In order to create a true HDR photograph, it’s necessary to capture two or more exposure-bracketed images, then tone map them into one file using a program such as Photomatix Pro. Like most things in the creative world, however, there’s more than one way to approach the HDR process.

Believe it or not, it’s possible to capture only one frame and tone map it into a surreal or grungy scene using a few sneaky workarounds in Photomatix Pro. Think of this as an alternative HDR approach that produces its own unique look. To achieve the most satisfying single-image results, it’s best to work with an image that doesn’t exhibit blown out highlights or blocked up shadows. My thanks goes out to Tony Sweet for engineering this method and to Steve Orr for introducing me to it.

Katrin Eismann (www.photoshopdiva.com) is a master of portrait retouching. In a recent Photoshop User article, she revealed a method for smoothing skin that really grabbed my attention. Her technique uses a variety of simple, yet powerful strategies, and thanks to Smart Filters, the entire process is non-destructive.

Today is art day on the Photoshop Workbench. For the next several minutes, try to remember how good it felt to be a child in an elementary art class…freely experimenting with the colorful materials around you. Breath deeply and imagine the scent of Elmer’s glue and crayons. Picture yourself holding scissors and carefully trimming away the pointed corners of a drawing that you can’t wait to show to your mom. As you trim, notice how the slender artwork curls in your hands and casts an arched shadow on the table below.

Gradually allow yourself to ease back into reality. You’re sitting at a computer starring at a photograph. The thought of art class lingers in your mind. How can you possibly round the corners of a picture without scissors? Is it possible to create the illusion of a curled shadow in Photoshop? There are so many questions and only one class period. Thank goodness for the Workbench!

]]> http://www.msjphotography.com/index.php/2009/07/discover-the-full-creative-power-of-photoshop/feed/ http://www.msjphotography.com/index.php/2009/07/discover-the-full-creative-power-of-photoshop/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/marksjohnsonphotography/~3/k5FmHHRH2Q8/ http://www.msjphotography.com/index.php/2009/06/photoshop-workbench-183-stylized-hdr-effect-in-adobe-camera-raw/#comments Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:00:51 +0000 Alex Miles Younger http://www.msjphotography.com/?p=1983

High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography is remarkably popular these days. You can find incredible work on Tony Sweet’s blog and in Ben Willmore’s Best of Ben Route 66 gallery.

There are two types of HDR––photo realistic and photo surrealistic. Today, I’m going to focus on a technique for creating the surrealistic look. Characteristics of this look include intense detail in the shadows and highlights and strong global and micro (edge) contrast. Saturation can vary from intense to almost non-existent.

True HDR requires multiple bracketed exposures that you creatively blend in a program like Photomatix Pro (www.hdrsoft.com). In this Workbench, however, I’ll show you a technique for achieving a similar look using just one well-exposed image and a handful of sliders in the Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) dialog. For the best results, begin with a Camera Raw image (not a JPEG) and edit in 16-bit mode.