INTRODUCTION ///
I'm not one for sharing my secrets, but I thought that it was time I started. When I first started my gallery, I was just happy to create images in GT4, and post them, but very quickly, I realised that I could enhance them using Photoshop. I won't lie, I use Photoshop a lot, but I feel the adjustments I make are subtle enough to not spoil the images too much. My golden rule is 'never touch an image with a tool'. As these mini-tutorials grow you will see that I rigidly keep to that all important rule. Ok, before I do start, I would like to say this: whatever I say in these mini-tutorials is in no way definitive. Since I have taught myself, and I don't like reading instruction manuals, there might be some things I miss, or miss-represent - so be warned! 👍
These mini-tutorials will each cover small parts of my image editing process. Over time, and when used inconjunction, they will help you create images and looks similar to mine. Also, these mini-tutorials have been written in a style that encourages
YOU to experiment. There will be no walk through, step-by-step guides here - use your own imagination and creativity to apply these mini-tutorials to your own image creation process. 👍 The effects I am detailing here are usually added to my picture after all other editing has taken place. It doesn't have to be though, it can be performed any time you like. The good thing about this mini-tutorial is that the effects I will show you are none destructive, and won't harm your image in any way. If you want to experiment with an image of your own, you will need a black and white one - the brighter the better (with good contrast).
COLOUR BALANCE ///
How many of you use adjustment layers? Apart from brightness and contrast, levels and maybe some curves very few of us have ventured any further than that. Hopefully after this mini-tutorial some of you will try this type of adjustment layer out too.
Colour balance can be used to slightly change the mood of a picture, or it can be used to drastically alter the look of a picture - how much it affects the image is soley down to you, so practice and imagination are the keys to success here. For this tutorial, I have decided to show its uses on black and white images, as this adjustment layer can be used to create some great vibrant colours. If you look at the images I have posted above, then you can see that there is scope to create some great colours, and it is simple to create new ones too! Some colours can be created easily, others have to be mixed, but the process is straight forward, so I'll start with a little explaination of the dialog box for this adjustment layer.
The first thing you see are three sliders. These sliders act as percentage mixers for each colour. Move the first slider to the left, and notice how the number in the first box will turn negative and the image starts to go cyan. How much it turns, depends how far you move the slider across the bar. You can also enter a corresponding positive or negative number straight into the boxes if you want an exact mix of a certain colour. Experiment with all of the sliders to see how you can create various colours and looks. You can combine the colours too, so to create orange - a colour that there is no option for, just move the sliders towards red, and yellow. Do this with other colours to find new ones!
SHADOWS, MIDTONES, HIGHLIGHTS ///
If you want to to create some very different looks, there are options below the sliders that can add increased scope to the colours and how they are mixed. So far any colour changes you have made have only affected the midtones - as shown by the radio button that highlights that option. If you change the radio button, you can alter the colour balance of other parts of the image too. As the options suggest, you can alter the colour balance of the shadows, midtones, and highlights. select each option and adjust the colours to see how they affect your image. If you've been paying attention, you will notice that each option can be adjusted separately, and you can choose different colors, and they will all show up in your image. Experiment to find good mixes of colours!
PRESERVE LUMINOSITY ///
I told you there were gaps in my knowledge of Photoshop, and this little check box is one of them. I haven't seen any noticable difference when this check box is ticked or unticked. It might serve a purpose, but at the moment, I don't know what it might be. If anyone knows, then maybe they could share the information...
NEXT TIME ///
In the next mini-tutorial, I will show you how the colour balance adjustment layer and its corresponding blend mode can be used in conjunction to change how the colour is finalized. In addition to this, I will show you how the layer blend mode can dramatically change the look of your images - Layer blend modes are a core part of my image editing process - especially for night/dark images. Until then, take care, magburner.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK BACK FROM TIME TO TIME FOR UPDATES!