Pumpkins [Manda]

[mikemeister_admin]

Here goes ...

I've not saved my curves, but will get a hang of saving them thanks for all your tips last week.

Workflow: after trying and failing with my own take ... I unashamedly copied Greg's suggestions for Fritz.

I'm defaulting to my normal approach after this by using part of my own action which goes: I used the R in an RGB curve to lower the red tone and then into the K curve in the black channel to enhance the shadows.



Things I've learnt:
I prefer to use the thresholds to set BW points.
I don't know how to use curvemeister.
I now realise I can use HSB.

Things I'd like to know:
How can I use curvemeister to move within the R curve and K curve - I did try but I seemed to knock my former points out of place (this is human error I'm sure).
Composite curves-v-Interior points - I searched within google.  Am I right in thinking composite curves are changes to the RGB altogether and interior curves are separate points set in R, G and B?

Thanks

[-default]

There's nothing wrong with making changes one after the other in different color spaces.  This is good technique.  To save time, the C curve in wgCMYK is very closely related to the R curve in RGB, so try adjusting that curve instead of the R in RGB.

Obviously I need to make it clearer in the instructions, but the pumpkin image is a quick exercise to show how making the S curve steeper will make the pumpkins rounder.  This is a handy trick that is hard to do in the other color spaces.

Interior points are points that you add to the inside of the curve, as opposed to the end points.

[ggroess]

Manda,
The interior points are the control points you set in the middle of the curve between the two end points that are used to "flex" the curve.  Same item different name...most of the changes this week have been done by moving the endpoints and changing the slope of the curves.  This week we are adding control points and shifting specific parts of the curves to enhance shape, contrast and adjust intensity of the colors.

The Composite Curve is the RGB, CMYK, HSB curve where all separate parts or colors are in the same grid space. So you are moving all three instead of each single color. This has advantages and disadvantages.  Advantage, swift changes, Disadvantages, Color casts, increased contrast and poor control overall.

Each color space is independant of the others.  Adjustments in RGB will not effect LAB for instance.  So what I think Mike is stating is that in CMYK if you want to effect the Red's you need to adjust the Cyan.  Red and Cyan are color opposites.  In Subtractive color you subtract cyan to add red or...You add Cyan to remove Red.  This is one of the reasons CMYK is confusing to many folks.  They want to add color to the image (Additive) rather than subtract the complementary color.

The addition of the other color spaces is intended to show you  the strenghts and weaknesses each color space brings to the image.  Most people never explore the other color spaces...I for instance only used RGB.  Now I rearely use it.  I'm glad I was challenged to try out the other spaces.

Greg

[mikemeister_admin]

aahhhh - it's all becoming clearer - thanks so much for your advice. 

I'm certainly being pushed out of my comfort zone; but am gathering new tricks along the way.