DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Reasons to buy Photoshop CS - Part 1
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 25 of 51, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 11/14/2003 02:17:07 AM · #1
I finally installed Photoshop CS (8), and had a few minutes to play. I figure as i find new cool stuff, I'll post them with samples.

Here is the first, and reason enough to buy it in my mind :)

ever take a shot on a sunny day, only to find subjects shadowed and backgrounds blown out? If you try to adjust it using brightness, contrast or gamma, you either flatten the image out, or have to dodge/burn the heck out of them to get a decent balance.
Welcome to the aptly named "Shadow/Highlight" adjustment. It effectively lightens your shadows and either maintains or darkens your highlights, with no need to mask or layer or select.
not a great photo or anything, but beautiful example below.

Check it:

My little dude on a horse, unedited.

and with the default settings on that adjustment:


Note that there's lots of room for fine-tuning. I didn't do any of that, i just used whatever PS had set as their default. That just saved me about 20 minutes of work to save that pic.

Giddy Up.

Pedro
 11/14/2003 02:25:30 AM · #2
This sounds great. Pity I've just bought Photoshop 7 a few months back.

However, if this is DPC-legal, and I think it is, why can't PS7 adjustment layers be legal, too? It would even the score somewhat.

(Apologies to those who don't use a similar programme...)
 11/14/2003 03:05:30 AM · #3
Impressive, especially straight out of the box.

I do hope there are going to be parts 2 - xxxx as people find new things :)
 11/14/2003 03:07:42 AM · #4
Originally posted by Koriyama:
This sounds great. Pity I've just bought Photoshop 7 a few months back.

However, if this is DPC-legal, and I think it is, why can't PS7 adjustment layers be legal, too? It would even the score somewhat.

(Apologies to those who don't use a similar programme...)


I belive adjustment layers are legal in normal mode
 11/14/2003 03:20:36 AM · #5
[quote=joannadiva
I belive adjustment layers are legal in normal mode[/quote]

Normal mode meaning what?

Not a trick question, I'm just still mastering PS and don't know the various modes.
 11/14/2003 03:26:59 AM · #6
Originally posted by Natator:
Normal mode meaning what?

Not a trick question, I'm just still mastering PS and don't know the various modes.


She means keeping the blending mode of the adjustment layer at normal. You can change the blending mode of layers in a pull down menu in the layers palette.
11/14/2003 03:36:00 AM · #7
Thanx for the post Pedro. Next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I am going to a seminar on Photoshop CS combined with a photography project, so I'll be learning about all the new features. So far from what I have seen of the new version, I am impressed.
 11/14/2003 03:46:53 AM · #8
Originally posted by kiwiness:
Thanx for the post Pedro. Next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I am going to a seminar on Photoshop CS combined with a photography project, so I'll be learning about all the new features. So far from what I have seen of the new version, I am impressed.


Sweet - please post what you learn Gary. It'd be cool to hear the things it was intended to do, as opposed to the stuff that I just stumble upon. someday i might actually read a manual. (yeah, right, or ask for directions - not likely)

Pedro
 11/14/2003 03:48:09 AM · #9
It looks like this filter does the same as a contrast mask.
Briefly, that consists of:
Add a new layer
Desaturate that layer
Invert the layer
Apply 'Overlay' mode to the layer
Apply a Gaussian Blur to the layer
Reduce the opacity of the layer.

I'd be very surprised if this new function in PS8 is pronounced not DPC-legal...
There is no way to accomplish the same effect in PS7 apart from using similar techniques to the one I outlined above.
I hate to bring this topic up again, but LOOK... we need to relax the rules!! Contrast masking is a VITAL part of post-processing, the Photoshop procedure above works because it is almost identical to the same darkroom technique.

Bob
 11/14/2003 04:09:42 AM · #10
Have to second what Pedro said there ....

If the seminar is any good, could you give us a quick summary of the best new features Gary please.
 11/14/2003 06:04:00 AM · #11
Originally posted by BobsterLobster:
It looks like this filter does the same as a contrast mask.
Briefly, that consists of:
Add a new layer
Desaturate that layer
Invert the layer
Apply 'Overlay' mode to the layer
Apply a Gaussian Blur to the layer
Reduce the opacity of the layer.

I'd be very surprised if this new function in PS8 is pronounced not DPC-legal...
There is no way to accomplish the same effect in PS7 apart from using similar techniques to the one I outlined above.
I hate to bring this topic up again, but LOOK... we need to relax the rules!! Contrast masking is a VITAL part of post-processing, the Photoshop procedure above works because it is almost identical to the same darkroom technique.

Bob



Ditto. I'm very new at photography, although not new at 'snapshotting'. My PS ability exceeds my photo skills (but won't forever!) and believe me, it still only helps a little. It doesn't take an average shot and make it great! It only takes an average shot and makes it a very nice average shot.

Message edited by author 2003-11-14 06:04:53.
 11/14/2003 06:07:29 AM · #12
Thanks Pedro, I'll be looking forward to the goodies you post.
 11/14/2003 06:21:43 AM · #13
Very cool, I just installed CS yesterday myself. Im a newbie with PS though, as I used PSP 7 in the past.
 11/14/2003 06:32:00 AM · #14
Just trying out PS8 now.. The ctrl+letter shortcut keys don't seem to work though?? For instance, CTRL+Z doesn't work for undo. Is anyone else having the same prob?

Oh - for PS 6/7 die-hards btw, they've changed a LOT of shortcuts keys (I presume to get rid of a lot of Ctrl+Alt shortcuts).
 11/14/2003 07:34:29 AM · #15
Review of editing restrictions is defintely essential now. There's stuff you can do in CS that would ordinarily require masks/spot editing. And if the net result is the same as spot editing or layer masks then this puts those who don't have the latest PS at a serious disadvantage.

It's a stunning upgrade...
 11/14/2003 08:09:40 AM · #16
While i agree this may be a fine time to re-visit editing restrictions, let's not make this another thread about it ok? There's about a billion others out there, and I'd like to keep this one about PS8 if possible ;)

Pedro

ps I've already found lots of cool other things, but I'll try to make it a post per day or something, or I'll never leave here.
 11/14/2003 08:16:12 AM · #17
Originally posted by PaulMdx:
Just trying out PS8 now.. The ctrl+letter shortcut keys don't seem to work though?? For instance, CTRL+Z doesn't work for undo. Is anyone else having the same prob?


I am guessing you have a pirate copy then Paul.

There is apparently a cracked version going around where the crack was not done well and you lose the shortcut keys.
 11/14/2003 08:18:55 AM · #18
Originally posted by PaulMdx:
Just trying out PS8 now.. The ctrl+letter shortcut keys don't seem to work though?? For instance, CTRL+Z doesn't work for undo. Is anyone else having the same prob?

Oh - for PS 6/7 die-hards btw, they've changed a LOT of shortcuts keys (I presume to get rid of a lot of Ctrl+Alt shortcuts).


Hehehehehe... that's becuz you have the wrong crack!!! ;-) nof sed
 11/14/2003 08:24:02 AM · #19
In "adjustments" you also have a cute fonction in "match color" (I think that's what it's called, I'm at work so...) the "lightness fonction works differently than levels and is awsome as well as the "color saturation" or whatever it'S called. It seems to saturate/desaturate way differently than the regular hue/saturation fonction. I'm not sure how it works and I don't really care as long as it improves my photos!!! AWSOME! AWSOME! AWSOME! :-D
 11/14/2003 09:26:23 AM · #20
In adjustements, there is the "photo filter" function, emulates as it says a filter you could traditionaly put on your lens. Warming or cooling a shot made easy.

Message edited by author 2003-11-14 09:27:01.
 11/14/2003 10:45:34 AM · #21
Originally posted by rhipster:
In adjustements, there is the "photo filter" function, emulates as it says a filter you could traditionaly put on your lens. Warming or cooling a shot made easy.

How about a polarizer?
 11/14/2003 11:18:24 AM · #22
Originally posted by BobsterLobster:
Contrast masking is a VITAL part of post-processing, the Photoshop procedure above works because it is almost identical to the same darkroom technique.

Bob


I agree Bob... I use it all the time outside of here, and have comment so else where on DPC... this is a basic DarkRoom technique that we should have the option of using here.
 11/14/2003 12:08:17 PM · #23
#1 reason for upgrading to PhotoShop CS... 16-bit editing.

Ron.
 11/14/2003 01:26:19 PM · #24
The Variations option.

A one click open for a window that shows your current image, and how it will look in various preset modes.

I'm using it to judge whether my image needs colour adjustment, has options for shadows, highlights, midtones and saturation.

A good place to start if theres is something that is bothering you about a shot. Let's you see different types of basic treatments.
 11/14/2003 01:29:59 PM · #25
Originally posted by JC Homola:
The Variations option.

A one click open for a window that shows your current image, and how it will look in various preset modes.

I'm using it to judge whether my image needs colour adjustment, has options for shadows, highlights, midtones and saturation.

A good place to start if theres is something that is bothering you about a shot. Let's you see different types of basic treatments.


Is this a change from the previous variations option ? sounds just like the one in earlier versions ?
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 03/12/2025 09:44:04 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/12/2025 09:44:04 AM EDT.