I can assure you that I'm certainly not above a tongue in cheek reply but this was not my intent. I starting out almost completely computer illiterate and knowing nothing of phtoshop. I went through elements 2-6 and whatever else using levels, contrast, sharpening, etc. etc.. then the raw converters got better and that helped. Then I made the plunge with CS3 and mostly for the raw converter and Bridge.
Had a bit of money and close my eyes and tried the Nik suite and it certainly assisted me in taking a jump up and I certainly intend to upgrade with the new Viveza 2(was aware of it but had ignore it until one of the posters here mentioned it again, checked it out--I think it's going to be dynamite).
Now, during all this I;m just not doing or understanding and getting by without using layers. I see some great PP on some landscapes, and just plain go how do they do it.
I have learned a couple of things though--#1 a good exposed and balance image straight for the camera is the one treat that keeps on giving--the other is a good image that is exposed correctly is the thing to do
My intent here is to see what folks are doing, what have I missed. Kinda like I got married and skipped on the dating process--what did I miss??--thanks ron s.
Last time I checked, human faces, for example, were not yet perfect circles.
Tools like Viveza are good for quick fixes but can never replace accurate selections and carefully crafted masks.
Kaj E wrote:
The OP says he uses Nik plug-ins, I suppose he also has Viveza. Viveza gives smarter, faster and higher quality tools for most localized adjustments without actual "layers and masks in PS". It is another way of doing it and it is also nondestructive.
James_N wrote:
Last time I checked, human faces, for example, were not yet perfect circles.
Tools like Viveza are good for quick fixes but can never replace accurate selections and carefully crafted masks.
I don't know about that. I find the technology in Viveza amazing. I'd be hard pressed to do better at selection and masking using only PS. I guess to each their own, but something that used to take hours in PS now takes minutes with the Nik tools. A winner in my books.
mdude85 wrote:
True, but if you can make an edit without adding an additional layer, then you should probably do it, since it cuts down on processing time, reduces file sizes (if you are prone to saving your PSD files during post), and is a simpler workflow.
This is true... until you have to go back and change one of the edits. If you have your layers laid out, this can be a 2 second process. If you don't, even if you've only done 3 or 4 simple edits, you now have to start over and redo them all, turning that 2 second process into a 5 minute ordeal.
The color selection points although for the uninitiated may appear circular are definitely not. They work based on advanced algorithms, based on color, hue texture etc. In tricky situations you can make make smaller ones although it seldom is needed. The more U-points you add the more accurate the selection and all the previous selection points are considered simultaneously by the software. You can view the area(s) of the selection before actually doing the adjustments.
Truly amazing for somebody who used to think that you needed to use layers and masks and accurate selections in Photoshop to do selective adjustment appropriately.
James_N wrote:
Last time I checked, human faces, for example, were not yet perfect circles.
Tools like Viveza are good for quick fixes but can never replace accurate selections and carefully crafted masks.
i dont know an awefull lot, what i do know is like using masks.
in my landscape work they are a great way of fine tuning the smallest parts, something that no `superduper` image processing software could understand.
heres a link you may or not find usefull. its more geared to the basic work of layers/masks.
