Timmy, what nice color you have. (bringing out the eyes)

[timmyquest]

http://www.questphotos.com/september2004/mason.jpg

I posted this picture here and at the FM forums. The following took place at the FM forums and i felt i'd share my technique that i use quiet frequently.

glitch16 wrote:
What camera is that taken with? it has AMAZING color in there

Aaron

300D
50mm f/1.8
550EX for fill flash
ISO 100
RAW
1/60
F/2.8
Adobe RGB...which brings me to my next point.

Shooting in Adobe RGB leaves pretty dull colors as you can see here from the photo straight out of the camera:

http://www.questphotos.com/mason.jpg

I pretty much left the RAW file alone and opened it into PS.

First thing i did was adjust levels (i didnt feel curves were needed in this photo) to bring the contrast up a bit.

I then sharpened the photo
I then cropped the photo

At this point i was about to make it a B&W but those blue eyes are just too much of a trait to pass up.

I duplicated the layer
I took the original layer (now under the new layer) and jacked the saturation up until the eyes were blue enough for my liking.

I then went to the top layer and erased the eyes so the over saturated blue eyes from the bottom layer showed through.

I then bumped the saturation of the top layer a bit now until i liked the overall color

*note* this did ont effect the blue eyes because in the top layer there arnt any blue eyes.

I then flattened, and saved.

:-)

[cmM]

Thanks for sharing.

Just out of curiousity: How much of a difference did you have at the end in saturation between the 2 layers ?

[timmyquest]

Thanks for sharing.

Just out of curiousity: How much of a difference did you have at the end in saturation between the 2 layers ?

To be honest i dont know exactly, i can tell you however that it was a lot. So much that it would look horrid ot leave it as it was.

I guess to give you an idea you could save the original image i posted and play with the saturation compared to my final.

I guess your asking if it was really needed to make the second layer. 90% of the time if you want really really vibrant eyes then yes...it is.

Typically the eyes are the only thing worthy of such a treatment in my opinion. Flowers could be too but usually in that case the whole scene is the flower.

[cmM]

I see.
Yea, I agree with you (I never thought about it, though :oops: ); I haven't taken many people photos lately.

The eyes really pop out and I would have never noticed there is a difference in saturation. Maybe Marylin Monroe doesn't really have purple eyes :P

[gmitchel]

Shooting in AdobeRGB does not result in dull colors. Quite the contrary. You have more saturated colors available to you in AdobeRGB than sRGB.

You get dull colors with AdobeRGB when you post them to the Web or look at them in a Web browser without first converting the image to sRGB. Otherwise, your image is interpreted as using the sRGB color space. As a result, they look duller and less saturated.

Always, if you work on images in AdobeRGB color space and you want to post them on the Web, go to Image | Mode | Convert to convert the image to sRGB.

Using a layer to add saturation is a fine technique.

All you need is a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. To keep the effect limited to something like the eyes, all you need to do is add a Conceal All layer mask and then use the brush tool with white to paint the eyes back in. Quick and simple. ;)

One suggestion. You might try adding a diffuse glow. If you go to my site -- www.thelightsrightstudio.com -- and visit the Digital Darkroom and then go to Tip of the Week and then Previous Weeks, you'll find a quick description of how to add a diffuse glow. I think it would add a nice touch to your image.

It's a very nice image, BTW.

Cheers,

Mitch

[timmyquest]

When i say you get dull images i say that because the camera does not allow you to "saturate" the images in the camer when shooting Adobe RGB. It is the same dull colors one would get form shooting JPEG (sRGB) without bumping up the saturation.

However most people when shooting anything but Adobe RGB typically do bump up the saturation.

[cmM]

Always, if you work on images in AdobeRGB color space and you want to post them on the Web, go to Image | Mode | Convert to convert the image to sRGB.
yea, but even when you convert from Adobe RGB to sRGB you can see a lot of difference.
Bumping up the saturation is a must for most pictures, but TQ is talking about his technique for selective saturation.

All you need is a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. To keep the effect limited to something like the eyes, all you need to do is add a Conceal All layer mask and then use the brush tool with white to paint the eyes back in. Quick and simple.
I though you couldn't edit an adjustment layer (I know for sure you can't use the eraser).

[gmitchel]

When i say you get dull images i say that because the camera does not allow you to "saturate" the images in the camer when shooting Adobe RGB. It is the same dull colors one would get form shooting JPEG (sRGB) without bumping up the saturation.

However most people when shooting anything but Adobe RGB typically do bump up the saturation.

No. Most people enhance saturation in Photoshop or some other editing program. That way they have control over how much saturation to add.

Since you obviously have an image editing program, why would you let the camera adjust saturation? That's a black box. You have no guarantee it will add too much/little.

Adding a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer in PS CS takes no time at all. In fact, you can adjust saturation right inside ACR II when you shoot RAW.

Cheers,

Mitch

[gmitchel]

Always, if you work on images in AdobeRGB color space and you want to post them on the Web, go to Image | Mode | Convert to convert the image to sRGB.
yea, but even when you convert from Adobe RGB to sRGB you can see a lot of difference.
Bumping up the saturation is a must for most pictures, but TQ is talking about his technique for selective saturation.

All you need is a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. To keep the effect limited to something like the eyes, all you need to do is add a Conceal All layer mask and then use the brush tool with white to paint the eyes back in. Quick and simple.
I though you couldn't edit an adjustment layer (I know for sure you can't use the eraser).

I know he's talking about selective saturation. He just went through more gyrations than were required, that's all.

The big benefit of adjustment layers is that you can edit the settings. All you have to do is click on their icon on the Layers palette and the dialog for the settings will appear.

To limit any layer to particular image features, all you need is a layer mask.

You can do the selection first, using any selection tool you like for the eyes. Then create an adjustment layer and PS will make a layer mask for the selection automatically.

Or you can create the adjustment layer and then do the selection and add a layer mask for the selection.

Or you can create the adjustment layer and then add a Reveal All or Conceal All layer mask and use the brush tool to mask everything but the eyes. Conceal All would be easier here.

Cheers,

Mitch