<![CDATA[RetouchPRO - Blogs - Chris Tarantino's Blog by cricket1961]]> http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/ en Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:21:13 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[RetouchPRO - Blogs - Chris Tarantino's Blog by cricket1961]]> http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/ Conversion Software http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/171-conversion-software.html Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:44:35 GMT During my last webinar I was asked what i used for processing raw files from Photographers. The easy answer would be to say whatever software I am feeling is a favorite at the moment. BUt of course that would be a bit arbitrary and not always the best choice. I currently have several... During my last webinar I was asked what i used for processing raw files from Photographers.

The easy answer would be to say whatever software I am feeling is a favorite at the moment. BUt of course that would be a bit arbitrary and not always the best choice.

I currently have several applications that I use. ACR and Lightroom are two of them. Even though Lightroom is based upon ACR and ACR is pretty easy and straightforward to use, I tend to lean more towards Lightroom. I love the ability to go backwards in time with the image whenever I want. Or to make virtual copies of an image to see side by side comparisons of various corrections. There are really a lot of reasons to use Lightroom and not to many not to.

Occasionally I will get a few files that just don't seem to work all that well coming out of ACR or Lightroom. For whatever reason. At those times I move over to another piece of software that has been around for awhile and has caught up with Lightrooms flowing workflow.

Capture One 5 has come a long long way and has some exceptional controls for color correction and sharpening. It handles pretty much the same amount of raw files that its competition uses, but it invariably handles Phase files a lot better. Lightroom opens some of these files and handles them fine, but sometimes there is a new release that Capture One handles better... for instance the new P65+. Fantastic images. ACR and Lightroom open the files but you can see a huge difference when placed side by side with the output from Capture One 5

For the last year or so I have also been utilizing a great piece of software called RPP, or Raw Photo Processor. It is a pretty advance processing application that is a bit confusing to get used to. But it offers some qualities that no one else on the market does.

Its free for one.... always nice!

RPP handles nearly every camera on the market and is constantly updating profiles and adding new ones for new cameras. There are two version, the free one, and the version where you make a donation that gets you some added capabilities. Both versions give you a very film like output and are capable of sending to Photoshop a 32 bit image. It also does 8 bit or 16 bit, along with a variety of colorspaces.

But the 32 bit capability to me is what makes this application shine. It is very valuable for images that are rather dark and you need to bring out shadow detail. Used with Photoshops ability to open and adjust the 32 bit images there are a world of corrections opened to you that you never had. This application also takes into account BOTH green channels that a sensor has. And while you can adjust that second green channel, its not recommended. Let the application handle it.

Ok.... there is one other capability here that really shines. Probably more important to most people even over its 32 bit capability. It has the nice function of being able to push exposure while protecting Highlight. Its really quite nice to push an exposure up 2 steps and not worry about blowing out the highlights etc in an image.

RPP does not process noise.... meaning there is no remove noise capability. A problem I have yet to run into with any image coming out of it.

Here is a link to the website for info and a download link:

http://www.raw-photo-processor.com/RPP/Overview.html

Try all of the processing software you can get your hands on. They all work differently and all have their quirks. But you never know when one of them is going to come in handy and possibly save your.......

Chris ]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/171-conversion-software.html Corrected Separate Channels Action http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/168-corrected-separate-channels-action.html Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:03:18 GMT I have added in the missing RGB channels to the action. And corrected a misnamed channel. Chris I have added in the missing RGB channels to the action.

And corrected a misnamed channel.

Chris
Attached Files
File Type: zip Separate Channels.atn.zip (1.6 KB, 265 views)
]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/168-corrected-separate-channels-action.html Webinar Suggestions. http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/167-webinar-suggestions.html Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:48:07 GMT Hello Folks!

I'm glad that so many of you are getting something from my webinars. Always happy to hear that "open thinking" is occurring.

In the future, I have plans for additional Calculations chows, Apply IMage shows, Gradient Map shows, and eventually.......the custom filter...

Of course I am going to continue to do Beauty Retouches for all as long as they are needed.

But, please feel free to give me ideas for what you want ME to delve into for you in the hope of opening any doors that are locked etc.

Chris ]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/167-webinar-suggestions.html Channel Action from the First Calculations show http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/166-channel-action-first-calculations-show.html Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:10:49 GMT Hello Everyone

Here is the action mentioned in the show to create the separate document with all of the masking channels included.

Please don't forget to install the HSB/HSL filter from your original Adobe Photoshop instal dvd.
Without that plug-in, you will not get some of the masking channels available to you!

I will post at a later time a better explanation of the blend modes to better understand starting points using calculations.

Chris
Attached Files
File Type: zip Seperate Channels.atn.zip (1.7 KB, 213 views)
]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/166-channel-action-first-calculations-show.html New Tutorial Posted http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/163-new-tutorial-posted.html Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:21:45 GMT Hello All I have a new tutorial posted in the usual place... (here is the link for those who have not yet been there.... http://www.pmai.org/content.aspx?id=9970) As usual it is another technique that uses a tool for something other than what it is meant for. And its intuitive..... go... Hello All

I have a new tutorial posted in the usual place...
(here is the link for those who have not yet been there.... http://www.pmai.org/content.aspx?id=9970)

As usual it is another technique that uses a tool for something other than what it is meant for.

And its intuitive..... go figure.

This is another tutorial on masking, and even though it has the same name as my last tutorial, it is using a different tool altogether.

This tutorial takes all of the benefits of the Shadow/Highlight command and uses them to build precise masks on a global basis. You can of course integrate the resulting masks with existing masks to get up close and personal with local areas.

Try it out and see how it works for you.... you might be pleasently surprised!

Chris ]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/163-new-tutorial-posted.html Lightroom 3 beta http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/161-lightroom-3-beta.html Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:10:28 GMT If you haven't yet downloaded the new beta for LR 3, I recommend giving it a shot.

There has been a lot of rework under the hood
and runs a bit smoother than before. A lot of new features such as adding grain, a completely redesigned import that supports more formats, presets, and browser like capability.

Thumbnail scrolling is significantly faster.

Develop has added in much better sharpening, color noise reduction, a simplified local corrections panel and many more.

Output is significantly improved.

I could go on listing improvements and sound more and more like a used car salesman who has read a manual halfway, but I won't.

Here is a link to the public beta. Give it a shot.

http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom3/ ]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/161-lightroom-3-beta.html Tonal Zones in Photoshop http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/159-tonal-zones-photoshop.html Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:15:27 GMT I am thinking belatedly that there might be some confusion after my last webinar about what exactly I was referring to as 1/4 tones, midtones, 3/4 tones etc. Coming from the background I have in pre-press and actually having to run a small press oh so long ago, I take it for granted that the... I am thinking belatedly that there might be some confusion after my last webinar about what exactly I was referring to as 1/4 tones, midtones, 3/4 tones etc. Coming from the background I have in pre-press and actually having to run a small press oh so long ago, I take it for granted that the meanings of those terms are common knowledge.

Here is a breakdown for you to follow:

RGB world:

0-32 would encompass your shadow area's
32-96 would encompass your 3/4 tones with 64 being your center point
96-160 would encompass your midtones with 128 being your center point
160-223 would encompass your 1/4 tones with 191 being your center point
223-255 would encompass your Highlights

CMYK World:

0-12.5 encompass your highlight
12.5-37.5 encompasses your 1/4 tones with 25 as the center point
37.5-62.5 encompasses your midtones with 50 as the center point
62.5-87.5 encompasses your 3/4 tones with 75 as the center point
87.5 to 100 encompasses your shadow area's


Please keep in mind that when deciding what is what with the image you are working that THAT image decides what is what. It could be that the heaviest portion of the image is 85%. Therefore that is the shadow of the image.

Some old timers out there might object strenuously for the above comment about judging each image in its own right. All I can say is it works for me and always has. When you are looking for a dot/pixel at 85% and one does not exist whats the sense in moving a curve at that point? Or if it is indeed the heaviest pixel reading in the image why make the mistake of opening the image from that point and flattening it out? ]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/159-tonal-zones-photoshop.html Twitter http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/158-twitter.html Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:17:23 GMT Hey Forgot to mention that I am on twitter also. I probably twit(?) as much as I post to this blog but that is becoming more frequent. My twit name is Retoucherpro Hey

Forgot to mention that I am on twitter also. I probably twit(?) as much as I post to this blog
but that is becoming more frequent.

My twit name is Retoucherpro ]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/158-twitter.html Book announcement http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/157-book-announcement.html Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:41:05 GMT To all those waiting patiently for my dvd. I just signed a book deal for a Beauty Retouch book due out May 2010. It will touch upon similar cases as the dvd would and more. This really means that the dvd is delayed further but hopefully will coincide with the release of the book. Chris To all those waiting patiently for my dvd.

I just signed a book deal for a Beauty Retouch book due out May 2010. It will touch upon similar cases as the dvd would and more.

This really means that the dvd is delayed further but hopefully will coincide with the release of the book.

Chris ]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/157-book-announcement.html Pma 2010 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/156-pma-2010.html Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:38:42 GMT Next year PMA is going to be moving out of Las Vegas and heading to Anaheim California. If you are in the area and have enjoyed the webinars on Beauty Retouching come in. I will be teaching a Beauty Retouch class that goes start to finish similar to the webinar class but you get to work on... Next year PMA is going to be moving out of Las Vegas and heading to Anaheim California.

If you are in the area and have enjoyed the webinars on Beauty Retouching come in.

I will be teaching a Beauty Retouch class that goes start to finish similar to the webinar class but you get to work on the image at the same time.

The class is on February 21st, which is a Sunday if it makes it easier!

Chris ]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/156-pma-2010.html Action Posts http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/144-action-posts.html Wed, 12 Aug 2009 05:35:34 GMT My computer has been down since .... well minutes after my last Live RP Webinar. Not hours but minutes. And not much longer than seconds. All from a bum hard drive. This has bummed out several people who were scheduled for private lessons, and I greatly apologize for that. I am still... My computer has been down since .... well minutes after my last Live RP Webinar. Not hours but minutes. And not much longer than seconds.

All from a bum hard drive.

This has bummed out several people who were scheduled for private lessons, and I greatly apologize for that.

I am still amazed that the Apple store had the part in stock, actually brought the hardrive out and showed me. Cool! Can get it done in an hour!

Nope... This will take 3-5 days per the AppleGenius but 5-8 days per the invoicing.

So my retouching is at a dead halt, as is my developing. I should be thankful for the break, but it is detracting from so many things that
NEED to be done!

When I get the computer back, I will indeed post ANY action mentioned in my last webinar here as a step by step tutorial.

Hey come on. If I just put up the action itself I am not teaching you am I?
Besides, they are such simple things... really.

Chris ]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/144-action-posts.html Liquify Tutorial Repost http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/143-liquify-tutorial-repost.html Wed, 12 Aug 2009 05:20:21 GMT Here is my pre-edited tutorial that was posted on the PMA web site. I have noticed that there are a few calls for a liquify Tutorial, So here it is: Here is my pre-edited tutorial that was posted on the PMA web site.
I have noticed that there are a few calls for a liquify Tutorial,

So here it is:
Attached Files
File Type: pdf Liquifying2.pdf (468.6 KB, 1050 views)
]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/143-liquify-tutorial-repost.html New Tutorial Fixed and Posted http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/136-new-tutorial-fixed-posted.html Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:11:16 GMT The Selective Color masking tutorial that had been posted a couple of days ago has been fixed!

It is no longer a blurry bit of pixels that you couldn't read or make out differences in the masking.

If you downloaded it before and couldn't make heads or tails of it, please download again.

My apologies to all for this mixup in quality.

I do not think that it will happen again.... but who knows. It's out of my control up to a certain point.

Here is the link again:

http://www.pmai.org/content.aspx?id=9970

I hope that you find it helpful and that it pushes you towards using tools not as they were meant to be!

Chris ]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/136-new-tutorial-fixed-posted.html Private Lessons http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/132-private-lessons.html Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:51:15 GMT Hello All!

I have been hammered with requests regarding private lessons for retouching. Thanks!

I also get a ton of email about all kinds of stuff, as I am sure all of you do.

Well in the last week or so, my "rules" for incoming email sort of took over and mixed everything up quite.... nicely. Some also got automatically deleted before I could reply.

Will the person inquiring about jewelry retouching lessons please contact me again? I have searched over 12000 messages over and over again, and can not find your email.

I feel a little lame about this, but I would rather that then think that I ignored someone.

Thanks

Chris ]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/132-private-lessons.html Update... Just to get rid of the prior blog title http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/131-update-just-get-rid-prior-blog-title.html Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:05:42 GMT Ok. So the "upcoming event" happened awhile ago and I believe it went well. Thanks for the kind words and I am glad that people learned something from it.

I have written a tutorial about the selective color masking that I briefly talked about and showed during the "event", and it will be posted soon. It goes past the saturation mask demonstrated a bit, but leaves a lot of room to explore. Its really quite intuitive and I'm sure will be grasped quickly by all. I'll update here when I now what that url is.

As for future events, I know that there is a lot of questions about the use of calculations, luminosity masking, and other retouch techniques that I use. Unfortunately, the only way that they will come up in any future RetouchproLive events is if it is already incorporated into the image being used. So what you are looking for can pop up at any time or not at all, or further down the road awhile.

As mentioned in the write up for the previous event, I do make available individual training sessions through the web very similar to what the past event was. The difference being that its one-on-one and it would focus on what you would like to learn and take the time to learn it instead of a quick going over that is not available en masse. I do, however, for the sake of learning the tool as best as possible, limit how many subjects can be covered in any given session. And unfortunately, due to time zone differences, timing can be a bit off. But I do make an effort to accommodate.

So until the next event that I am involved in, keep experimenting
and check out the talent that I am sure will be showing up in future RetouchproLive events.

Chris ]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/131-update-just-get-rid-prior-blog-title.html