Power Retouche Plug-ins

[pizellie]

I am looking for some input and recommendations on Power Retouche Plug-ins.

There are about 20 different plug-ins - just trying so see if I can get advice on whether to purchase them or not.

http://powerretouche.com/

[pizellie]

Does anyone use Power Retouche Plugins ? I'd like to get some advice from you regarding the use of some of the plug-ins..

[plugsnpixels]

See here for my own examples using these filters.

It's been a long time since I created this page but I see he is keeping the plug-ins up to date (Intel-compatible, 64-bit, etc.). I will have to check back with him and get myself up to date.

[pizellie]

Plugsnpixels ... awesome. I really like your examples. I am having trouble with understanding the application of the plug-ins. The tutorials are just modified explanations of each plug-in. I started out by buying the suite just for the Golden Sections, but again, I can't get the hand of it.

[plugsnpixels]

Thanks, they were just quickies ;-).

The tutorials seem pretty thorough, so beyond that perhaps you'll want to pick a plug-in from the set and just start experimenting to see what it can do for a particular image. Make notes of what works for you, saving presets if possible for future use.

[pizellie]

Well ... I did that and it sounds like a good strategy. But tell me how I would go about experimenting with the Golden Sections when I can't figure it out to begin with. In that, if I want an 8x10 crop, how do I set the Golden Section to fit that particular crop when I bring it into CS5? If I get one crop, I can then move on to other ones.

[plugsnpixels]

Ah. I wrote the developer about getting the latest versions, so I will wait and give that particular plug-in a try.

[pizellie]

pllugsnpixels ... thanks. The developer responded this morning to my email to him and said that apparently there is something wrong with the application.

There is nothing wrong with my plug-in. I am just confused how to actually apply it to a picture. I assume that using the Golden Sections allows you to crop a picture to the Golden Sections. I just can't figure out how to do that.

Also ... in the Golden Section plugin, there is a Size Box Section (I don't know what that is for and how to apply it).

So ... to sum it up. I just need some guidance on how to actually apply and use the Golden Section to a picture of a certain size.

[Peter Sellmer]

Hi,

I have been using the Plug-ins for several years now and find them to be a fantastic set of creative tools for demanding photographers - mind you, I am not professional but have found that these tools give me the ability to work with light, color and contrast unlike anything else available. By all means buy the whole set, Here are the ones I use all the time: B&W Definition, B&W Studio, Brightness, Color Corrector, Color Fringe Remover, Contrast, Exposure, Illumination Editor, Radial Density Corrector, Saturation, Soft Filter, Toned Photos and White Balance. Just start using them, experiment, don't worry about the "graduated effect" section in the bottom, I never use that - they are a bit daunting at first but once you start understanding them they will become indispensable to your work flow. To get acquainted just work with BRIGHTNESS and CONTRAST at first as they are the most essential. Once you master these then move on and experiment with others. I never use the "Golden section" by the way, just use your intuition to compose your photos well! Here is an album of a recent trip to Spain - all photos touched up with PR: http://jalbum.net/browse/user/album/790717/

[pavel123]

I had the plug in for some time. The only option I ever used was black and white, which I really like.

[pizellie]

Peter ... thanks for replying to my email regarding Power Retouche Plug-ins. I have been experimenting with the sliders, but find it a uphill battle. Since I already purchased the suite, I will continue to "play" with the sliders.

I must say though, that after having spent over $100USD, I found the tutorials to be nothing other that explanations of the particular plug-in. I thought there would be something more specific after I purchased them, but the tutorials were nothing other than what was on the site. I wish there was more than having to self-discover for myself. Although it may be a way and in this case a better way to learn them, it does take a lot of time.

I originally purchased the plug-ins for the Golden Section which is what I am concentrating on. It "seems" that my "intuition" is not very good when it comes to PPA Competitions. I have been working with the Golden Section and seem to have had "some" modest degree of success. BTW ... with my recent studies of the Golden Rule, I am convinced that this rule is extremely important in rendering the final photo.

Thanks again ... appreciate the dialogue.

[plugsnpixels]

Nice work, Peter! I also use Jalbum when I put photo galleries online.

[Peter Sellmer]

The real power of these filters is in their ability to work with light - Jan the creator is a painter so he has a good understanding of how important it is to be able to manipulate lights, mid tones and shadows in bringing out the best in an image. I am an Elements user and there's just no way I can get this kind of detail using their tools. Here is a simple work flow example where I walk through a the basic steps in working on a photo using what I consider some of the most important filters: Exposure, Brightness, Contrast, Ilumination Editor and Color Corrector. Each photo is accompanied by a brief explanation of what filter I used. This was just a quick edit for the sake of example of a view out of my window. Again, there are many sliders but on the most part I just use the ones in the middle. https://picasaweb.google.com/mikenki...09469740261746
Plugsnpixels, I visited your website but did not see a link to your jalbum album...

[pizellie]

Peter --- fantastic work and explanation. Although you changes "seem" subtle, the comparison of the last two shots is striking.

IF ... you get time, could you do a B&W conversion the same way... That would help since I am doing some B&W work now.

[plugsnpixels]

Hi Peter, I should clarify. I post personal galleries made in Jalbum when I need to share lots of pix with friends and relatives; the Plugs 'N Pixels main site doesn't make use of them.

For example, I used Jalbum to post my archival photos from the '70s online.

[Peter Sellmer]

I see! The 70's...Nikon F, Pentax Spotmatic, Rollieflex, those were the days...

[plugsnpixels]

Argus, then Canon AE-1! ;-)

[jrp]

Originally Posted by Peter Sellmer

are many sliders but on the most part I just use the ones in the middle. https://picasaweb.google.com/mikenki...09469740261746

It may just be my setup, but there seems to be a lot of banding / posterization in the clouds, even in the original. Makes it hard to judge whether the filtration is damaging the photos.