I can't imagine any rejects!
  • JaedaJaeda Registered Users Posts: 16 Big grins
    edited March 17, 2011
    Kinkajou wrote: »
    PS clone tool! I use that guy all the time to clear up distractions in the background or stray hairs.

    Big DITTO!!!!! :)
  • JaedaJaeda Registered Users Posts: 16 Big grins
    edited March 17, 2011
    tenoverthenose wrote: »
    I'm planning a full write up soon on my site about my full workflow and all of the secret tools that I use, but here's one of my favorite PP tools. A Motibodo Lightroom Keyboard. It's a full keyboard/software combo that allows me to process most of my images in lightroom without my fingers ever leaving the keyboard. It shaves a bit of time per image, but that time adds up to hours quickly.

    http://www.motibodo.com/

    I'll be watching for this! :) Thank you!
  • divamumdivamum Registered Users Posts: 9,021 Major grins
    edited March 17, 2011
    marikris wrote: »
    The patch tool.

    And its corollary best friend "Fade patch" under the edit menu (but only immediately after you've applied the patch). Even though I usually patch on a separate layer, it's good to have extra ways of dialing it back.
    facebook | photo site |
  • Ed911Ed911 Registered Users Posts: 1,306 Major grins
    edited March 18, 2011
    marikris wrote: »
    Actually, you can install PPro on a laptop and desktop. They officially only license one computer, but if you email them, they will give you a token for your laptop. What the rep told me was that they understand people work on their desktops and laptops.

    Thanks so much...appreciate your help...

    Portrait Pro version 10 is on sale for $39 for a limited time...just thought I would let you know...
    Remember, no one may want you to take pictures, but they all want to see them.
    Educate yourself like you'll live forever and live like you'll die tomorrow.

    Ed
  • divamumdivamum Registered Users Posts: 9,021 Major grins
    edited March 18, 2011
    I have to say I was really disappointed with Portrait Pro - I gave the trial a spin, and found it awfully fake looking. Maybe I'd like it better if I could use it on a PS layer and dial it back, but "out of the box" I found it just didn't look natural enough. Just my experience, YMMV etc.
    facebook | photo site |
  • PupWebPupWeb Registered Users Posts: 166 Major grins
    edited March 18, 2011
    divamum wrote: »
    I have to say I was really disappointed with Portrait Pro - I gave the trial a spin, and found it awfully fake looking. Maybe I'd like it better if I could use it on a PS layer and dial it back, but "out of the box" I found it just didn't look natural enough. Just my experience, YMMV etc.

    Hi Diva,

    You have to play with the settings to get the look you want. You can save settings, I have several custom settings I use. I have settings for children also but in v10 they have this built into the software.
    Also the Portrait Pro defaults the resolution low while you are using the software to make it work faster. You can change this somewhere in the settings but the image looks better after you save the portrait pro job.
    I do use it in PS 95% of the time.
    -David (pupweb)
    DavidBroadwell.com, My Smugmug Home

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