Reverse Engineering : Superclear & Superclean pic.

[KONTOL]

Hi guys,

This is my post here, so HI!

There's this fella, he's selling photoshop action at a price about USD1500. He calls it "HD Tones".

If he sells it as an action i guess it's not something that heavily relies on masking or localised editing (like lassoing the eyes and make it whiter and brighter).

the superclear and superclean look baffles me.

it's a cheap lens he's using, nikkor 50mm 1.8D.

i have a few pics taken at 1.8, using the same lens (maybe same camera, he's own a D70s too), albeit not as sharp (camera blur). but i can't reproduce the same look on mine.

hope you guys could see what is it that makes it look like it is.

here's the website :
http://fotojalanan.com/blog/?page_id=57

USD 1.00 is about RM 3.50
google calculates it as : RM 5000 = USD 1464.255

here are the samples :

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2455/...5d94779b7e.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2563/...621a0109b9.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/...91b81e5b_b.jpg

any idea to reproduce this look?

[flexmanta]

It's 500, not 5000. Check the prices for the other actions. 500RM makes more sense than 5000... that's about 150usd. Still a rip off.

That is nothing more than good use of luminosity masks. Just apply some curves and use the blend if command or use channels as selections.... million things you can do to compress the dynamic range SO quickly that doesn't even require you to make an action.





ps: I don't understand people who buy other people's actions. For me, buying someone else's action is like buying a used toothbrush...

[skydog]

I also can't believe the $ others spend money on...kinda like the new fad diet for $200 and all you really need to do is eat less calories and/or burn more. Looking for an edge without doing the fundamental work and practice.

[Caesium]

This is funny, I just had this conversation with a newbie commercial photographer this afternoon...


Why people buy actions:

Portrait photographers simply cannot afford the time investment to post produce every single image to a commercial standard. Actions can get you somewhere closer to the goal of a unique look but do so economically from both a time and money standpoint.

There is nothing wrong with buying or using actions, just make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. Pre-built "stylizing" actions are about as useful to a commercial photographer as a concrete block is to a guy drowning in the middle of the ocean. To a portrait photographer, however, effective use of actions combined with a solid sales presentation can add huge amounts to both your yearly sales and profit margin.

[Caesium]

Well, that should be "Why people **should**buy actions". I know many who think that clicking a button equals instant professional.

[KONTOL]

it's RM5000, 5k.

someone left a comment at the bottom of the page, saying how the action was 900 and now raised to RM5000. the blog owner later thanks some other guy who "understand" why such a price is justifiable.

i don't do a lot of retouching except for "erasing" pimples or scars. never go for any kind of look before, especially those fake cross processing, or the tinted look kind of photograph.

but this one, really makes me curious and want to try, but don't know where to start.

[flexmanta]

Caesium, don't try to sell me the usefulness of actions. I have an action for everything, i do. I have one that creates a grey softlight layer names it d&b, selects my brush to the right opacity and flow and what not.

What i was trying to say is that i dont understand why people buy OTHER people's actions. The great thing about actions is that accelerates repetitive routines that YOU have created. As a photographer, design your look. What is it you sell, xprocess? Ok, then design your xprocess workflow and make your own actions.

... or at least get them for free... 1500usd, are we crazy?!

[skydog]

The look he is showing is coming from the photographer and his camera...not just the actions. The actions may be a part, but they were created to meet the needs of the photographer. Look at his composition, depth of field, lighting, etc...this guy has the the look and feel he wants before he even applies his action. The action is just saving his time. Imagine a pig in a tuxedo...its still a pig. Save your money...and invest it wisely to improve your skills...definitely not on high priced DVD's..there are too many other options.

[flexmanta]

Ok, skydog, you didn't get the purpose of this thread. The thing is that the guy is selling his actions for 1500usd. Nobody thinks there's any secret in any of his photos which are in fact very straight forward: some have xprocess, some have toning, and the ones we are talking about are the locally contrasted ones that he claims you can only achieve by using HIS action set for sale there.

[skydog]

no I did get the purpose of the thread..I agree

[lkroll]

If the actions significantly speeds up and enhances your workflow then by all means purchase them, otherwise, I will too add that these actions seem a little on the pricey side. Not sure how significate the before/after are for the photos posted (only see the after), but $500 or even $150 is way too high a price to pay imo. But still, one man's trash may be another's treasure. To eaches own.

[KONTOL]

the reason i start this thread is to invite seasoned retouchers in this forum to discuss the posible way that blogger's method to achieve the look he's selling.

i don't expect a-z step by step solution.

maybe stuffs like "what has he done to the pics" as in
-compress dynamic range
-increase vibrance not saturation.
-as flexmanta said it, local contrasting.

or what ever.

[Quantum3]

I don't see nothing worth of either 10 usd in those pics. What's the deal with those actions? I'm really confused...

[secretagents]

High pass sharpening (new layer->high pass->overlay blend mode) plus Lab color boost (increasing contrast on the a and b channels) should get you there IMO and then you can write an action yourself and save hundreds.

[garibaldi]

i think thats a sweet deal, and you should jump on it. did you see the pet rocks he sells too on his site for $50 each?

look if you want to buy some action, go to hunts point in the bronx and bring a condom and try not to get busted

[Quantum3]

I have a firned who bought the Yervant Actions, btw, YERVANT, and those actions really sucks... I warn him not to buy that, but he did it so $200usd thrown to the YERVANT'S trash can... I don't know why people believe that an action will work on every image the same as good as it work in the demo picture. Actions definitely doesn't work, except for mines, which are not for sell XD

[garibaldi]

hahhaha classic! i bet he also bought the slap chop and the sham wow

[KONTOL]

Originally Posted by secretagents

High pass sharpening (new layer->high pass->overlay blend mode) plus Lab color boost (increasing contrast on the a and b channels) should get you there IMO and then you can write an action yourself and save hundreds.

ahh... thank you... i've tried ur suggestion and it does work well.

still waiting for suggestions from other members.

[Quantum3]

Originally Posted by KONTOL

ahh... thank you... i've tried ur suggestion and it does work well.

still waiting for suggestions from other members.

Then double click on that highpass layer and move the sliders located at the bottom in order to lower the effect in the highlights/shadows, so the image will not look blown in the specular lights

[KONTOL]

here's the before and after pics

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/382...2974612715.jpg
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/8...0947312715.jpg
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/944...1048312715.jpg

any other suggestions?

[KONTOL]

Quantum3, i saw your portfolio... Man, you're good.

i like the desaturated look (B&A) the most!