simplify the tones :)

[Gee]

haï retouchpro
i was wondering how can i bleach/simplify the tones in a picture.
have a look here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/djp72/s...37771915/show/

(its a guy who took the pictures from an amazing french photographer : http://www.cedricdelsaux.com/ , much easily to have a look thru flickr btw)

you can see that bright/bleached/simplified look on almost all the ads about cars and anothers christian schmidt etc.

i'm still wondering how to get that look propertly.
not with AIM RGB for example.



i guess its done in CMYK but i did all my postprod in RGB 'til then.
i hope u understand what i'm wondering atm


thanks in advance
ez

[Gee]

sorry, i got few anothers examples:

jonathantay.com.
this is "the" example pic:
http://www.thefstopmag.com/wp-conten...s/vx4d7804.jpg

http://www.thefstopmag.com/wp-conten...s/tigerair.jpg


with unprocessed pics here:

http://www.thefstopmag.com/wp-conten...0031_small.jpg
http://www.thefstopmag.com/wp-conten...0148_small.jpg

and the final:
http://www.thefstopmag.com/wp-conten.../final_web.jpg

[vapour]

One way of doing a "bleach bypass" without using the AIM profile is as follows.... (must be in this order)

1.
Make adjustment layer type > Channel Mixer > Select "Monochromatic > Set Red = 0%, Green = 0%, Blue = 100% - OK

Set that layer's mode to Luminosity.

2.
Make adjustment layer type > Channel Mixer > Select "Monochromatic > Set Red = 0%, Green = 100%, Blue = 0% - OK

Set that layer's mode to Screen at 80% opacity.

3.
Make adjustment layer type > Channel Mixer > Select "Monochromatic > Set Red = 100%, Green = 0%, Blue = 0% - OK

Set that layer's mode to Multiply at 50% opacity.

===
How he gets the rest of his look is beyond me, that will just give you a bleach look.

[sirespen]

Oh, cool photos and very interesting question! I'll hope to hear some tips from others soon

[Gee]

cheers vapour.

anyone got anothers tips?
could be interesting

actually i know the guy who do the postprod for cedric.
well, we're on the same random board, though and talked a lot few months back

[vapour]

Your welcome.

If you know the guy who does his post production why not ask him?

I wouldn't mind hearing what you find out.

[edgework]

Originally Posted by Gee

cheers vapour.

anyone got anothers tips?
could be interesting

actually i know the guy who do the postprod for cedric.
well, we're on the same random board, though and talked a lot few months back

Above the image, fill a Soft Light layer with white. Use blend if sliders to bring back whatever degree of shadow detail you wish.

[Insensitive.]

My try not as crisp and detailed, but I guess if i didnt some dodge and burn it would have came closer.

http://i34.tinypic.com/20aqbyg.jpg
train0031_smalltry.jpg

[sirespen]

Insensitive can you tell us what you exactly did on this picture?

[Gee]

cheers everyone for the tips.


the guy who did the postwork told me that... well...
it's basically MOSTLY curves layers. really close selections etc... A LOT.
and i believe him.

but 'til now i'm not able to do that..

[vapour]

Gee

Do you know how he made those close selections? Was it manually or via luminosity masks or some other method?

[Gee]

i guess its everything.
lum mask/channels/paint on mask with brush etc etc

http://lequere.loic.free.fr/
.. have a look on everysingle picture.

[Fact]

Vapour, thanks for show us your technique. It´s a diferent way but looks nice.

[vapour]

Thanks - I picked it up from Ronald N. Tan - http://www.ronaldntan.com/

[Gt_max]

Originally Posted by vapour

One way of doing a "bleach bypass" without using the AIM profile is as follows.... (must be in this order)
1.
Make adjustment layer type > Channel Mixer > Select "Monochromatic > Set Red = 0%, Green = 0%, Blue = 100% - OK
Set that layer's mode to Luminosity.
2.
Make adjustment layer type > Channel Mixer > Select "Monochromatic > Set Red = 0%, Green = 100%, Blue = 0% - OK
Set that layer's mode to Screen at 80% opacity.
3.
Make adjustment layer type > Channel Mixer > Select "Monochromatic > Set Red = 100%, Green = 0%, Blue = 0% - OK
Set that layer's mode to Multiply at 50% opacity.
===
How he gets the rest of his look is beyond me, that will just give you a bleach look.

Thnx alot for the explaination... was really helpful !
I did a 2 min try and heres the result

[smoothfluid]

That is brilliant Vapour. I will try and remember that, because it rocks.

[garnetpilchard]

Looks like plenty of soft masks. I'd lighten and darken areas with curves and then looks like there is a bit of desat overall. Nothing major, just masks.

[MilanS]

Here is my try! Took my like 12 minutes. But it's a small image to work with. I'm posting a rapidshare link to the PSD file.
http://rapidshare.com/files/15115884...0031_small.zip

Anyways, here is a quick info on the technique:

- Obviously you need to separate the subject from the background layer.
- make a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and pull all the color out.
- make Curves adjustment layer and lighten the midtones, then set it to screen blend mode.
- then make solid color adjustment layer and fill it with violet color and lower the opacity till it feels right, I used 20% and the color is R180 G170 B255
- now the women. Separate her from the background with any technique you feel comfortable, I used quick select tool and made a mask.
- than comes the bleach effect for the subject only.
- my method is as good as any.
- make two adjustment layers (one is curves and the other is Black & White)
- Set the first one (curves) to screen and brighten the midtones if needed.
- Set the second one (B&W) to multiply
- play around with those two layers till you get desired effect, and set them as clipping masks, so that they only effect the women.

That is basically it. I may have used a few more layers for fine refinement, but this is the core effect. Use PSD for further analysis

Cheers!