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Valentina ♡
Inspiring
May 17, 2022
Question

I wish to learn to adjustments, hue, saturation etc

  • May 17, 2022
  • 6 replies
  • 625 views

Hello, 

I would like to ask the question of the questions: I wish to learn to correct contrasts, hue, saturations, learn the right gradation of colors adjustments and so on, to create better quality images.

 

I know, there's tons of tutorials they explain "how to learn curves" , "how to learn the right saturations" and so on..

but yet, Ive watched many tutorials but still, when I'm alone with my images, I don't really get the point of what the perfect calibrations of all these adjustments.

 

I mean, the tutorial tell you the number of percentage to use with a certain adjustment layer, or certain numbers to add in the camera raw section, but still you follow the instructions over their trial perfect images, but when I have other images, other colors etc, nothing come out.

Or I should say, yes, of course I can reach a better saturation following a tutorial, but still , I don't understand what I'm doing, but simply "play" with controls as long as (casually) I find an result that I (almost ) like it.

 

But what I really try to achieve is to Understand what I'm doing, why I should choice certain tones instead of others when I regolate the saturations , hue, vibrance etc etc... 

 

What are the books that really explain how to use Photoshop and aquire more control over my works, so that I'm not doing things "casually"? I know that at the end , many results can depends on personal preferences, yes, but I want still learn what are the "fixed " rules (professional photographers , knows the real rules and how things works) , they have a "consciousness", they don't place things and sort things casually. There s always rules to follow to achieve a real good result, and they can also use their preferences but yet, they "stay" inside those rules because those rules explain not the "fixed" values , but the rules explain what are used for those values, and in that spaces one can use their taste, but without fails. 

 

I really hope there's a more specific books about reach especially this goal: learn to paint "Fine art" portrait with Photoshop. 

 

Thanks for any advieses, Im really disappointed that I'm always in the same level,even watching so many tutorials for a long time...

 

This topic has been closed for replies.

6 replies

Valentina ♡
Inspiring
May 18, 2022

Wow... I'm watching until now one video just to understand in general about histogram. I'm not fully convinced of how to use histogram, but in general I'm understanding that it's the Histogram that says me if there's too much reds or if there's too much blues, or if there's too much dark or light.... it seems what it could help me a lot to regolate the adjustments ! So it's not something that I have to do by myself, (or at least, if I want properly a much blue image for some reason, it's ok), but when one just want to regolate the colors, hightlights in a balanced way, without creating 'particular' effects, but just balance the correct tones in harmony between each others, it seems histogram can be really fundamental tool... surely this is a good step to start to learn much more about it!  But I'm a bit confused about this video i'm watching, I need to study about this...very very interesting.. wow.... I'm entusiast right now! For me it's something totally new! 

Valentina ♡
Inspiring
May 18, 2022

Thank you so much for all the tips! 
Also, very interesting methods to use. 
And I'm going to find some informations about "histogram". I'm curious about it, because I 've never understood what is it exactly. I see all those colors (a little like when I use curves), but an histogram I see many colors... Im very interested to understand what is this 'mysterious' tool.... !

davescm
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 18, 2022

A histogram simply arranges the number of pixels at each value in order of the darkest values to the left and the brightest to the right. The taller the graph at any point - the more pixels there are at that value. The histogram display can be set just to show the Luminosity of each pixel (regardless of colour) or it can show each colour channel so effectively you see three graphs overlayed - hence the different colours.  It can be useful to see the distribution of values so that you don't inadvertently make too dark/light an image just because your eyes got used to it. It can also show if your adjustments are pushing pixels to 'clipping' i.e reaching the highest/lowest value that they can be set at. This can lose detail in the brightest/darkest areas. An example would be if you adjust an area of near white pixels with some detail (e.g. clouds) and made them all the same maximum white value.

 

Some info here:

https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/photoshop/using/viewing-histograms-pixel-values.html

 

Dave

Valentina ♡
Inspiring
May 18, 2022

I read this answer after my leatest update below... 

yes, this is really what will make difference, I'm sure!
(histogram) "arranges the number of pixels at each value in order of the darkest values to the left and the brightest to the right."

Thanks again, I think I really want to learn very well this histogram, for sure!

davescm
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 18, 2022

I doubt you will find a set formula as every starting image is different, and every photographer will develop their own approach.

 

Find some reference images that you do like and open them. Then start with your own image and work with adjustment layers and masks to hone in on a 'look' . Make global adjustments before you use masks to make local corrections.

 

All the way through, switch back and forth between your image and the reference images. That way you are always 'recalibrating your eye and brain' to ensure you are progressing toward that look and not away from it.

 

Use the histogram to ensure you are not going to light or too dark in comparison to your references.

 

Finally, but importantly, get a calibration device, and calibrate and profile your monitor so you are not compensating for defects in the display system. Whilst viewing the references on the same monitor will go someway to negating the need for that, if you are serious about your image quality it is important to know you are viewing the results of your adjustments correctly.

 

Dave

 

Legend
May 18, 2022

I'm not going to say anything about colour, but perhaps a way to think about getting on top of random adjustments. Because a lot of things in life need numeric adjustments. It's called a "binary split" and has many other names.

Suppose your adjustment is a number from 1 to 1000 (it isn't, I know, but suppose). You can pick random numbers, go a bit higher, go a bit lower. But how about: go to 500. To low? Go halfway up - low is 500, high is 1000. Halfway is 750. Too high? Go halfway down. low is 500, high is 750. So halfway is 625. And so on, working with smaller and smaller numbers. This lets you find the perfect number from 1000 in 10 steps.  You just need to keep a written record of "low" and "high". 

 

Some people like this and use it all the time. Some people never get it, and don't like it. This isn't a judgement on either one. But if you like it, play with it. I'm not suggesting colour experts use this entire process, they will get an eye for the right ranges to use.

 

Of course, adjustments don't have only one dimension. So I'm not sure how much this can help, but think about it.

Valentina ♡
Inspiring
May 18, 2022

Thanks for all the tips!

Yes, to experiment it's one part, but I think it miss something yet.
Yesterday I casually found an interview from someone that work on Photoshop for a lot of years, and he says exactly what I feel:

https://www.juliaannagospodarou.com/fine-art-photography-principles/

 Me too,  I feel like I'm working 'randomly', I experiment values of brightness, contrast, hue, saturations, but without follow rules, it come out always a bad end result, especially because I don't need just one adjustment layer but many. So if there's not a certain 'armony' and 'consciouness' when I add layers adjustments between them, in prevision also of the other layers, I will always do a wrong work, even if I experiment for a long time".
Here what I feel from this artist of photography's interview::

 

"When you don’t cultivate a talent you have, it is like expecting to get every time a jackpot only because you had good cards once. But that doesn’t happen. I’ve seen this happening many times looking at photographs around me that are created by artists who have a talent for composition but who at times cannot meet their potential because they work randomly."

From my experience in my architecture and artistic background, in drawing and photography, and taking into consideration all the information and knowledge I have acquired over almost 30 years working in art-related fields, plus the rich experience of working with photography students, I can tell you that the best compositions come from training your eye, knowing the rules and becoming confident enough to know when to apply and when not to apply a rule, when to break the known rules and create your own.

You cannot be a total artist if you ignore composition because composition is the science of a harmonious communication with the viewer. (..)   

One can experiment, but needs to know the rules, I need to understand how I have to use certain colors, vibrances, I don't know, I wish to find a book that teach all these things about Painting.
I've found a book , I wonder if is good for what I 'm trying to learn?

 

Valentina ♡
Inspiring
May 18, 2022

Oh Ok, I saw a preview but seems it's all about many figures but no much informations or tutorials... it's more a 'visual' book for ideas, for expert already

Chuck Uebele
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 18, 2022

I would second what Leslie said. There really are no hard fast rules, but more what you like, what feel or mood you want to impart. Playing with the tools, especially curves will help you know how to use them to achieve the look you want. Also the quicker you can be in correcting an image, especially color, the better. Your eye adapts quickly to the changes you make to an image, and it's real easy to go overboard with corrections. Always best to compare it with the original, and to walk away from it, for a bit and look at it later. If you have a lot of images, after you correct them, cycle through them and see if any stick out due to bad color. Years ago, when I was working as a color corrector for a pro lab in their portrait department, all the color corrector were invited to a gallery showing, in which our company printed the images. We were all aghast at how bad the color between the different images. It's so easy to go astray without a reference. 

Valentina ♡
Inspiring
May 17, 2022

For example, there's actually books specific and professional , that teach how to set colors and create good colors like in this image:

 

Books about fine arts with Photoshop painting. But not books that teach how to paint, but how to adjust colors, hue, saturations ,tones, how to use shadows, highlights , and not giving numbers to copy , but to master the rules to behind that, so that one know what is doing!

😄

 

Leslie Moak Murray
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 18, 2022

The best way to learn is by doing! Open the photo you want to work with, and - this is important - always keep the original file untouched. Save it under a diiferent name or what ever is easiest for you to remember.. Then when it's open in Photoshop, the first thing you do is duplicate the background layer, then deactivate it so you don't inadvertently alter it.

Then experiment on the dupe layer and any number of other duplicates. Some basics:

-It's usually best to use a light hand with these effects. Remember it's Dodge and Burn, not Slash & Burn.

-You can get effects such as contrast if you duplicate the layer and set the dupe to Multiply, then adjust the opacity as needed.

-Don't overdue the Sharpening. It can cause artifacts. Try the Sharpen Tool too, set to various strengths.

-There's a difference between adjusting the Lightness and adjusting for Brightness.

Here's an Adobe tutorial on using the various effects:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/adjusting-hue-saturation.html