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any help on this effect?


This is a tough one ... I'm able to get a smoother version of my previous attempt by substituting Topaz Adjust for a number of the processing steps, but it still doesn't have the clarity and lightness of the 1st basketball image posted in this thread. ... gotta think some more about this...

T
 

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This is a tough one ... I'm able to get a smoother version of my previous attempt by substituting Topaz Adjust for a number of the processing steps, but it still doesn't have the clarity and lightness of the 1st basketball image posted in this thread. ... gotta think some more about this...

T

can you share every step you did? im gonna need you to go crazy and list out all steps and where to find it like (image>adjustements>hdr) cos a noob like me wont know the photoshop language to well.
 
@Mike - Since it's an action shot, I doubt it could have come from multiple images, eg, using standard, multiple-image HDR techniques. Unless I don't understand what you meant, there would be too much movement between shots.

@shadow - I would be happy to walk you through it and would even send you the settings I used, but I used a commercial plugin for the last version I posted, so unless you have this plugin (Topaz Adjust - $50 USD - http://www.topazlabs.com/adjust/ ) installed on your system, such info will be of no use to you. This is why I first attempted to reproduce this effect using only the native tools built into PS (eg, metal gradient maps). I wanted the technique to be available to a wider audience. However, when I wasn't happy with the results using the native tools, then I was forced to use an add-on. Let me know.

T
 
In fact, before I forget to mention it, I just attempted to attach the preset for Topaz Adjust 5 that I developed to get this effect. Unfortunately, the uploader for this forum will not allow me to post it. If you have Topaz Adjust and want my preset, then just send me a private message containing your email address and I'll be happy to send it to you by standard email.

In the interim, to give you an idea of how it's used, I did post a screen shot of one of the adjustment panels in Topaz Adjust. Unfortunately, this only tells a small part of the story as there are other panels for "details", "color" and "noise removal" that I also used to come up with this preset.

That being said, I should caution you that using pro plugins like this is never a simple matter of clicking an Instagram-like preset button. To use such plugins effectively, you need to be proficient at standard Photoshop techniques such as quickly selecting a part of the image (eg, just the skin, or just the background) and performing separate actions to these areas. For example, after I used Topaz adjust to get the skin to look the way I wanted, the jerseys didn't look that good, so I masked part of the effect away from them. In addition, for drama, I wanted the background to have even deeper blacks than when it started, so I not only had to prevent Topaz from acting on it, I needed additional darkening of the dark tones. I achieved this by using a masked "Levels" adjustment layer on it, but used the blendIF sliders to prevent darkening of the colored lights in the background.

Because such tasks require a reasonable level of proficiency with PS, I don't recommend such plugins until the student is already quite facile with the tools built into PS.

T
 

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That being said, I should caution you that using pro plugins like this is never a simple matter of clicking an Instagram-like preset button. To use such plugins effectively, you need to be proficient at standard Photoshop techniques such as quickly selecting a part of the image (eg, just the skin, or just the background) and performing separate actions to these areas. For example, after I used Topaz adjust to get the skin to look the way I wanted, the jerseys didn't look that good, so I masked part of the effect away from them. In addition, for drama, I wanted the background to have even deeper blacks than when it started, so I not only had to prevent Topaz from acting on it, I needed additional darkening of the dark tones. I achieved this by using a masked "Levels" adjustment layer on it, but used the blendIF sliders to prevent darkening of the colored lights in the background.

Maybe this isn't for me, then. The one thing in photoshop I am completely bad at is using the pen-tool or anything along those lines. What I do to target just a particular spot is by going through the tedious way of erasing everything but that on another layer.

Wouldn't mind trying this for once, however. My email is xls_gfx@hotmail.com
 
Hi Shadow - OK. I'll send it to you in a minute, but again, let me remind you that you must have Topaz Adjust 5 installed for my preset to be applicable. If you don't have it, Topaz used to offer a free trial period, but I think (...I could be wrong...) that they may cripple it in some ways such as watermarking, not allowing the image to be saved, not allowing imports of presets, etc., but what the heck, give it a try.

T
 
PS - I tweaked my preset a bit more before sending it to you to show more definition / detail in the upper arm area. The change is pretty subtle, but I hope you like it.


PPS - The method you described that you use to edit areas sounds absolutely painful. There are plenty of Utube tutorials on selection methods. Google {photoshop selection tools}, pick one, and watch it. You'll be able to do many more things, as well as do them better and faster using such tools.

T
 

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Hi Tom, did you manually smooth out the characters in this photo? And how were you able to get a shinier look to your photo? I'm trying to apply that technique to some family portraits :)
 
Hi Victoria -

No, I did not manually smooth out the skin - the effects you see are all due to Topaz Adjust PLUS A LOT OF TWEAKING USING native Photoshop features such as the blendIF sliders. IMHO, the bottom line is that you need to start with a very clean, noise-free image, and you need to be an expert in using the native PS tools before you even begin to try to get a high quality image like this.

Since this thread was active back in the winter, there have been several other similar threads that may be helpful to you. Do a search under my name and "Topaz". If you can't find them, let me know and I'll try to find the links for you.

Cheers,

Tom
 
After playing with this Tom is 100% Topaz filters are the key. I played with Adjust and Detail, and get real close to this look quickly.I will try to find my plays.....
 
It was Detail only, with a levels and B/W layer masked in. I found the pic in low res on the net, did a quick mask, reversed and did a B/W background, and Details preset and messed a bit...turned everything up a notch...
I didn't put them side by side, but got close in a couple of slides.

timthumb.jpghelper.jpghelp.png
 
No need to apologize - I just thought you had something in back of your mind that wasn't coming through in your post. Anyway, welcome again, and if you are into efx, feel free to contribute to existing threads or even start new ones to discuss the techniques.

Best regards,

Tom
 

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