[benjikan]

Here is a workflow I employ pretty systematically for my stuff that goes to press. You might want to give it a try...

My standard post prod procedure has always been to accentuate at 0.3 pixels at 300 percent and after doing so and if the image is not too contrasty to accentuate again at 40 to 60 pixels at 10 to 20 percent to pump up the definition and contrast. I will often create another layer and add the soft light option and set file and opacity to between 20 to 80 percent and flatten the layer. If you want to see that "FLAT DIGITAL" look disappear this is the technique employed by the best post prod imaging houses in the world. You thought medium format film popped? Well try this and have a ball.

I've included a sample

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Last edited by benjikan; 02-07-2007 at 10:31 AM.

[arbutusq]

Thanks Ben. I saw your technique over on the OTHER forum in one of my brief forays there and was impressed. While not much of a portrait guy I am tweaking and adapting it to fit my landscape work and it has done wonders. My images pop and sing much more.

Would it be possible to see a before image to compare the finished product with?

[benjikan]

Thanks Ben. I saw your technique over on the OTHER forum in one of my brief forays there and was impressed. While not much of a portrait guy I am tweaking and adapting it to fit my landscape work and it has done wonders. My images pop and sing much more.

Would it be possible to see a before image to compare the finished product with?

Sure here it is. This retouched but prior to the Layering...

[benjikan]

Sure here it is. This retouched but prior to the Layering...

Please understand that this image went to press on a double page layout at 177 dpi. The first may seem too contrasty and I do like them both, but when printed it translated to a compromise between the two.

It came out in "Selected Access" Magazine in the UK and may still be available at Barnes and Noble or WH Smith.

[robgo2]

Ben,

I hate to show my ignorance, but I do not understand what "accentuate" means in terms of post processing. Could you be more specific as to how one does this?

Rob

[Photochop]

When you open up your USM window in photoshop, you'll see three bars, one for percentage, another for pixels and another for threshold. What I think Ben means is to slide the pixels bar to the right(accentuate) to xx pixels, then slide the percentage bar accordingly ie. 20 to 30% and leave the threshold at zero.

Hope this helps.

Ben,

I hate to show my ignorance, but I do not understand what "accentuate" means in terms of post processing. Could you be more specific as to how one does this?

Rob

[benjikan]

Ben,

I hate to show my ignorance, but I do not understand what "accentuate" means in terms of post processing. Could you be more specific as to how one does this?

Rob

Sorry...Been in France too long..Unsharp Mask

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Last edited by benjikan; 02-01-2007 at 04:33 PM.

[Alvin]

Benjamin,

Considering that you shoot in a lower ISO range a lot, I bet you don't have too many problems with noise. But when you do get the occasional few shots that have noise, what steps do you go through to minimize or eliminate it?

Oh, do you shoot RAW in all your photo shoots?

Thanks.

[benjikan]

Benjamin,

Considering that you shoot in a lower ISO range a lot, I bet you don't have too many problems with noise. But when you do get the occasional few shots that have noise, what steps do you go through to minimize or eliminate it?

Oh, do you shoot RAW in all your photo shoots?

Thanks.

Hello;

I only shoot RAW DNG. I rarely shoot over 800 asa. When doing so I make sure that I am not underexposing. In order not to do so I start by metering with my Minolta flash meter. It is the barometer. Once I determine what a normal exposition represents at 100, 200, 400 etc. I proceed with the photo session. You may ask "Determine the normal expo...?" Because I use studio flash and shoot in "M", I decide which exposure I am going after and avoid the in camera meter. When spot on, there is less risk of more noise due to being underexposed.

Best
Ben

[Arjay Bee]

Hi Benjiman,
I have been exploring your pp steps with some of my images using PS7. Is the Soft Light option available in this version. I have looked and looked but must be missing something somewhere. If it isn't available is there a work around or doI need to upgrade?
Cheers, Arjay

[cwhit]

I've tried this technique and the results are great; couple of questions:
- is there a risk of producing the artefacts associated with USM ? - I have not seen any with my attempts
- how does it work?

[benjikan]

Hi Benjiman,
I have been exploring your pp steps with some of my images using PS7. Is the Soft Light option available in this version. I have looked and looked but must be missing something somewhere. If it isn't available is there a work around or doI need to upgrade?
Cheers, Arjay

First make a duplicate layer. Go to the Layer menu Click on "Layer' it will open. Click on Soft Light. Move the opacity and Fill bars to suit your taste. It will be too contrasty at 100% for my taste, but who knows. I tend to find 20 to 50 percent enough for me...After achieving the desired effect flatten the layer.

Here is an image from my iBook which will help to illustrate the process or go to this site:
PentaxLife » Benjamin Kanarek post processing method

[Arjay Bee]

Many thanks for the detailed explanation. I missed tha menu in my exploration completely although I had seen it before - PS is so complex.

Tried it with an image and the softening is very nice for the image. Will now explore further.

Sample image is a fairly somber picture of my daughter:

This with the M42 Super Takumar 50mm f1.4 natural overcast light from subject's right hand side and back. These were processed as above using %numbers and levels you recommended.

Any thoughts on further processing gratefully received.

[mikerigel]

Hi Benjamin,

I want to thank you for posting your technique.. I first saw it on dpreview and I was very impressed. I tried it on a couple of my photos and I must say I really like the way they "pop".
By the way, what's the weather like in Paris right now ? I'll be there next week with my K10D and I hope it won't be too bad...

Mike

Michael Erard's Photo Galleries at pbase.com

[slip]

Many thanks for the detailed explanation. I missed tha menu in my exploration completely although I had seen it before - PS is so complex.

Tried it with an image and the softening is very nice for the image. Will now explore further.

Sample image is a fairly somber picture of my daughter:

This with the M42 Super Takumar 50mm f1.4 natural overcast light from subject's right hand side and back. These were processed as above using %numbers and levels you recommended.

Any thoughts on further processing gratefully received.

wow

beautiful woman and pose. I see it is at chritmas as well.

great shot

randy