Topic: Hungry??

[themightyzog]

Why don't we start with easy images! - as (always) this is something that seems simple but is not

I started with lightening the shadows - I use a Dan action as I'm still running PS7 - but I think the S/H filter would achieve the same results.

I then used CM in rgb mode to attempt a colour correction - all at the shadow end
Then another pass of CM in Lab to up the colour a touch
The result did not have enough sparkle in the blackberries, so I applied 25pixels of Local contrast - now I could eat it!
Nice one Greg
Zog

[Lee Harper]

Hungry? Aways

I started off by trying to brighten up the fruit bowl. I opened the image up in CurveMeister and then went hunting for a mask that I could use (to get at the bowl without harming the pineapple); I decided upon a K channel mask, which I copied onto the clipboard (using a technique mentioned later in the course).

I returned to Photoshop, and used CS5's improved 'Refine Mask' function to clean up the mask (which I have attached). To brighten the bowl I did the following (in Photoshop):

• A Screen mode self-blend (copy the 'Background' layer, and set the blend mode of that layer to 'Screen') - through the' Bowl Shadow' mask that I had created.
• Flattening this (into a new layer), I then applied a Shadow/Highlights adjustment; setting the Shadow options to: 35/13/34 (Highlights were set to 0%; Color Correction was set to +10) - again, through a mask.
• Finally, an 'Exposure' Adjustment - through the mask - with the Gamma Correction set to 1.15.

Next, I lightened the table using a different mask (attached to this post). To brighten the table I simply did step 1 (above) twice - two Screen mode self-blends.

Happy with the brightness (more-or-less), I took the image back into CurveMeister to fix the color cast. I didn't feel happy that there were any neutrals that I could use (I didn't trust the inside of the strawberries), but I remembered that the 'Nature' color pin library contained a pin for 'Pine', so I decided to try the pin. I turns out that there are two pins - one for varnished pine, and one for unvarnished pine; the unvarnished pin seemed better so I used that (but in RGB mode rather than Lab, which I thought looked nicer).

I was on the verge of posting my version when I read Greg reminding us that Blueberries are supposed to be blue; back to CurveMeister one last time! A tweak to the RGB curves got my blueberries to a more respectable hue...

A nice challenge image Greg (though it's making me hungry!)

Cheers,
Lee.

[Greg Groess]

As Zog Pointed out this is a tough image but not impossible...
Things we need to know...

• How to correct the color without a neutral using Hue Clocks and CM
• How to create a mask in CM
• How to adjust the "color contrast" using CM
• How to Work in LAB using CM
• How to create layers
• Sharpen and Blur

I'll step this out as much as I think I need to but please ask questions
1) Copy background and open Curvemeister.

• using CM create a red layer mask and apply it to the background copy.  In CM we can open the channels and create masks something we will be learning later in the class.
• Gaussian Blur the mask to 70
• On the image part of the layer choose Image>Adjustments>Exposure; and set the gamma to 2.0 This will open the shadows of the image except where the mask is preventing the adjustment
• Flatten the image

2) Create a new layer copy and open CM on the Green channel only.

• Adjust the green channel for the details in the yellow areas of the image. Try to get as much detail into the pineapple as possible. Apply your changes and exit Curvemeister
• Copy the Green channel into the Blue Channel on the layer copy only Use Image > Apply Image; on the blue channel and apply the Green you just adjusted into the blue channel.  This gets rid of some noise and opens the image further in the shadows.
• Change the layer mode to "Luminosity"
• Flatten the image

3) Create a new layer copy and open CM in RGB mode.

• Shot 1 is the image before color correction in CM
• Shot 2 is the Blue channel adjustment to the image to get rid of the yellow cast and make the strawberry pink in the center.
• Apply the changes in CM and set the layer mode to color.
• Flatten the image...Again...

4) Create another new layer open CM and switch to LAB this time we are going to go after color range and saturation,  We have the color corrected so we do not want to mess that up.

• Set a hue clock on the strawberry as shown in shot 3.  This will be your color goal. Your "Home Base" as we adjust the color with LAB we want the A and the B channel values to stay as shown
• Create a contrast Pin <something else we will be learning about in the class> on the Blackberry so that you get a decent range in the B channel. We want to add color separation in the berries to give them more shape.
• Adjust the B channel contrast pin so the B channel looks as shown in Shot 3 then move the contrast pins together so tha the B channel value is still 4
• Adjust the A channel slightly to make the reds look better overall and then move the A channel pins together so that the A channel vlaue stays at 10 <Still Safe at Home>
• Adjust the L channel slightly to open the image to taste and apply the changes
• Flatten again...

5) Create another layer copy and set the mode to overlay.  on the overlay layer select Filer>Other>High pass and set it to 3 Pixels.
6) Flatten Image.

Phew...A long ways to go but a short time to create.  It took me about 5 minutes to correct the image and about a20 minutes to document the process. 
Greg

[ganna]

Thanks alot Greg. It is important to know where to go with the correction, which is perhaps easier when it is an image taken by one self. I'm often not sure what the "final" image should look like, esp when there are not a neutral.

[ThomasD]

Here is my try. I used CM LAB with a "hill" in the L curve in dark areas. Increased saturation in CB. Finally some Shadow/Highlight correction in Elements.  No good grey point so bit tricky. Applied some unsharp mask. Not as good as the expert ones but maybe ok for a Q&D approach.♠
Regards
ThomasD

[Greg Groess]

Thomas,
Not to worry about what I can do with this image....it's about getting you to go further...
This week is about opening your eyes and getting everyone used to the idea that there are different ways to attack the process.  The weeks coming up introduce the basics of CM and how to use some of the tools better.  We'll go as far as you want or keep it as simple as needed so you get the information you need.

Unfortunately, if I post a sub par correction as "quick and dirty" the forum lights up with "come now Greg...you can do better" comments...lol

Greg

[ThomasD]

Greg
Maybe you do not like Q&D but I think one nice thing with CM is that you can get good results for many pictures in a very quick way. Important nowadays when time is a limitation, at least for me .
Regards
Thomasd
PS Here is another try with extra lift in shadows with hill in CM and  some extra USM but have to admit blueberries are not blue and have to test Gregs method.  DS

[gremurphoto]

I say they're raspberries and I say to hell with them.GregM

[Greg Groess]

Greg M,
Did you try my work flow??
You might be surprised how flexible it really is...The Red channel mask is the same as the process for the yellow flowers mask we did a while back.  See I recycle...

BTW everyone...I love quick and dirty...I just have to make sure I do not teach it too much...it does reduce your quality significantly...

Greg

[curvey]

Hi Greg

In the workflow I applied the red mask but it didn't seem to have an effect, please can you give more detail of what to do? Also how do you achieve bullet point 3 if you are PSE 7?

Thank you
Andrew

[Greg Groess]

Andrew,
The closest I could get you in PSE would be the "Enhance>Adjust Lighting>Shadows and Highlights"  command. 
If that is not allowed in PSE you might try screen as a layer mode times about 6-8 layers to get the desired effect.

Shot1 is 3 screen layers with Blurred Masks

Greg