(Editor's note: Aurora HDR 2019 is now available. The links in this article offer savings and free training videos, Looks and LUTs as well.) The release of Aurora HDR 2019, coupled with a backlog of unprocessed landscape images generated in the past year, allowed me to put a pre-release version of the program through its paces in a frenzy of processing. I should preface my comments by pointing out that I have no prior experience with earlier versions of Aurora. Even my experience with HDR is limited to Lightroom. After 3 evenings of … [Read more...] about First impressions of a landscape photographer: Aurora HDR 2019 and single image adjustment
software
Quick Tip: Saturation vs. Vibrance
There are two sliders in Lightroom and most other post-processors that can be handy for adjusting the intensity of your colors. Think of saturation like ISO, but for color — it bumps up the intensity of all of the colors in your photograph. On the other hand, vibrance is more selective, adjusting only the more muted colors in your photograph. This can help lead to a more evenly-saturated image. Both tools definitely have their usage — check out the three photos below to see how they can affect an image. … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Saturation vs. Vibrance
Quick Tip: What happened to “Camera Calibration” in Lightroom Classic Creative Cloud?
I develop images in Adobe Lightroom Creative Cloud (LR CC) using a top-down approach, starting with "Basic". The one rule breaker was "Camera Calibration", the very last menu item. When working with RAW image files, I find starting with Camera Calibration can save time and energy. I shoot Nikon and Fuji and find that camera specific settings often outperform the generic Adobe presets in LR. I recently updated the LR Classic CC app (formerly called LR CC) to the latest 7.3 release and could not find "Camera Calibration". It seemed like a big … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: What happened to “Camera Calibration” in Lightroom Classic Creative Cloud?
Portrait Tips: Know Your Software
Here's a quick tip that will help you be more creative while shooting and manage details. You need to know your software tools at least as well as you know your camera and lights. This has been on my mind, lately, behind I've been demonstrating Luminar for lots of folks and it's amazed me how quickly I've been able to integrate it into my workflow and understand how it can affect my pictures. Photoshop isn't New "Getting it right in the camera" is often invoked as the hallmark of a good photographer, but it's a big misconception. Ever since … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Know Your Software
How to Enhance Your Photos With Textures – Part 1: Adding Textures
In photography a texture image or "texturing" is used to enhance or accent some part of the image in your digital darkroom. Although they can help you create eye-catching works of art, textures also can be very easy to overdo. In this article I'll explain my process for adding textures to my photography using Adobe Stock and Photoshop to create more impact, transform the mood of the image, or improve the composition. Origins Using textures originated in the days of film by using different techniques in the darkroom. Methods included … [Read more...] about How to Enhance Your Photos With Textures – Part 1: Adding Textures
Live Webinar Tuesday: Picture Perfect Retouching with Roberto Valenzuela
You gotta join us live for our next Live Webinar, totally free of charge. Not only will you learn terrific techniques, but if you tune in live, you can be entered to win excellent prizes to help you in your work. (Note: MUST BE TUNED IN LIVE TO WIN). We'll be giving away a copy of Perfectly Clear from Athentech. Plus you never know what else. We kick off Tuesday, December 5th at 1:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 pm Central, 11:00 am Mountain, and 10:00 am Pacific. 2 pm in the Virgin Islands. Check out the YouTube event here and it'll show your … [Read more...] about Live Webinar Tuesday: Picture Perfect Retouching with Roberto Valenzuela
Live Webinar Tuesday: Picture Perfect Retouching with Roberto Valenzuela
You gotta join us live for our next Live Webinar, totally free of charge. Not only will you learn terrific techniques, but if you tune in live, you can be entered to win excellent prizes to help you in your work. (Note: MUST BE TUNED IN LIVE TO WIN). We'll be giving away a copy of Perfectly Clear from Athentech. Plus you never know what else. We kick off Tuesday, December 5th at 1:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 pm Central, 11:00 am Mountain, and 10:00 am Pacific. 2 pm in the Virgin Islands. Check out the YouTube event here and it'll show your … [Read more...] about Live Webinar Tuesday: Picture Perfect Retouching with Roberto Valenzuela
Lightroom Brushes and Presets by Sleeklens
There are many photo-editing products available for processing images in conjunction with Lightroom. Many of these products are third-party plugins which can be used directly from Lightroom or as stand-alone applications. Other products provide presets or brushes used within Lightroom. Presets actually move the Lightroom sliders, creating enhancements that affect the entire image. Brushes are used to selectively brush in adjustments through the Lightroom adjustment brush or the gradient tool. Recently I began incorporating Sleeklens presets … [Read more...] about Lightroom Brushes and Presets by Sleeklens
Live Webinar: Picture Perfect Retouching with Roberto Valenzuela
You gotta join us live for our next Live Webinar, totally free of charge. Not only will you learn terrific techniques, but if you tune in live, you can be entered to win excellent prizes to help you in your work. (Note: MUST BE TUNED IN LIVE TO WIN). We'll be giving away a copy of Perfectly Clear from Athentech. Plus you never know what else. We kick off Tuesday, December 5th at 1:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 pm Central, 11:00 am Mountain, and 10:00 am Pacific. 2 pm in the Virgin Islands. Check out the YouTube event here and it'll show your … [Read more...] about Live Webinar: Picture Perfect Retouching with Roberto Valenzuela
Frequency Separation for the Next Generation
I know, I know...Frequency Separation is a VERY hot & loaded topic to bring up, and no, you don't _have_ to use it. It's pretty easy to go way too heavy handed with F.S. and end up making your portrait client look like a plastic doll. But when it's used right, it's pretty much going to be your go-to tool for perfecting your clients' images. A lot of professional full-time retouchers, love it or hate it, use Frequency Separation on nearly everything, so let's ignore the arguments about what can go wrong with F.S. and just go into why this … [Read more...] about Frequency Separation for the Next Generation
Luminar 2018: My First Impressions
Macphun (Skylum Software) just dropped their latest version of their editing tool, Luminar 2018 and I decided to check it out. I'm not typically one to edit my work with tons of filters and actions, and those that I do use, I tend to use sparingly, so I wanted to see what Luminar 2018 had in store and how much finesse their tools had. Seeing as I just got back from an epic journey to South Africa, I had a lot of fun images to play with. First Impressions: Pros One of the major things I like about Luminar 2018 is its flexibility. It can … [Read more...] about Luminar 2018: My First Impressions
Wedding and Portrait Editing Survey (Plus Free eBook)
We'd like to better understand your needs when editing portraits and wedding images. We're helping to design some new presets as well as software features and we'd like to know what you want. The survey can be taken here — https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/weddingphoto All folks who take the survey get a free copy of Scott Bourne's 72 Essays on Photography eBook (worth $9.99). You'll find the link at the top of the survey right below the title. You can also enter to win a $50 B&H Gift Card. Please take 3 minutes and share your … [Read more...] about Wedding and Portrait Editing Survey (Plus Free eBook)
Live Webinar: Picture Perfect Retouching with Roberto Valenzuela
You gotta join us live for our next Live Webinar, totally free of charge. Not only will you learn terrific techniques, but if you tune in live, you can be entered to win excellent prizes to help you in your work. (Note: MUST BE TUNED IN LIVE TO WIN). We'll be giving away a copy of Perfectly Clear from Athentech. Plus you never know what else. We kick off Tuesday, December 5th at 1:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 pm Central, 11:00 am Mountain, and 10:00 am Pacific. 2 pm in the Virgin Islands. Check out the YouTube event here and it'll show your … [Read more...] about Live Webinar: Picture Perfect Retouching with Roberto Valenzuela
Live Webinar: Picture Perfect Retouching with Roberto Valenzuela
You gotta join us live for our next Live Webinar, totally free of charge. Not only will you learn terrific techniques, but if you tune in live, you can be entered to win excellent prizes to help you in your work. (Note: MUST BE TUNED IN LIVE TO WIN). We'll be giving away a copy of Perfectly Clear from Athentech. Plus you never know what else. We kick off Tuesday, December 5th at 1:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 pm Central, 11:00 am Mountain, and 10:00 am Pacific. 2 pm in the Virgin Islands. Check out the YouTube event here and it'll show your … [Read more...] about Live Webinar: Picture Perfect Retouching with Roberto Valenzuela
Live Webinar: Fundy Software with Andrew Funderburg
You gotta join us live for our next Live Webinar, totally free of charge. Not only will you learn terrific techniques, but if you tune in live, you can be entered to win excellent prizes to help you in your work. (Note: MUST BE TUNED IN LIVE TO WIN). We'll be giving away a copy of Perfectly Clear from Athentech. Plus you never know what else. We kick off Wednesday, September 13th at 1:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 pm Central, 11:00 am Mountain, and 10:00 am Pacific. 2 pm in the Virgin Islands. Check out the YouTube event here and it'll show … [Read more...] about Live Webinar: Fundy Software with Andrew Funderburg
Live Webinar: Fundy Software with Andrew Funderburg
You gotta join us live for our next Live Webinar, totally free of charge. Not only will you learn terrific techniques, but if you tune in live, you can be entered to win excellent prizes to help you in your work. (Note: MUST BE TUNED IN LIVE TO WIN). We'll be giving away a copy of Perfectly Clear from Athentech. Plus you never know what else. We kick off Wednesday, September 13th at 1:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 pm Central, 11:00 am Mountain, and 10:00 am Pacific. 2 pm in the Virgin Islands. Check out the YouTube event here and it'll show … [Read more...] about Live Webinar: Fundy Software with Andrew Funderburg
A Simple Way to Add Some Organization to Your Desktop
A lack of organization can really kick you in a sensitive area if you're on a time crunch or are called to produce a photo or document of some sort. So here's a tip: don't be a digital slob! You might be a digital slob if your desktop is littered with a bunch of folders and files to the point where you can't see the beautiful wallpaper that is supposed to be displayed underneath. You might not be a complete slob if it takes you more than 5 seconds to find a file or folder on your desktop, that just means that you're one of those organized … [Read more...] about A Simple Way to Add Some Organization to Your Desktop
Photomatix OneShot Makes Photos POP!
There are hundreds of filters and presets available for making photographs into "something else" in Photoshop, Lightroom or with other software packages. One of my favorites comes from from HDRsoft the maker of the outstanding HDR converter Photomatix Pro. Allow me to introduce you to Photomaitx OneShot. HDR effects for single images Traditionally, High Dynamic Range or HDR, requires at least three exposure bracket of photos two or more stops apart. The information in the bracketed set of pictures provides the HDR conversion software an … [Read more...] about Photomatix OneShot Makes Photos POP!
Got A New Camera? Get Luminar Pluto, Too
Luminar, by Macphun, is a photo finishing tool for Mac computers, and I'm really impressed. It's simple and intuitive to use. I think if you're a new photographer that this is probably the best photo software for you. As a new photographer, it's important to remember that software doesn't make your pictures better, it can only put the finishing touches on them. Practicing composition and mastering all your camera's controls and their effects will make your pictures better, and then Luminar will help you refine your pictures so they convey the … [Read more...] about Got A New Camera? Get Luminar Pluto, Too
JPEGmini – Secret Weapon of The Photographer on the Move!
Pretty much everyone reading this is all too familiar with JPEG's and the creation of large, small, printable, social media sized, etc images for clients. If you're like me and tend to shoot a fair number of weddings and events with LARGE, (sometimes obscenely so), catalogs of images, the delivery of these files to your clients can often be an absolute nightmare. Sharing online takes forever to upload and download....sometimes they want them on a Hard Drive or Thumb Drives and you just can't fit everything. Compile that with YOUR personal … [Read more...] about JPEGmini – Secret Weapon of The Photographer on the Move!
Drobo migration from Drobo to Drobo5D
Since I've gotten a Drobo, I have to say, I really enjoy it. It's nice having a user friendly RAID array of drives not just for the capacity they provide, but for the data protection they provide. In case you're wondering about more reasons why you'd want one, check out this previous Photofocus article here. So I've been dragging my feet on this for quite a while. I know I've needed to do it, but for fear of it being a "big deal" I've been putting off migrating and updating from my Drobo Generation 3 to my new Drobo 5D. "It's the busy … [Read more...] about Drobo migration from Drobo to Drobo5D
Perfectly Clear Complete–Black Friday Sale!
Perfectly Clear Complete is an amazing plug-in that helps photographers finish their images in either Lightroom or Photoshop. Post-production requires a huge amount of time from photographers to get images ready to go to their customers. Perfectly Clear from Athentech is the answer to this problem. It's easy to use with simple, built-in presets that can be customized too. It can batch process a single image or a folder full of photographs. Best of all, Perfectly Clear Complete is on sale for Black Friday! The photo at the top of this post … [Read more...] about Perfectly Clear Complete–Black Friday Sale!
Adobe Announces Project Felix
https://youtu.be/yaMjHn-RJYA Adobe has announced a new member of the Photoshop family, Project Felix. Project Felix gives designers easy-to-use 3D tools to help them create high quality images with photo-realistic effects without time-consuming workflows or 3D expertise. In the video above you can see the very easy workflow. In a nutshell, Project Felix delivers in 3 key areas: Easy access to assets. Project Felix comes with a library of models, materials and lights to help you get started the moment you open it on your desktop. Its … [Read more...] about Adobe Announces Project Felix
Photographer’s Review – iPad Pro
Holy crap. I caved. I really bought an iPad. Not just any iPad, the newest 9.7" iPad Pro! I'm not new to the iPad world. I deal with them every day I work! I just no longer owned one after my original iPad Mini got a little outdated for me. Many of you know, fellow author here on Photofocus, Vanelli. Ever since I met him, he's been hounding me for not having an iPad at the trade shows that I've seen him at-- WPPI and Photoshop World. I never really thought about the benefits of having one (besides being able to write on one, or watch movies, or … [Read more...] about Photographer’s Review – iPad Pro
MacPhun’s Intensify: Taking Images to the Next Level
I’m not one to rely too much on third-party plug-ins. I try to keep things simple, and usually stick with Lightroom and Photoshop. Macphun’s Intensify is an exception. I use it regularly in my workflow. A plug-in for Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, and Apple Aperture, it is unfortunately only for Mac users. I use Intensify for three reasons—at times it is quicker than me figuring out similar enhancements in Lightroom or Photoshop; it provides greater controls over adjustments than other plug-ins I have experimented with, and … [Read more...] about MacPhun’s Intensify: Taking Images to the Next Level
Plotagraph Pro News
You may remember that Photofocus was one of the first sites to tell you about Plotagraph Pro. This amazing software offers photographers the chance to easily animate still images. This works with ANY still photo, you can animate a photo you shoot today or one from a hundred years ago. Absolutely no video is required. Since we first told you about it, they've added a bunch of new features. It's also even easier to use (here's a quick tutorial). The big news is this... because so many have asked... there's now a trial version. This … [Read more...] about Plotagraph Pro News
DroboPix “Corrupt” JPGs Bug
I recently posted a tutorial about installing and using the wonderful new free DroboPix app for Drobo N devices. You might have noticed JPG files that won't draw a preview in Bridge. The "bug" Double click on one of the files will open it correctly in the default Mac program Preview. If you have changed the double click to use Photoshop in the Get Info box, the file will open with this message. The files are not corrupt. They have been improperly named during import. These are screenshots I made with my iPad. Screenshots … [Read more...] about DroboPix “Corrupt” JPGs Bug
Easier Masking with Photoshop’s New Select & Mask Taskspace
Photoshop has a new update (CC2015.5) and it includes a remarkable new selection tool interface called the Select and Mask Taskspace. Selections and masks allow you to isolate your subject from the rest of a photo and are a fun way to create composites or make adjustments to only that portion of the picture. But, creating selections around things like hair and fur can be difficult. The new tools help make it a lot easier. I plan to use this tool for removing a person from the background, which I frequently need to do for the Steve Jobs … [Read more...] about Easier Masking with Photoshop’s New Select & Mask Taskspace
Photofocus Team Participates in the Big Deal
We wanted to let you know about a special deal that’s running that features a bunch of the Photofocus team. It’s called the Big Deal and you get a lot of awesome stuff including training and software.You’ll find four contributors from the Photofocus team 3 Scott Bourne ebooks DSLR Video training with Rich Harrington Photoshop training with Dave Cross Lighting training video with Joe McNally Plus great software like Perfect Eyes Macphun Tonality Photo Mechanic Particle Shop Topaz Clarity A lot of great other … [Read more...] about Photofocus Team Participates in the Big Deal
Professional Retouching: Principles & Practices with Kristina Sherk
Portraits are not only the most important pictures you make, but they can also be the most profitable. As such, portraits deserve your best effort at a perfect finish, and this webinar will help you learn the principles and best methods for helping people look their best in pictures. Kristina Sherk (www.sharkpixel.com) joins us this month from Washington, D.C. She's a photographer and retoucher with years of experience retouching, and almost as many years teaching. This is your chance to tune in Live with Kristina and learn the techniques … [Read more...] about Professional Retouching: Principles & Practices with Kristina Sherk
