Kubota actions Vol. 3

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..

Does Vol. 2 have any framing actions as well?

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

Maui Kim wrote in post #2355113
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 CentralCalled Bud's Frames for Free

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

Maui Kim wrote in post #2355079
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..

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

http://www.pbase.com/p​h_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?

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.

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

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

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

Tiffany wrote in post #2459652
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........

sapearl wrote in post #2459548
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:
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=255207

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

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.

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.opensourcep​hoto.net …/index.php?show​topic=2967
The other threads are in the same section....Kim

Thank you Kim - the reviews keep pouring in . 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.

Maui Kim wrote in post #2459815
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:
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=255207

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 …35-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.

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!