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Re: [OM] IMG: Alms Bowls

Subject: Re: [OM] IMG: Alms Bowls
From: Moose <olymoose@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2014 13:30:01 -0700
On 4/12/2014 7:10 AM, Tina Manley wrote:
> Absolutely amazing.  I've printed out your directions and will try to
> follow them using your example.  I really need to learn more about layers.

As I just posted in reply to Chuck, they actually make many tasks easier and 
quicker for better results.

Here, though, it's not just layers, but layer masks, that do the magic. You 
have two wildly different areas in the 
image, that require very different processing. A pretty common problem of 
foreground subject in shade with bright 
background. You want to make the foreground subjects the focus of the image.

With layer masks, you can work the dark area and bright area completely 
separately, without needing to compromise one so 
it doesn't affect the other.

As layers build up, it's not unusual to realize that one is too strong. No need 
to go back, just use the slider to 
adjust layer opacity. Effect right in part of the mask, but not in another? 
Either split into two layers with different 
masks, or paint over the mask with black, flow less than 100%, often a lot 
less, to nuance the effect.

A number of editors allow painting effects in. I gather LR even tries to limit 
the effects at obvious boundaries? Nik's 
'control points' are another approach. BUT, BUT, in an image like this, you 
need hard boundaries, with big differences 
across them, and those other approaches are actually harder, and frustrating.

When Viveza first came out, with this control point way of working, I tried it, 
and hated it. Even in their site 
examples, you could see effects bleeding out of the area being worked on. I 
recall one where face/head were adjusted - 
and the effects bled off onto a plain background that should have been all one 
color, but no longer was.

I did this example. Now if this were your loved one, you might not want her 
face so sharp, but just go with the intent. 
<http://www.moosemystic.net/Gallery/tech/Process/Viveza/Viv_386.htm>

Notice how the WB correction in the face 'hot spots'. It's either that, or have 
it bleed beyond the face. (Or, perhaps, 
use lots and lots of control points? I'm) I did the shirt WB intentionally 
simply, to illustrate how effects decline 
slowly away from control points. There's just no way to just adjust the shirt 
color. Nik seems pretty successful with 
their various products that use this approach. Some improvement of the 
algorithms, I suppose. Along with people 
satisfied with sloppy?

Real layers with real masks are often both easiest and best, even if they sound 
tricky at first. Do I fall prey to the 
hammer-nail problem, using layers and masks where there is another way to do 
it? Almost without doubt. But they are 
amazingly powerful tools.

Masked Moose

-- 
What if the Hokey Pokey *IS* what it's all about?
-- 
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