Category: Tips of the trade

Upcoming events at Dot Editions

Posted by doteditions on February 26, 2010

roofs

Dot Editions first HDR test, 2008

March 9: Color Management Discussion (6:30-9pm, doors open at 6pm)

In this hands-on discussion, we will demonstrate a work-around that photographers printing at home or in the studio can use to match the print to the image on the monitor. This trick will help artists become more efficient when printing, and hopefully will relieve some of the frustration that can arise when perfecting a print.

We will also discuss:
•    Best practices for monitor calibration
•    Paper profiles
•    Soft-proofing

This is a good opportunity to get your questions about color management answered.

In the meantime, check out the tutorials we’ve posted, including one on monitor calibration using Eye One Match, and a Photoshop work-around for matching your image on the monitor to your print.

Please RSVP, and as always, this event is free, so please bring a beverage or snack to share!

TWO UPCOMING HDR DISCUSSIONS:

March 23: HDRi Discussion at Dot Editions Studio. Please RSVP to Dot Editions HDR event here.
April 6th: ASMPNY Discussion (at Tabula Rasa Studio & Event Loft Space). For more info on the ASMYNY HDR event, click here.

In both of these events, we will define HDR and how to use it as a tool not a look. How it’s being used in the commercial world of photography today as well as the fine art world. What is the future of HDR and how you as a photographer can start utilizing this powerful tool.

Using layer blending modes & other imaging tips

Posted by doteditions on February 19, 2010

Layer blending modes offer a way for a layer to integrate with the adjustment layers below it, and can add depth to an image, or can be a good way to add sharpening. This is a powerful tool, and is worth experimenting with.

First of all, here’s where to access the layer blending modes in the  layer palate:

where to find blendind modes

Pull down the drop-down menu to see what options there are.

Picture 2

Give your image depth & contrast with a Soft Light layer:

  • Stamp together all your adjustment layers into one layer on top of your adjustment layer stack (press Option + Command + SHIFT + letter “e” at the same time)
  • Change the blending mode in the layer panel to Soft Light.
  • You’ll see that your image gets a lot darker. Adjust the opacity until you like it (try between 25% and 50%)

softlight

  • Another good trick when using blending modes (or doing anything with layers) is to make a keyboard command for turning on and off a layer – so you can see exactly what that layer is doing. We set the F1 key to turn on and off the layer. Under Edit go to  Keyboard Shortcuts. Find the Layer options (there will be a triangle next to “Layer”, open the options by clicking on the triange). Scroll down until you see Hide Layers. Click next to it under Shortcut, and a box opens up – type the F1 key in there. Press Accept to override other functions assigned to the F1 key.

Picture 3

Using the color blending mode to correct uneven skin tones

  • Make a new layer. In the layers panel, Option + click on the icon that looks like a turned up piece of paper, or under the Layers panel, select New.
  • You’ll get some options. Name the layer “color” and under Mode, choose Color. Click OK.

color layer

  • With the eyedropper tool, select a nice skin tone color.
  • Using the brush tool with soft edges and a low “flow” (keep Opacity at 100%), brush the color in the area that needs to be corrected. You might have to lower the opacity of that layer.

How to get detail in the shadows of an image that is too dark with Shadows/Highlights (not exactly a blending mode but another good trick):

  • Stamp together all your adjustment layers into one layer on top of the layer stack (press Option + Command + SHIFT + letter E)
  • Go to Image/Adjustments/Shadows and Highlights
  • Use the default settings
  • Adjust to opacity to a low amount, around 10% to 15%. You’ll see that the shadows open up without looking forced or solarized.

shadows-highlight

There are many other uses of blending layers, some of which we will be discussing in later posts. With blending modes, you can create a dodge and burn layer, or a layer to add noise/grain, or you can add sharpening through filtering a layer in a blending mode. Stay tuned for more info on these methods!

How to calibrate your monitor using Eye-One Match

Posted by doteditions on February 12, 2010

After last week’s blog post about using a calibration work-around for matching prints to monitor images, I thought I’d follow up with a step by step tutorial on how to calibrate your monitor using the Eye One Match software. In this entry, I am calibrating a NEC MultiSync LCD2190 series monitor with an i1Pro spectrophotometer, but these are the  same steps if you use another type of calibrator puck. If you use an Eizo monitor, the calibration is through the monitor hardware, so these steps do not apply.

The Eye-One Match software is pretty straightforward – but if you’re not confident that you are choosing the right options within the software, read on.

First step: Pick your  monitor type – LCD or CRT. Flat screen monitors are LCD, monitors with a tube are CRT.

Picture 1

Step Two: Select your white point at Medium White (6500), your Gamma at 1.8, and Luminance – pick custom.Picture 2

When you pick custom Luminance, it will require you to measure a white patch on your monitor. Open Photoshop, and make a new file with white as the Background Content. Zoom in so that the white image takes up the whole screen. Put your calibrator over that white image on screen. Keep lowering your brightness with the monitor hardware until it measures between 51 and 53.  This is how you  set your monitor luminance. Do this every time you calibrate your monitor. The reason for this is that monitors out of the box are set much too bright, and the luminance needs to be turned down.

Picture 3

Step Three: Calibrate your Eye-One device.Picture 4

Step Four: Set the contrast. In the monitor hardware menu, set your contrast at 50%. (I find if I set the contrast at 100% like the software indicates, the monitor is too contrasty and bright for the Eye-one calibrator to work).

Picture 5

Step Five: Set the white point. Using your monitor hardware menu, find the sub-menu where you can manually adjust the white point (it will be under RGB). Make the RGB line up evenly.

Picture 7

Step Six: Adjust the Luminance. In the monitor hardware, adjust the luminance until it matches the target – the number you set in Step Two.

Picture 11

Step Seven: Save ICC profile and Summary Screen. We use a custom name to refer to the monitor this profile goes with. You can click the Before/After to see how your newly created monitor profile shifts from your previous ICC profile.

Picture 14

You’re done! For proper monitor calibration, your computer station should be set up in a room that has little daylight (sorry, you have to cover up those windows!), and is as neutral as possible. If your computer is set up in your home office that you painted orange, you’re going to have to seriously consider repainting – either grey, or ideally, black. Unfortunately, ideal retouching conditions require pretty gloomy decorating options. But if you follow this advice, you’ll have a much easier time getting consistent results in printing, or doing any post-production work. Repeat the calibration process at least once a month.