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Archive 2011 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image

  
 
jeepman83706
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p.2 #1 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


where is there a setting in LR3 that lets you set negative black levels?? my Blacks slider stops at 0.


Nov 08, 2011 at 04:49 PM
Manuel Guerrer
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p.2 #2 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


@Ghost - Thanks, I'll keep that in mind when I edit later tonight.

@jeepman83706 - the negative black comment made by Sergio requires using PhotoShop under the selective color option then you edit the BLACKS channel.



Nov 08, 2011 at 04:52 PM
jeepman83706
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p.2 #3 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


Manuel Guerrer wrote:
@Ghost - Thanks, I'll keep that in mind when I edit later tonight.

@jeepman83706 - the negative black comment made by Sergio requires using PhotoShop under the selective color option then you edit the BLACKS channel.



oh i thought everyone was talking about LR thanks!



Nov 08, 2011 at 04:53 PM
hardlyboring
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p.2 #4 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


haha sergio's method is pretty baller! haha what a mess.
Kudos to serg for basically throwing the sauce right out there for free!
By flattening and adding it again and again you can achieve some pretty epic results. for sure.....whiles till maintaining shadow and highlight detail as well as correct color balance.
wow



Nov 08, 2011 at 05:04 PM
jeepman83706
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p.2 #5 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


hardlyboring wrote:
haha sergio's method is pretty baller! haha what a mess.
Kudos to serg for basically throwing the sauce right out there for free!
By flattening and adding it again and again you can achieve some pretty epic results. for sure.....whiles till maintaining shadow and highlight detail as well as correct color balance.
wow



i haven't tried it, but instead of flattening and repeating, couldn't you just drop it below -6 or does it start looking weird?



Nov 08, 2011 at 05:11 PM
hardlyboring
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p.2 #6 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


ya it looks weird. you clip the black big time. but if you flatten you can gradually do it and then also balance in the other colors to achieve the "color balance" you want.
This method is genius really because it is so simple. If a similar thing could be done in LR (I am sure it can I am just not into figuring it out) it would be so good for certain shots. I never EVER use PS anymore. So this method, albeit fun and entirely to easy, is just to time consuming for every day use.



Nov 08, 2011 at 05:15 PM
TTLKurtis
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p.2 #7 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


Sergio Mottola wrote:
don't forget folks LR is never as good as photoshop


Yeah... getting that look in LR doesn't work out so well.



Nov 08, 2011 at 05:35 PM
SloPhoto
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p.2 #8 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


I do not have access to my LR/Photoshop box from here....

but it was my recollection that the tone curve in LR was hue/saturation locked, if that is true, then switching to a linear tone curve and moving the left most point up 6% should do the same as what sergio suggested.

I will have to test it out tonight. If it is much different, I may have to alter my methods (I use the tone curve in LR and often pull the whites down a touch as well as adding an s curve set to reduce contrast in the skin tone range). I certainly do not achieve the magic that sergio does.



Nov 08, 2011 at 06:04 PM
TomKayser
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p.2 #9 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


You can get effect while raw converting already, in raw photo processor. Skip the tone curve completto tutti and work in L*, blacks minus 1 or so, contrast minus 2, convert.


Nov 08, 2011 at 06:33 PM
amonline
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p.2 #10 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


Sergio Mottola wrote:
don't forget folks LR is never as good as photoshop


TTLKurtis wrote:
Yeah... getting that look in LR doesn't work out so well.


Don't you mean, "at all"?



Nov 08, 2011 at 07:40 PM
TTLKurtis
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p.2 #11 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


amonline wrote:
Don't you mean, "at all"?


Hahaha... yeah... at all is more accurate.



Nov 08, 2011 at 08:10 PM
SloPhoto
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p.2 #12 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


Orig (yea yea, boring shot, I know)
http://www.whyafoto.com/photos/i-JQTjMqk/0/M/i-JQTjMqk-M.jpg


Slightly flattened
http://www.whyafoto.com/photos/i-qRLZ95j/0/M/i-qRLZ95j-M.jpg

http://www.whyafoto.com/photos/i-Fj3fcQm/0/M/i-Fj3fcQm-M.jpg


Can you tell which one was done with spot color and which one was done with a 6% pull up on the tone curve?

I certainly can not. (the histograms show an ever so slight change in the upper midtones, but it is minuscule)



Nov 08, 2011 at 10:47 PM
Ziffl3
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p.2 #13 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


Thought i would give it a try.... something new.
Let me know how i did?

normal:
http://www.ma-fotopremier.com/Weddings/2011-Millie-Muhung/i-BJqgkF6/0/XL/XM0S8492-2-XL.jpg


tweaked.. added a little grain....
http://www.ma-fotopremier.com/Weddings/2011-Millie-Muhung/i-sTsS4bD/0/XL/tweak-2-grain-XL.jpg


Edited on Nov 08, 2011 at 11:17 PM · View previous versions



Nov 08, 2011 at 10:54 PM
lisy78
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p.2 #14 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


My guess is that in order:

original
curve
selective color

the difference isn't great but it's there. And I think it's worth it to put the effort into doing it the selective color way.



Nov 08, 2011 at 11:03 PM
SloPhoto
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p.2 #15 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


lisy78 wrote:
My guess is that in order:

original
curve
selective color

the difference isn't great but it's there. And I think it's worth it to put the effort into doing it the selective color way.



I forgot to post why there is a difference. I was off by .1% when I pulled using the tone curve. (5.9% instead of 6)

The methods are very very close. (but yes, I believe you were correct)



Nov 08, 2011 at 11:14 PM
j_ambrose
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p.2 #16 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


Sergio Mottola wrote:
don't forget folks LR is never as good as photoshop


it's possible in lightroom with a custom curve. just pull the black point up.



Nov 09, 2011 at 02:33 AM
Kittyk
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p.2 #17 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


capture one have pretty powerful selective color editor. also if you really need to be consistent, it can keep skin color between several shots aprox same even if you start going weird


Nov 09, 2011 at 03:34 AM
lisy78
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p.2 #18 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


Hum... I'm really digging this. Not done to extreme levels to really "copy" a style... but just to give the images the appearance of having more dynamic range.

Here's the shot Mark posted... left is the slightly less contrasty version done using an action I've been working on ever since Sergio spilled the Selective Colored Beans

http://www.disciascio.com/misc/fm/moflat.jpg

Again... the difference is meant to be subtle...

Hum... who would have thought a year ago that I'd be talking highly about selective color today



Nov 09, 2011 at 08:59 AM
jneilosu
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p.2 #19 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image


Someone asked recently how trends start in the industry. I think the wedding tog forum on FM could be the answer...


Nov 09, 2011 at 11:50 AM
lisy78
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p.2 #20 · How to achieve a FLAT looking image




so here's one I *REALLY* like... which proves two things:

1. Photoshop kicks LR's ass and eats LR's lunch while doing so

2. You should always document what the heck you're doing while experimenting lest you come up with something you dig and then have a super-hard time reproducing it

http://www.disciascio.com/misc/fm/processed.jpg

original on right.



Nov 09, 2011 at 11:59 AM
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