Screen or Curves?

[Rexx]

Is there any difference between Blend Mode Screen and using Curves? Short tutorial, no images. [details]

[Doug Nelson]

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]

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"

[TwinbNJ]

Originally Posted by Rexx

"I made a curve that looked like my wife when she was 7 months pregnant"

Now that's funny !

[Rexx]

Originally Posted by TwinbNJ

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...

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?

[Rexx]

Originally Posted by Rexx

In case your photo is not a fake (which I suppose it is)

Sorry, your Profile says you are a twin!

You too in IT?

[TwinbNJ]

Originally Posted by Rexx

Sorry, your Profile says you are a twin!

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 !!!!!