Kubota actions Vol. 3

[jessiper]

Anybody have this? Why is there a superhero on the front? I was thinking about getting Vol. 2.

http://kubotaworkshops.com/store/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16172&category_id=258

[Tiffany]

ohhh nice. I have Vol 2 and love them. I wish they had examples of the new ones, though.

[jessiper]

ohhh nice. I have Vol 2 and love them. I wish they had examples of the new ones, though.

I couldn't find any examples, either. Isn't that weird that they would be selling a product, but not let you see what it is?? :confused:

[GCRollo]

I have Vol. 2 also, And find them very useful.

The only information I could find on Vol. 3 was the Written Descriptions in PDF Format. (http://kubotaimagetools.com/instructions/Kubota_ArtisticV3_Web.pdf)

Based solely on what I read, I don't really see anything of great interest on there. But I'll hold from making a final judgment until I see Image Examples

[Harry Settle]

Many of those look like variations of some in the first two paks. Many of them I have already recorded myself, in CS2, from processes found in books.

[JMW-Photo]

I have 1 & 2. I find that I use #2 the most. 1 has a lot of B&W actions.

Heading to Kubota RIGHT NOW to check #3 out!

[islandphoto]

Can anyone post an example of an image using a kubota action?

Thanks,

[BrittanyElise]

I second islands request - or at least a link to volume 2's artistic pack's examples since volume 3 examples aren't available. Thank you, in advance, for any references.

-Brita

[coreypolis]

I've heard great things about his actions, especially the sharpening.


showit effects has a new beta out. its also a worthy PP app
http://showitfast.com/products.php?op=effects2

[GCRollo]

Here's a Before & After Link for Vol. 2 (http://www.kubotaworkshops.com/pages/actions/)

[jessiper]

Here's a Before & After Link for Vol. 2 (http://www.kubotaworkshops.com/pages/actions/)

I've seen that before. I like them, but the changing border is distracting.

[jessiper]

I've heard great things about his actions, especially the sharpening.


showit effects has a new beta out. its also a worthy PP app
http://showitfast.com/products.php?op=effects2

I really like those as well, except I dont really care for the Portrait example, but maybe for some images it could work. I'm not spending $149, though. $100 would be pushing it, but I'd possibly buy it for that.

[GCRollo]

I've seen that before. I like them, but the changing border is distracting.

Misleading would probably be more accurate...

Like I stated above, I do have vol. 2 and I really like the actions, most of them w/ little to no further PP... But I was hesitant to purchase them (They're not cheap) because I too couldn't get a good "feel" for what they actually did, because they went from a white to black border.. It was too distracting a change on the eye.

Fortunately they turned out to be worth the cost.

I have heard Vol. 1 is pretty lame all and all, not nearly as useful as Vol. 2

The B&W Conversions on Vol. 2 are outstanding.

Here is a recent post I made w/ images PP using The Kubota actions (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=247255)

[jessiper]

Misleading would probably be more accurate...

Like I stated above, I do have vol. 2 and I really like the actions, most of them w/ little to no further PP... But I was hesitant to purchase them (They're not cheap) because I too couldn't get a good "feel" for what they actually did, because they went from a white to black border.. It was too distracting a change on the eye.

Fortunately they turned out to be worth the cost.

I have heard Vol. 1 is pretty lame all and all, not nearly as useful as Vol. 2

The B&W Conversions on Vol. 2 are outstanding.

Here is a recent post I made w/ images PP using The Kubota actions (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=247255)

That's what I thought, but I was able to see past the distracting borders and think they're pretty good as well. Those tattoo flowers are popular.

Thanks!

[islandphoto]

Here's a Before & After Link for Vol. 2 Thanks for the link! Most of them look absolutely great! I really like "hawaiian punch"! So what's the best way to purchase these actions?

Thanks again for all of the examples!

[Maui Kim]

I just purchased the #2 action pack..it seem to have all of the "good" ones..I didn't want to get the whole bundle..I probabaly wouldn't use all of them. I love a few of the actions and some are just ok..

[islandphoto]

Does Vol. 2 have any framing actions as well?

[Maui Kim]

only frames for 4x6 proofs..I think..

[GCRollo]

only frames for 4x6 proofs..I think..

Which kind of sucks... Because if you don't crop your images 2:3, you get uneven borders. There is a better set of Frame @ Action Central (http://www.atncentral.com/download.htm)Called Bud's Frames (http://www.atncentral.com/Zip_Actions/Buds_Frames.zip) for Free

[sapearl]

Hi Kim, I see that it's been several weeks since you purchased the Kubota #2 Artistic Pack. I was curious what your impressions have been now that you've had time to play with it.

I get the sense from comments hear and elswhere that most people seem to lean towards #2 from a feature and value standpoint. I've been using CS2 for nearly a year, but have yet to get any plugins.

The Kubota s/w looks interesting, but I'm a little put off by that $100 price. I'd love to hear your comments - thanks. Stu

I just purchased the #2 action pack..it seem to have all of the "good" ones..I didn't want to get the whole bundle..I probabaly wouldn't use all of them. I love a few of the actions and some are just ok..

[sapearl]

I was googling some before and after images for Kubota actions and found these PBase examples done by Scott Lueken:

http://www.pbase.com/ph_balanced/kubota

Some of the examples are quite nice - I'm particularly interested in B&W conversion. As for other images, I feel I could probably achieve the same affect by simply making a few PS adjustments, and not purchasing another layer of s/w IMHO. To those who have used his products, is this a fair analysis?:confused:

[Tiffany]

I find that the Vol 2 actions just make things easier/faster. Sure, you can up saturation, boost contrast, and sharpen (Basically what Daily Multivitamin does) on your own - but it's nice to just push a button and have it done. I love Lord of The Rings for a soft, glowy effect and it's really nice for skin smoothing without getting that plastic look - though I often tweak it by lowering the opacity of the "softy" layer from 80% to 50% and also lowering the opacity of the entire set to about 60-80% depending on the image. The various black & white actions are good, though I prefer a Canon high contrast b&w action for most of my basic conversions. I also really like the Hot Fudge which is a black & white but also soft - nice.

[coreypolis]

I haven't really looked in detail yet, but which set has magic sharpen in it?

[sapearl]

Hi Tiffany - thanks for the review. It always helps to get input from actual users in the forum :D .

So overall, you think it was worth the $100, or are there other "commercial" packages out there that may be a better investment. Thanks. - Stu

I find that the Vol 2 actions just make things easier/faster. Sure, you can up saturation, boost contrast, and sharpen (Basically what Daily Multivitamin does) on your own - but it's nice to just push a button and have it done........

[Maui Kim]

Hi Kim, I see that it's been several weeks since you purchased the Kubota #2 Artistic Pack. I was curious what your impressions have been now that you've had time to play with it.

I get the sense from comments hear and elswhere that most people seem to lean towards #2 from a feature and value standpoint. I've been using CS2 for nearly a year, but have yet to get any plugins.

The Kubota s/w looks interesting, but I'm a little put off by that $100 price. I'd love to hear your comments - thanks. Stu


Hello Stu..I'm finding that I really like alot of the actions..I think that it cuts down time in processing. I really like their B&W conversions alot. Also I 'm finding that the makeup artist works really good. I also purchased some actions from itty bitty actions and I love combining the different actions from both packs to get a different look. I dont have any wedding examples right now but I do have some childrens portrait examples in this thread:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=255207

I think its worth the $100...i hope this helps...Kim

[Tiffany]

It was worth it to me - I use at least one action on probably every image I PP - even if it's just the daily multivitamin one. Sometimes they seem a little too red - that's the main thing I watch for.

[Maui Kim]

oh I forgot to metion that over on OSP a member has given examples of the Kubota 3 actions..she has broken them up into 3 threads.. here is the first thread: http://www.opensourcephoto.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=2967
The other threads are in the same section....Kim

[sapearl]

Thank you Kim - the reviews keep pouring in :D . This does help.

For the most part my "makeup" has consisted of the stamp, healing and cloning tools - real manual sort of operations that get the job done, but make me think that perhaps something is lacking. His actions could be the answer.

Your children's portrait examples are very nice, and help to illustrate the actions.

Hello Stu..I'm finding that I really like alot of the actions..I think that it cuts down time in processing. ..... I 'm finding that the makeup artist works really good. ......I dont have any wedding examples right now but I do have some childrens portrait examples in this thread:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=255207

[islandphoto]

I just got volume 2 last week and I love a lot of the actions. It makes things so much easier and faster. Please check out my latest blog entry for some examples:

http://web.mac.com/joannatano/iWeb/maui/blog/BD7242C1-93CE-4035-AC57-1389AC46BD65.html

I mostly used radient landscape and the black and white conversions. I think one Lord of the rings action as well :)

The tropical punch example from the before and after link on this thread is very misleading.

[jbstudios]

i have volume II and LOVE IT! but i am all about being lazy. I use them all the time, its just so much faster pushing a button. I could see for experts them not being that impressed but for commoners its so the best!!!!!!!!

Now i'm looking into david jays stuff. it looks so awesome!

[EOS mE]

ok.. i'm 90% sold on the kubota action 2 set. perhaps it's time to look deeper into this... ;)

[motogeno]

I just got volume II and I love it. Maybe all of these effects can be done manually, but the thing that I'm learning as I am starting to get some business in is that time really is money. Whatever can speed up the process must be done, because as photographers we make nothing for time spent pp. Just my .02