View Full Version : Screen or Curves?


Rexx
02-06-2004, 03:03 AM
Is there any difference between Blend Mode Screen and using Curves? Short tutorial, no images. [details (http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/?m=show&id=91)]

Doug Nelson
02-06-2004, 03:18 AM
Interesting. About the only time I use Screen mode is when there's a very underexposed (dark) image. I make one duplicate layer, set it to screen, then occasionally dupe the screen layer a couple of times. This is the same approach to using multiply to build up density in very faint images.

About the only potential advantage I can see for using the Screen mode (not counting any workflow preferences) is that the application would be more linear (a curve is, after all, curved).

Rexx
02-06-2004, 05:06 AM
Yes, that's what I use Screen mode for too. I find that setting the percentage 0-100% with a slider is easier than pulling the Curves "rubber band". 100% is a very curvy curve!

Perhaps the morale is
- Large adjustments = Screen
- Small adjustments = Curve

?

I didn't bother to test Multiply, but expect the inverse relationship to hold true.

Oh yes, there's one great advantage! You can say "I set it to Screen, 47%" instead of "I made a curve that looked like my wife when she was 7 months pregnant" :classic:

TwinbNJ
02-06-2004, 06:22 AM
"I made a curve that looked like my wife when she was 7 months pregnant" :classic:

:bigthmb: Now that's funny !

Rexx
02-06-2004, 09:07 AM
:bigthmb: Now that's funny !

Perhaps funny, but very impractical!

In case your photo is not a fake (which I suppose it is) your mom at 7 months would have been like, say 2 f-stops instead of 1... :tongue:

One might of course imagine a system whereby we could indicate the shape of level curves by pregnancy months. "Make an inverse 3 month curve....", but honestly, isn't Screen percentages better? :dizzy:

Rexx
02-06-2004, 09:10 AM
In case your photo is not a fake (which I suppose it is)

Sorry, your Profile says you are a twin! :blush:

You too in IT?

TwinbNJ
02-06-2004, 12:41 PM
Sorry, your Profile says you are a twin! :blush:

You too in IT?

She purchases LAN WAN equipment - I do Enterprise Application support, training and documentation.

And yes in my mothers case at 7 months that would be one heck of a curve !!!!! :aghast: