MCP Blueprint – an iphone 3gs picture edited in Photoshop July 3rd, 2009

Posted in Blueprints, Photoshop Actions, Photoshop Tips & Tutorials, video tutorial

I was on a pontoon boat the day I took this shot.  I did not bring my camera with me. When my daughter Jenna decided to jump from the boat and swim in the lake for her 1st time, I wanted to document it.  I was bummed that I did not lug my camera…  Then I remembered, iphone…  It has a camera.  Is it a perfect camera? No.  But any camera trumps no camera at all.

The 1st picture is what came straight out of the iphone camera.  The second with my Photoshop edit.  Does it look like a Canon 5D MKII shot after? Nope.  But is it passable for a great memory shot? Sure is!

So what editing did I do:

  1. Ran Color Burst from the MCP Complete Workflow Actions
  2. Ran Eye Doctor – enhanced catch lights, used sharpening – but lowered to about 40% since this is a 3MP camera.
  3. Adjusted skin tone slightly using curves.
  4. Used the method I taught in the “Skin Tricks 2 Video” to lightly fix blown reds that show up as shiny skin – I have attached the video below in case you missed it last year. It does get rid of detail a bit – so looking back now I wish I masked it back more…
  5. Used Touch of Darkness on the background with a 25% brush – and touch of light on a few creases in the water to add dimension.
  6. Cropped

jenna swimming in lake b&a sm

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  1. Melanie wrote: WOW! Not too shabby, love it! (07/03/09, 9:07 am)

  2. hibou photo wrote: You are too good! (07/03/09, 11:44 am)

  3. Rose wrote: This is great, I missed the video first time around so I'm glad you posted it again, thanks. (Plus I'm always a victim of red blotchy shiny skin, so this will be so handy!) (07/03/09, 11:50 am)


Using Layer Masks for Skin Color Correction in Photoshop July 2nd, 2009

Posted in Photoshop Tips & Tutorials, video tutorial

This video tutorial builds on yesterday’s layer mask tutorial.  It will teach you how to apply masking so that you can selectively affect parts of your photo when correcting skin tones.  I shared this video on ClickIn Moms as part of their Skin Tone Correction Series that happens every Wednesday - and I wanted to share it with you too.  Check out the contest ending Sunday - for a chance to win a 1 year membership to Clickin Moms.  This video also is an excellent resource for those who have taken my Color Fixing Workshop.

Enjoy - and let me know what questions you have?

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  1. Susan Keller wrote: Jodi- I so appreciate your generosity in sharing your knowledge with us all. Your instruction is always so very clear. I'm just this week digging into Varis's Skin and Margulis's Color Correction, and your very timely video is helping me to see their written instruction in action. Thank you so very much! (07/02/09, 10:48 am)

  2. Alexis wrote: Jodi, that was a great tutorial! I learned a lot from this one and yesterday's! (07/02/09, 5:11 pm)

  3. Ashley Larsen wrote: Thank you. Always look forward to tutorials. I would like to know the "correct" numbers for skin correction... like at the beginning of the tutorial how you said more this less that to these specifications... (07/02/09, 5:16 pm)

  4. Penny wrote: Excellent. I love these tutorials. I'm curious about the color correction method by looking at the percents of RGB and adjusting colors to enhance opposite colors. Very interesting stuff. Thanks Jodi, it's wonderful that you share like this. (07/02/09, 5:40 pm)

  5. Moria Zuriel wrote: Am I missing something about the contest? When I click the link, it can't find the page. I sure would like to enter! (07/02/09, 9:11 pm)

  6. Gina Fensterer wrote: Love this tutorial!!! Now masks aren't so scary to me. ;) Thanks so much! (07/02/09, 10:36 pm)

  7. Carrie V. wrote: I can't find the contest either. Help! (07/03/09, 12:04 am)

  8. Rose wrote: This.Is.Wonderful. (07/03/09, 11:27 am)

  9. Pam Davis wrote: Just want to add thanks for the tutorial, but I can't find the link for the contest either. Pam (07/03/09, 11:44 am)


How to use Layer Masks and Adjustment Layers in Photoshop July 1st, 2009

Posted in Photoshop Tips & Tutorials, video tutorial

Do the words “adjustment layer” or “layer masks” scare you?

If so, this revised video (which includes Photoshop versions up through CS4) is a MUST Watch, Must Share, and Must Bookmark.

Here are some notes to help you along:

- White Reveals (shows)

- Black Conceals (hides)

- Use a “airbrush soft round” to paint (change the hardness as you get close to subject if you can see halo or marks but never go to 100% hardness)

- Make sure your layer mask is selected (has a box outlined around it)

- Change the opacity of the brush as needed for more control - I often work with a low opacity brush and let the effect build.

- Shortcuts used “[ or ]” - the left bracket makes brush smaller and right bracket makes the brush bigger

- D puts default colors as swatches (white foreground/black background) - X swaps these two.

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  1. MariaV wrote: Excellent. Thank you, Jodi. (07/01/09, 10:02 am)

  2. jason wrote: thanks Jodi, very helpful...once again! (07/01/09, 11:37 am)

  3. ally wrote: Thanks Jodi! most of this I could even do with my PSE7! Bonus!! (07/01/09, 1:28 pm)

  4. Jan wrote: What a great video! It was extremely helpful. Thank you. (07/01/09, 2:23 pm)

  5. Kim wrote: Another great tutorial Jodi! (07/01/09, 4:22 pm)

  6. Cindy wrote: thanks!! i appreciate you explaining curves and masking. (07/01/09, 4:53 pm)

  7. Sarah wrote: Thanks for the video, I just can't figure out how to add a layer mask in PSE6. Is it possible?! (07/02/09, 11:38 am)

  8. Rose wrote: I so need to take one of your classes! That was awesome, thanks for the tip! (I am familiar with using masks but not as in depth as this tutorial) (07/02/09, 12:51 pm)

  9. Penny wrote: Thanks, this is excellent. (07/02/09, 5:23 pm)

  10. Gale wrote: Fantastic tutorial. I learned so much in that nine minutes. (07/03/09, 10:43 am)


Sunsets and Silhouettes – a blueprint, tutorial and favorites poll June 30th, 2009

Posted in Blueprints, Photography Tips, Photoshop Actions, Photoshop Tips & Tutorials

 One of my all time favorite things to photograph are sunsets and silhouettes.  There is something almost magical about them.

Last year I wrote a 2 part tutorial on photographing and editing silhouettes. Part 1 Here * Part 2 Here.

I changed camera my settings quite a bit on the ones I took on vacation in Northern Michigan last week.   And based on the sky and environment, the colors and look is quite different as well (though I love both shoots equally as much).

I decided to stop down rather than shoot wider open.  These were all shot with my Canon 17-40L (which I am considering selling as I just purchased the 16-35L II.  So on a side note, contact me if you are interested…)

My camera settings varied slightly from shot to shot – but they were approximately:

ISO 100-320, Aperture f16-f20, Speed 1/250-1/640

As for editing, it could not have been any simpler.  The “Blueprint” for these was an s-curve that looked like this and then the Finger-paint Medium action from the MCP Quickie Collection.  I decided against sharpening these.  So these were so fast to edit.

image

Since I took the time to show you what I did and to tell you my settings, I am hoping you will vote for your 3 favorites from these 10.  I need you to help me pick what I should print for my home.

 

Which are your favorite silhouettes? PICK 3

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

#1

up_north_sunset-1

#2

up_north_sunset-50

 

#3

up_north_sunset-11 

 

#4

up_north_sunset-12 

 

#5

up_north_sunset-14 

 

#6

up_north_sunset-18 

 

#7

up_north_sunset-19   

 

#8

up_north_sunset-25 

 

#9

up_north_sunset-28 

 

#10

up_north_sunset-34  

 

#11

up_north_sunset-39 

 

#12 

up_north_sunset-43 

 

#13

up_north_sunset-45 

 

#14

up_north_sunset-46 

 

#15

up_north_sunset-47

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  1. Tiffany wrote: If I could have only voted for one, it would have been number 3. I loved several in the group but that one really stands out for me. Gorgeous! (06/30/09, 9:27 am)

  2. Sarah Wise wrote: Oh my goodness those are all breathtaking! How in the world are you gonna decide -- just do all of them :) (06/30/09, 10:14 am)

  3. Bailey wrote: beautiful Jodi! I especially like the ones of them holding hands! (06/30/09, 11:14 am)

  4. Kansas A wrote: Stunning Jodi! I'm wondering when you print them out do you print the frame with it? Or leave the frame off the print and buy a frame? (06/30/09, 12:09 pm)

  5. Jodi wrote: Kansas - yep - I just use that frame for web. I print without anything and frame or put on canvas. (06/30/09, 12:14 pm)

  6. Johanna wrote: These are gorgeous and you're going to need help and so I'll be as specific as I can. I looked up and down several times and kept coming back to 14. Here's what I can say about why I think I'm drawn to that one. First, the posture of the girls is still young. The fact that they're facing each other seems more intimate, like you're looking in on a private moment rather than asking them to pose. You can still tell them apart from their silhouette but there's symmetry. The sky and reflection are beautiful. There's more, but I could not describe it. It's just a feeling that I don't get with the others. Hope that helps! You really can't make a mistake here - they're all fab. (06/30/09, 2:26 pm)

  7. Krista wrote: #14 or #6 (06/30/09, 3:05 pm)

  8. Linda Ferrell wrote: I've looked back & forth many times & keep coming back to #6. I love the way the girls are looking OUT into the water. I was attracted to having more foreground included in #6 as opposed to #14. The contrast (lighting) between the foreground & sky are especially gorgeous! You cant make a mistake in choosing. They are all beautiful. (06/30/09, 3:45 pm)

  9. Holly Steen wrote: This is officially going to be in my bookmarks for a photography resource! YAY (06/30/09, 5:04 pm)

  10. Brittney wrote: these are beautiful!!! (06/30/09, 5:22 pm)

  11. Wendy wrote: These are Beautiful!! I am in LOVE! (06/30/09, 6:15 pm)

  12. Silvina wrote: They're all beautiful...i picked 3 and voted, #14 is definitely my very favorite out of the three i picked. (06/30/09, 9:37 pm)

  13. Jan wrote: They are all so beautiful! It was hard to vote. Thanks for sharing all of them. (07/01/09, 2:09 pm)

  14. Jolie wrote: WOW - those are spectacular! (07/01/09, 10:34 pm)


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