The demystification of dave hill! let's all help!

[longside1]

Quantum,

If he's such a newbie then i take it you have been able to master his technique? If so I would love to see some of your efforts.....the ball is in your court...

Incidentally, if you're going to insult people at least take the time to spell such insults correctly...

[Soul_of_Kilik]

Haven't you guys heard of the "Quantum3Studio Effect"? tsk tsk.

[Quantum3Studio]

JAjjajajJAj So manipulable...

[longside1]

Originally Posted by Quantum3Studio

JAjjajajJAj So manipulable...

As confirmed, you can't spell!

[marcchristopher]

Originally Posted by snook305

You guys should look at a plug in called SAFT for macintosh. On any given webpage you can do a control click and save the whole page as a PDF instantly..
I do it all the time and have a HUGE archive...:+}

That sounds good. I'm working on Linux, however, so that SAFT-thing won't work, will it? Is this a plugin? (Before somebody asks: Yes, Photoshop works amazingly well under Linux.)

Personally, I like to use a plugin called ScrapBook for Firefox: Lets me download single pages or whole sites (including all files) to my disk. Easy, simple, efficient. Recommended.

By the way: I second the request for that PDF. :-)

[Tareq]

Give us some photos taken at f16-22 with complicated or grungy backgrounds with a condition that it should be all lighted good enough then we can try, otherwise we have first to learn how to take good photos before applying any technique.

[Craig Willes]

Interesting, I had never heard of Dave Hill before today, but last December I was commissioned to make this portrait of a prominate welthy Atlanta business man at his home.

And this is what I created without as I said even knowing of Dave Hill.

First the shot as captured. Then the what I made after doing a bit of Photoshop work to it.

The method I used was to make 3 copy layers, the base layer I adjusted contrast up high. The next layer was not a copy layer but a filter layer, using >RENDER >FIBER and adjusting the fiber to what I wanted.

Then I adjusted the opacity of the fiber layer to reviel the high contrast layer below.

Then from the next to the top layer, I took and ereased away any area that I wanted to expose the fiber look, then added a drop shadow to that layer to give a deep shadow to the aread not ereased.

I then took the very top layer that was not adjusted at all, and kept any area that I wanted to stay as it was in the orig photo, ereasing away any area that I wanted to expose the effects that I had created.

I did use the sponge tool to saturate, and desaturate as I desired.

That is what I did.

[Craig Willes]

I forgot that I actually modified that image even further, it was in the Order folder.

On this version I enlarged the PORSCH emblem, as well as rotated the fiber layer to give it an angled look.

Here is that image...

[Tareq]

Originally Posted by Craig Willes

Interesting, I had never heard of Dave Hill before today, but last December I was commissioned to make this portrait of a prominate welthy Atlanta business man at his home.

And this is what I created without as I said even knowing of Dave Hill.

First the shot as captured. Then the what I made after doing a bit of Photoshop work to it.

The method I used was to make 3 copy layers, the base layer I adjusted contrast up high. The next layer was not a copy layer but a filter layer, using >RENDER >FIBER and adjusting the fiber to what I wanted.

Then I adjusted the opacity of the fiber layer to reviel the high contrast layer below.

Then from the next to the top layer, I took and ereased away any area that I wanted to expose the fiber look, then added a drop shadow to that layer to give a deep shadow to the aread not ereased.

I then took the very top layer that was not adjusted at all, and kept any area that I wanted to stay as it was in the orig photo, ereasing away any area that I wanted to expose the effects that I had created.

I did use the sponge tool to saturate, and desaturate as I desired.

That is what I did.

Originally Posted by Craig Willes

I forgot that I actually modified that image even further, it was in the Order folder.

On this version I enlarged the PORSCH emblem, as well as rotated the fiber layer to give it an angled look.

Here is that image...

Sorry, even you did a great job but it doesn't look as Dave Hill not even close

[Craig Willes]

Originally Posted by Tareq

Sorry, even you did a great job but it doesn't look as Dave Hill not even close

I won't take that as rude, because I don't claim it to be the same, I think what I saw if his work is great, but this I did without even knowing of Dave Hill, and have been doing such portraits for those who want it for over two years now.

In fact the first time I did a portrait like this was for this same client but for a family session, and for that one he bought a 60 inch wall canvas.

It's not for everyone, it's a nitch market, one that if I had it down as well as Dave Hill, I would be very popular, but you have to admit, it's not the same ol same ol portrait that everyone produces.

[marcchristopher]

@Craig:
Please forgive me for possibly sounding rude... (and I'm new in this forum as well, so who am I to talk). Anyway...

I like your photography and the result you are getting with your post-processing. However, as this is a Dave Hill-thread and you admit that your technique has nothing to do with Dave Hill, I don't exactly see the point of your posting...

[Craig Willes]

Originally Posted by marcchristopher

@Craig:
Please forgive me for possibly sounding rude... (and I'm new in this forum as well, so who am I to talk). Anyway...

I like your photography and the result you are getting with your post-processing. However, as this is a Dave Hill-thread and you admit that your technique has nothing to do with Dave Hill, I don't exactly see the point of your posting...

I did not know there was a guide or rule that a post can only be made if approved by a committee?

Not saying that to be rude, but if a thread takes a twist or turn, I would not be totally surprised or upset unless something was said to anger or insult another member, and I don't think I was rude or insulting to anyone in my two posts.

I did not view every post in this entire thread, being new to the forum, and since this thread is some 1500 posts long, but I saw a link to a site by a photographer named Dave Hill, and I assume that his look is what was being discussed.

Now in talking about that look, you have several aspects to it, one, and it's the one that I relate to more then the glossy visual look, is that of making non traditional portraits, and that is what I was posting, and how I felt my post was relevant to the thread.

I have never studied his work before today, but I take more then the traditional "Monte Zucker" portrait, by the way nothing wrong with a "Monte" portrait.

I knew Monte and did all of his printing for a year clear back in the 70s.

What I am saying is, although although I was trained by Don Blair, Frank Carricco, and Monte as well as Rocky Gun and Dave Munich, I like to take portraits that are not your lovely "standard" look at the camera style portrait when ever I have clients that will let me.

I would advertise for that niche if I was in New York or LA but here in Atlanta it has never really caught on.

Now that I have seen the Dave Hill website, I bookmarked it, I will study it and see if I can figure out his post work a bit, and see if I can come up with the same thing.

Also I would need to shoot more with wide angle, very little that I viewed on the Dave Hill website was taken with a long portrait lens which is what I have used for most of my portrait work, so I need to discover how to get that look, but also work a good bit more with my wide lenses, and see what I can come up with.

Is my work the same as Dave Hill, no never said that, other then it's not that traditional when ever I get a client that is good with me doing my thing.

Maybe I should insist on doing my own thing, but I have been in business so long that to make such a change and not offer the "standard" portrait I just might cut off my nose to spite my face so to speak.

By the way I don't take any comment as rude, unless someone really is rude, and it's obvious, I don't take comments on forums as personal, I take them as informative and try to learn from them.

[Quantum3Studio]

The closer approach I did to this guy, Dave Hill and to all those guys that do the same thing (Except for Dragan) just because every idiot in the world will buy it (because serious clients don't buy that kind of photos because Dave Hill is not fine art) I did it with other intentions at the end of the year 2006, after 2 years of trying different things and before knowing the HighPass filter as well. You can find these examples here: http://mart1980.deviantart.com/art/A...Xhizo-99087821 and http://mart1980.deviantart.com/art/A...Xhixo-99088034 here http://mart1980.deviantart.com/art/R...II-BW-99087127

and this one was my first try, which is not related to Dave Hills, just to achieve a good metallic tone in grey scaled images and this one was my first one: http://mart1980.deviantart.com/art/F...-King-91205906

Enjoy!

[Quantum3Studio]

A couple of more in color and only using Capture NX: http://mart1980.deviantart.com/art/A...Lamp-110339194 & http://mart1980.deviantart.com/art/R...ay-II-99087003

[snook305]

Dude Quantum What the heck do your images, whether nice or not, have anything to do with Dave Hill?
I think you should read through the thread from the start maybe.
The hardest thing about dave hill is getting the skin just right.. Your images look way over sharpened and way over saturated which may work for some landscape images or telephone poles etc... But try your formula on people and it will look like crap...:+}

Anyways you have to weed through the "My try" posts in most forums, which just waste forum space.
There are 100's of posts on this thread an about maybe 8-9 are useful and technically correct or in the right direction to get a "Dave Hill" Look which was the Jim Ficus as well as MANY others look before DAve Hill even new what a camera was...:+}
HE just got lucky shooting small upcoming bands in tenessee and as they became famous he became more famous and then made a signature Cartooy Overly photoshopped look which is pretty dead now and we will see what dave hill will do soon?
One Trick Pony?

:+}

Snook

Oh yeh and if you believe Dave Hill when he says he does not HDR to his images... He is full of it.

[garibaldi]

Originally Posted by snook305

HE just got lucky shooting small upcoming bands in tenessee and as they became famous he became more famous and then made a signature Cartooy Overly photoshopped look which is pretty dead now and we will see what dave hill will do soon?
One Trick Pony?

:+}

Snook

Oh yeh and if you believe Dave Hill when he says he does not HDR to his images... He is full of it.

My thoughts exactly! Like an overcooked hamburger, this look, this technique, and all you wanna be dave hills with your bad renditions, as well as this thread is DONE!

So giddy up bithces on your one trick ponies! For crying out loud, internet bandwidth is better suited for porn over this busted thread with which there is 98% hot air and bad images and 2% content

[Quantum3Studio]

What a bunch of sissy beauty retouchers... I feel myself like in some kind of hairdresser's shop XD JAjajaAJja...

[garibaldi]

This big look is not even retouching, its more like smothering the image with so much crap over it, it hides the fact that the picture sucked to begin with, you just get wowed with the weird look of it. Sort of like dumping a shitload of ketchup all over a pile of soggy ass french fries.

[Tareq]

hehehehe, all what i am sure about is that his techniques is not out of using Lucis Art, smoothing, D&B, some layer masks i think, maybe using blending as HDR but not HDR tonemapping [maybe using it only for landscapes backgrounds before merging 2 or more layers], all that will work if he got the right lights which he did, otherwise all will keep guessing what he did use, the problem is that i applied some fast retouching on some photos i downloaded from here and there and i suck with color cast, skin burn, and mostly with too much sharpness caused by high contrast [not using High Pass at all], and on some photos that are not good enough also i see the problem of halos, so does Dave Hill healing and cloning most of his photos when he saw those issues there? no one can know if he don't do any kind of healing or repairing some problems on the skins or the photo overall and we all think that he never retouch his photos from some issues.

[rudym]

can I put the steps cypisek posted? i made a copy.

[HelloPiccadilly]

Originally Posted by rudym

can I put the steps cypisek posted? i made a copy.

yeah, pls welcome )
at least, I would like to see that..

[rudym]

1. Open the image - indiana.jpg ---> http://www.celebritywonder.com/wp/Ka...er_14_1280.jpg
2. Duplicate image.
3. Duplicate BLUE channel, copy it and paste - Blending mode - LUMINOSITY 100%
4. CTRL+E
5. LUCIS - Exposure 100%
6. Paste BLUE channel - Blending mode - MULTIPLY 100%
7. MASK - LEVEL, Fill Black, White Brush- flow 5%
8. CTRL+A, CTRL+SHIFT+C, CTRL+V
9. LUCIS - Sculpture - 10%
10. MASK - Color Balance, Fill BLACK and soft brush
11. CTRL+A, CTRL+SHIFT+C, CTRL+V
12.CURVES
13. CTRL+A, CTRL+SHIFT+C, CTRL+V
14. Paste BLUE channel - Blending mode - MULTIPLY 100% and ERASER TOOL
15. MASK - Curves, Fill Black and soft brush
16. MASK - Levels, Fill Black and soft Brush
17. CTRL+A, CTRL+SHIFT+C, CTRL+V
18. Mask SATURATION +40, Fill White and soft Brush
19. CTRL+A, CTRL+SHIFT+C, CTRL+V
20. Cosmetic correction: hair, eyes, mouth etc
21. COPY ORGINAL LAYER(indiana.jpg) and PASTE it up on the LAYERS, Blending - Lighten - 35%
22. CTRL+A, CTRL+SHIFT+C, CTRL+V
23. Curves
24. Noise remove, I using NINJA NOISE
25. CTRL+A, CTRL+SHIFT+C, CTRL+V
26. Dodge and burn
27. Cosmetic etc.

[Soul_of_Kilik]

Originally Posted by Quantum3Studio

What a bunch of sissy beauty retouchers... I feel myself like in some kind of hairdresser's shop XD JAjajaAJja...

Quantum, I sadly have to admit, I liked your pics, man. Those dark B&Ws are really interesting. You seem to be too 'cool' for this thread, though. Keep in mind that everyone here is learning, and some actually know way more than you. If you cannot contribute in a decent manner, you should not be here.

[HelloPiccadilly]

so, as u can see, "lucis" is not so important )
1 layer for just 10%

Actually, it doesnt't matter what you do and succession.
You should know the reason why.

[Czarusek]

I am the perpetrator, to remove the post Cypisek, Filip is my friend, together we work in different ways including the effects of the DH, we aim to eliminate all types lucis plugins etc, a lot of work to cost us. I do not see the effect due to long work made available on the forum. Fortunately, this tutorial to set up Philip and ruddy copied, it is very incomplete. Yes it is in life that I'm that bad, Filip "Cypisek" the good ... hehe regards

[snook305]

What?
This is getting Creepy!!
The Doctor Jeckle & Mr. Hyde Dude And Quantum who talks out his ass...
Very creepy page here..

Hey Quantum, calling people Faegots which you cannot even spell right you moron is not going to get you anywhere..
Specially in the fashion industry.
Becareful what you say, Or I might have to take a quick trip to Argentina for some good ass kicking...:+]
jajajajajaja
Cachai Huevon!
Snook

[snook305]

Originally Posted by HelloPiccadilly

so, as u can see, "lucis" is not so important )
1 layer for just 10%

Actually, it doesnt't matter what you do and succession.
You should know the reason why.

Line 5 says 100% Lucis art...:+}
Snook

[Quantum3Studio]

Originally Posted by rudym

1. Open the image - indiana.jpg ---> http://www.celebritywonder.com/wp/Ka...er_14_1280.jpg
2. Duplicate image.
3. Duplicate BLUE channel, copy it and paste - Blending mode - LUMINOSITY 100%
4. CTRL+E
5. LUCIS - Exposure 100%
6. Paste BLUE channel - Blending mode - MULTIPLY 100%
7. MASK - LEVEL, Fill Black, White Brush- flow 5%
8. CTRL+A, CTRL+SHIFT+C, CTRL+V
9. LUCIS - Sculpture - 10%
10. MASK - Color Balance, Fill BLACK and soft brush
11. CTRL+A, CTRL+SHIFT+C, CTRL+V
12.CURVES
13. CTRL+A, CTRL+SHIFT+C, CTRL+V
14. Paste BLUE channel - Blending mode - MULTIPLY 100% and ERASER TOOL
15. MASK - Curves, Fill Black and soft brush
16. MASK - Levels, Fill Black and soft Brush
17. CTRL+A, CTRL+SHIFT+C, CTRL+V
18. Mask SATURATION +40, Fill White and soft Brush
19. CTRL+A, CTRL+SHIFT+C, CTRL+V
20. Cosmetic correction: hair, eyes, mouth etc
21. COPY ORGINAL LAYER(indiana.jpg) and PASTE it up on the LAYERS, Blending - Lighten - 35%
22. CTRL+A, CTRL+SHIFT+C, CTRL+V
23. Curves
24. Noise remove, I using NINJA NOISE
25. CTRL+A, CTRL+SHIFT+C, CTRL+V
26. Dodge and burn
27. Cosmetic etc.

I personally don't find LucisArt the way that a serious photoshopper will work with an image, but maybe, the result is good.
Have an example of the result? Would be very interesting seeing it

[Quantum3Studio]

Originally Posted by Soul_of_Kilik

Quantum, I sadly have to admit, I liked your pics, man. Those dark B&Ws are really interesting. You seem to be too 'cool' for this thread, though. Keep in mind that everyone here is learning, and some actually know way more than you. If you cannot contribute in a decent manner, you should not be here.

The problem is that some people here don't admit their arrogance. I already have contributed in this post. I've said that Dave Hill is quite a newbie in photography but good at retouch and many people here wrote that I'm the newbie. You see, it's like some people here admires so much to that guy (who does exactly the same retouch that Tim and I cannot remember the last name, and many others anonimous retouchers that almost have achieved the "Dave Hill" look or similar looks) that any kind of critique to "The Guy" results in sissy retouchers attacking me with lot of stupid things like "Your work sucks" or "Someone kows the Quantum3Stuidio technique?" or that sort of things. That's why I laugh, 'cause I know what I do, 'cause those who say that, never show off what they do. That's why I say that some people here has too much arrogance to take them seriously.
Coming back to the topic, Dave Hill is not a photographer, he's a retoucher who have learnt a very impressive technique. In fact, you can download all his backstage videos (I downloaded around 15 of them) and all the light setup he does is absolutely poor and basic, so there is no need to think about how he sets up the lights (I gave the same answer to a guy and there started talking with arrogance with a couple of sissy retouchers, then appeared other and another. They seems more like sissy hyenas than big brains). The fact is that Dave Hill sucks at photography.
In one of the backstage videos, he put a wide angle lens, in vertical position on the road and the lens falls to the road, making a big noise of CRACK. I mean, every person, photographer or not will always take care of its equipment and it's well known that a wide angle never will stand in any kind of surface.
There is a lot of photomontage in his pics and you can draw many conclusions of what he does by seeing a couple of the backstage videos. The most important thing is trying to look at the retouch taking away the effects and such and trying to back the image to its initial stage by using the mind. The other guy, Joey, he does exactly the same thing that Dave Hill and you can find some DVD's where Joeys explains how he gets the same result than David Hill. However, people believes that Joey is one thing and David is another, but they use the same technique. Those guys have bought the technique, it looks all the same.
It's quite obvious, when you see the way they work in the backstages and such, that they don't have any kind of idea about photoshop. Most people here knows much more about photoshop than those "super" retouchers, indeed, but most of the people here doesn't know how to apply their knowledge. Ask to Dave Hill, Joey or Tim what's a sensel, or how works the DeGrunging or what's really does the HighPass Filter. I don't think they know the answers, but most people here do.
Dave Hill and such just bought a technique and that's all. Just looking at his gallery you will find there is nothing more than the same effect applyed over and over again (which needs, of course, the same lighting set up) and that effect is just one of the huge amount of possibilities achievables inside Photoshop. aIt's pretty obvious that Dave, Joey and Tim only knows what's needed in order to achieve that overrated effect.

Well, be prepared to read a lot of critiques from the sissy retouchers... I'm going for some popcorn XD

[Quantum3Studio]

Originally Posted by snook305

What?
This is getting Creepy!!
The Doctor Jeckle & Mr. Hyde Dude And Quantum who talks out his ass...
Very creepy page here..

Hey Quantum, calling people Faegots which you cannot even spell right you moron is not going to get you anywhere..
Specially in the fashion industry.
Becareful what you say, Or I might have to take a quick trip to Argentina for some good ass kicking...:+]
jajajajajaja
Cachai Huevon!
Snook

Be smart and spend that money in some photoshop classes with Dave Hill