The Photoshop Darkroom: Creative Digital Post-Processing

207 Pages·2009·42.261 MB·English

by  Harold Davis, Phyllis Davis

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Copyright © 2010, Harold Davis and Phyllis Davis.
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The Photoshop Darkroom
Recognizing the importance of preserving what has ®
been written, Elsevier prints its books on acid-free
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Creative Digital Post-Processing
Davis, Harold, 1953-
The Photoshop darkroom / Harold Davis, Phyllis Davis.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-0-240-81259-5 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Photography--Processing. 2. Photography--Special
effects. 3. Computer graphics. 4. Adobe Photoshop.
I. Davis, Phyllis, 1963- II. Title.
TR287.D423 2010 Harold Davis
771’.4--dc22
200902625 Phyllis Davis
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the
British Library.
ISBN 978-0-240-81259-5
For information on all Focal Press publications, visit
our website at www.focalpress.com
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Focal Press is an imprint of Elsevier
01-Front Matter-01.indd 2 7/28/09 9:42:50 PM
>> Introduction
Art, being bartender, is never drunk. —Randall Jarrell
Working in the darkroom I’d Unlike some Photoshop books,
marvel at the moments of magic: in The Photoshop Darkroom I
the image unfolding under don’t care about Photoshop
the light of the enlarger, and except as a tool. Our concern
appearing from nothing on the is solely the ultimate image.
paper in the tray of developer.
This is not a book about the
The magic when I process a
latest bells and whistles in
digital image is comparable—
Photoshop. Almost everything I
but, for me, more powerful.
explain can be done with older
The Photoshop Darkroom versions of the program.
shares these revelations with
Depending on the version of
you: the great moments in
Photoshop and operating system
which an apparently mundane
you are using, your functional-
or dark capture comes alive.
ity and appearance may change a
Digital photography is one part
bit from that shown in this book,
photography and one part software
although the fundamental tech-
alchemy: creative post-processing.
niques that I present will not vary.
A digital photographer who misses
There’s always more than one way
the opportunities that come after
to do anything in Photoshop. I
the photo is taken loses much of
make no claim that my way is the
the power of the new medium.
only way, or the best: only that
Therefore, a goal of The Photoshop
my way works. Hopefully, seeing
Darkroom is to provide a framework
my way will spark your creativity.
of fundamental techniques you can
use to enrich your creative work. In The Photoshop Darkroom I
am blessed with the perfect co-
Ansel Adams compared his work
author (who also happens to be
to musical composition, saying
my wife). Like me, Phyllis believes
his photographic negatives were
that before explaining something,
the score and his prints the
one has to fully understand it.
performance. With a digital photo,
the RAW negative is the score, For us, a book that encourages
and how you post-process is learning is about the student’s
the performance. The Photoshop work, not the teacher’s. We
Darkroom will jump start you on will have done our job if this
your journey towards peak post- book gives you the techniques
processing performances. you need and the creative
inspiration to have fun while
Make no mistake: The Photoshop
making potent digital imagery.
Darkroom is for photographers.
Photoshop is a tool, just like
the enlarger and chemicals in
an old-fashioned darkroom.
6 The Photoshop Darkroom
01-Front Matter-01.indd 6 7/28/09 9:43:19 PM
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02-Score to Performance-01.indd 8 7/28/09 9:59:25 PM
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02-Score to Performance-01.indd 9 7/28/09 9:59:29 PM
>> Input devices: Cameras and scanners
Scanning objects Choose the highest bit-depth and Your scanner’s software might let you
resolution possible (the scanner’s adjust the exposure histogram and
What devices can you use? In Photoshop, choose File  ► Import, software will tell you if you have curves. If you would like, adjust these
and select the scanner from the list.
Before you can work in the Photo- selected a setting that is too high settings.
shop darkroom, you need some- Use the scanner’s software to do a for the size of the area that is to be Once you have everything as you want
thing to process—in other words, preview scan, cropping in as close as scanned). You’ll probably end up with it, scan the image. The unnamed im-
an image. The usual way you get you can to the object. Since the files something like 48-bit color at 3200 age will appear in Photoshop, ready
an image is to take a photo with a created by the scanner are very large, ppi for an image that is a few inches for you to save it.
camera. you don’t want too much extra black in either dimension.
area around the object.
But, think about what a digital cam-
catptehhonroaaamds tte r paest uhs easctenleela ysrncn o osinwrsmo e:irr trep ih tiaju n ulait lssey t tlhr a e ieis innns s bap t ta heohscecnepki ae.stc lhcaaH ipmemao ulewf errp proewauovn aresti-ys er, sYoofut ywnoeauer dec atisno pumrsoeap kieetr lsiyun r iPen shytooatulolres dhs ocbpaenfnoerre’s 1F9o4rt – om 1p9oar7ge e ta o1b 9ofi.u ntCd hh eoicsutkto goarubtaom upsta, gcteuusrr vne s
a special purpose computer.
What you also need with a digital
ctthuaarmet. e rrUeass uuislat l alfy r,wo tmahy i stth oies scaaa vmmee etmrhaeo’s r fiycl aecpsa- rd. Afno ri rsisc arnenaidngy Air isb lkaecekp sb oaxm bpliaencetd l iogvhetr otuhte 32T0h0is piprii sw witahs 4sc8an -n bedit acto l or
There’s no reason you always have
to use a camera. If you have a
flatbed scanner (and this can be an
iycnaoepuxt pucearenn s iamivlseao go eunsse.e— itn ototh sincagn f aanncdy ), If yyoouu ’rceo ualdn aarlstoi sdtr wawit ht hae timabalgeet yaonud wstanytlus,
Getting ready for scanning
Before using a scanner, make sure
the glass scanning surface is as
clean as possible. Anything that
is on the glass will show up in
your scan.
“Arts & Crafts” project
Make a black box and put it over
atkhsee ep poo bsajssei bcmtl euy.cohu aamreb isecnatn nliginhgt toou t MAta akne ayrto usur popwlyn s tbolraec, kb ubyo xa piece of black foam board that is 1/4" thick, black Choosteh ey oIumrp oscratn mneern ufrom
masking tape, and an X-Acto knife for cutting the foam board (be careful!).
You should also know that there is
At home, cut four pieces for the sides of the box: two that are 5" x 8" and two
no depth of field to speak of, so
that are 5" x 11". Then cut one piece for the top that is 8" x 11".
vtheery o tbajlel.ct that you scan can’t be Use the black masking tape to put the box together. ala yfleartsmb eaoYdnroe dsu ca pacbaonoi unuwlttdi intp hgaa l.is anTo tup irnchnogo m ttooobn gip nrlaaaepgy ehe r5us.0si nfogr
10 The Photoshop Darkroom
02-Score to Performance-01.indd 10 7/28/09 9:59:32 PM
>> Input devices: Cameras and scanners
Scanning objects Choose the highest bit-depth and Your scanner’s software might let you
resolution possible (the scanner’s adjust the exposure histogram and
What devices can you use? In Photoshop, choose File  ► Import, software will tell you if you have curves. If you would like, adjust these
and select the scanner from the list.
Before you can work in the Photo- selected a setting that is too high settings.
shop darkroom, you need some- Use the scanner’s software to do a for the size of the area that is to be Once you have everything as you want
thing to process—in other words, preview scan, cropping in as close as scanned). You’ll probably end up with it, scan the image. The unnamed im-
an image. The usual way you get you can to the object. Since the files something like 48-bit color at 3200 age will appear in Photoshop, ready
an image is to take a photo with a created by the scanner are very large, ppi for an image that is a few inches for you to save it.
camera. you don’t want too much extra black in either dimension.
area around the object.
But, think about what a digital cam-
catptehhonroaaamds tte r paest uhs easctenleela ysrncn o osinwrsmo e:irr trep ih tiaju n ulait lssey t tlhr a e ieis innns s bap t ta heohscecnepki ae.stc lhcaaH ipmemao ulewf errp proewauovn aresti-ys er, sYoofut ywnoeauer dec atisno pumrsoeap kieetr lsiyun r iPen shytooatulolres dhs ocbpaenfnoerre’s 1F9o4rt – om 1p9oar7ge e ta o1b 9ofi.u ntCd hh eoicsutkto goarubtaom upsta, gcteuusrr vne s
a special purpose computer.
What you also need with a digital
ctthuaarmet. e rrUeass uuislat l alfy r,wo tmahy i stth oies scaaa vmmee etmrhaeo’s r fiycl aecpsa- rd. Afno ri rsisc arnenaidngy Air isb lkaecekp sb oaxm bpliaencetd l iogvhetr otuhte 32T0h0is piprii sw witahs 4sc8an -n bedit acto l or
There’s no reason you always have
to use a camera. If you have a
flatbed scanner (and this can be an
iycnaoepuxt pucearenn s iamivlseao go eunsse.e— itn ototh sincagn f aanncdy ), If yyoouu ’rceo ualdn aarlstoi sdtr wawit ht hae timabalgeet yaonud wstanytlus,
Getting ready for scanning
Before using a scanner, make sure
the glass scanning surface is as
clean as possible. Anything that
is on the glass will show up in
your scan.
“Arts & Crafts” project
Make a black box and put it over
atkhsee ep poo bsajssei bcmtl euy.cohu aamreb isecnatn nliginhgt toou t MAta akne ayrto usur popwlyn s tbolraec, kb ubyo xa piece of black foam board that is 1/4" thick, black Choosteh ey oIumrp oscratn mneern ufrom
masking tape, and an X-Acto knife for cutting the foam board (be careful!).
You should also know that there is
At home, cut four pieces for the sides of the box: two that are 5" x 8" and two
no depth of field to speak of, so
that are 5" x 11". Then cut one piece for the top that is 8" x 11".
vtheery o tbajlel.ct that you scan can’t be Use the black masking tape to put the box together. ala yfleartsmb eaoYdnroe dsu ca pacbaonoi unuwlttdi intp hgaa l.is anTo tup irnchnogo m ttooobn gip nrlaaaepgy ehe r5us.0si nfogr
From Score to Performance 11
02-Score to Performance-01.indd 11 7/28/09 9:59:36 PM
>> WWAreo cdhroigkarditti anoils fgR taAh W eiRn dfiA alWReta A i scc aWaap ptcutourmerdpe l?beyte Iwndaa fissig lwitmtahea nleplld hps aocthsto hooartege opr pgahaornopsatdthp-oy htg,py rhrA, aeotn pcpshheereesli sr nRiA)nt Agd s waWaiisamd ssct tath(phehwta ehptu oepr retewfr hoifaesros mrtnameha genapa cinatsIecifcnis.evop i.eswry rt Ieoohn uca etos snyeloydu s RawAvoeuWdld Jfi gPleeEt iG.s Tofivhleeer s p, hoteshtrie-s
the sensor. What makes the
concept of RAW a little confusing
is that it is a general concept in
the sense that there is no one
single RAW file format—each
camera manufacturer implements
the concept somewhat differently.
For that matter, the different
camera manufacturers name their
proprietary RAW files differently:
for example, Canon’s RAW format
files are designated .CRW and
.CR2, and Nikon’s RAW format
files have a .NEF file suffix.
To restate this, each man-
ufacturer’s RAW file format
amounts to an unprocessed
record of the sensor data from
a capture encoded into a file.
Note: Adobe has helped to
sponsor the open source Digital
Negative (DNG) format, which
is a manufacturer-independent Why do you want to shoot in RAW? How do you work in RAW? a color space setting, you should set of the image. This is what you would
RAW format. A number of If you set your camera to shoot in JPEG, the most common option other than RAW, Set your camera to shoot in RAW. It’s this to a color space with as wide a get if you had told the camera to save
cameras now directly support you are accepting the computer-in-the-camera’s idea of how to process your photo that simple, although usually the de- gamut as possible to get an accurate the image as a JPEG. It’s not the actual
DNG, instead of or in addition for color, white balance, contrast, noise, and so on. Even worse, you are throwing fault (even for fancy DSLRs) is JPEG. display on the LCD. Usually this means RAW image. The camera has no way
to a proprietary RAW file format. away all the data in your image except that single JPEG rendition. There’s a vast selecting Adobe RGB rather than sRGB. to show you the RAW image. And you
Some photographers like to range of exposure and color data in every RAW file that gets trashed forever when Most cameras have an option where (sRGB is a garbage lowest common have no idea, based on the camera’s
archive their RAW files in the the capture is saved as a JPEG. Finally, the JPEG format compression itself involves each capture is done in RAW and denominator gamut designed for moni- display, what you really have to work
DNG format, an option that is some data loss. converted to JPEG at the same time. tors and will limit the range of colors with. You need to open the RAW image
made more attractive because This is great because you have a JPEG you have available.) in Photoshop to see what you really
Adobe makes a RAW file to DNG ready for immediate use (the only have.
conversion tool available for free. Is there any downside to shooting in RAW? downside is that the JPEG file takes Why your camera doesn’t show The preview on your LCD, combined
a little extra space on your memory
Note on the Note: My personal RAW files do take up more space than JPEGs, although for a serious photographer you the RAW truth with the exposure histogram that your
card).
recommendation is to archive a this should not be the most important concern, particularly since data storage has camera will show you, does give you
Particularly when you shoot RAW, the
copy in the native RAW format become much less expensive in recent years. When you set your camera to capture some idea of the data available in the
LCD version of the RAW capture that
of your camera; you may also In addition, RAW files are potentiality: they are not ready to go. They need to be in RAW, you should choose the highest you can see on the little screen on RAW file. (To find out how histograms
decide to archive in DNG, but you converted to some other format (such as Photoshop’s PSD, TIFF, or JPEG) before bit depth possible (this will depend your camera is actually a JPEG version work, turn to page 19.)
shouldn’t trash your original files. on your camera). If your camera has
they are usable.
12 The Photoshop Darkroom
02-Score to Performance-01.indd 12 7/28/09 9:59:38 PM
>> WWAreo cdhroigkarditti anoils fgR taAh W eiRn dfiA alWReta A i scc aWaap ptcutourmerdpe l?beyte Iwndaa fissig lwitmtahea nleplld hps aocthsto hooartege opr pgahaornopsatdthp-oy htg,py rhrA, aeotn pcpshheereesli sr nRiA)nt Agd s waWaiisamd ssct tath(phehwta ehptu oepr retewfr hoifaesros mrtnameha genapa cinatsIecifcnis.evop i.eswry rt Ieoohn uca etos snyeloydu s RawAvoeuWdld Jfi gPleeEt iG.s Tofivhleeer s p, hoteshtrie-s
the sensor. What makes the
concept of RAW a little confusing
is that it is a general concept in
the sense that there is no one
single RAW file format—each
camera manufacturer implements
the concept somewhat differently.
For that matter, the different
camera manufacturers name their
proprietary RAW files differently:
for example, Canon’s RAW format
files are designated .CRW and
.CR2, and Nikon’s RAW format
files have a .NEF file suffix.
To restate this, each man-
ufacturer’s RAW file format
amounts to an unprocessed
record of the sensor data from
a capture encoded into a file.
Note: Adobe has helped to
sponsor the open source Digital
Negative (DNG) format, which
is a manufacturer-independent Why do you want to shoot in RAW? How do you work in RAW? a color space setting, you should set of the image. This is what you would
RAW format. A number of If you set your camera to shoot in JPEG, the most common option other than RAW, Set your camera to shoot in RAW. It’s this to a color space with as wide a get if you had told the camera to save
cameras now directly support you are accepting the computer-in-the-camera’s idea of how to process your photo that simple, although usually the de- gamut as possible to get an accurate the image as a JPEG. It’s not the actual
DNG, instead of or in addition for color, white balance, contrast, noise, and so on. Even worse, you are throwing fault (even for fancy DSLRs) is JPEG. display on the LCD. Usually this means RAW image. The camera has no way
to a proprietary RAW file format. away all the data in your image except that single JPEG rendition. There’s a vast selecting Adobe RGB rather than sRGB. to show you the RAW image. And you
Some photographers like to range of exposure and color data in every RAW file that gets trashed forever when Most cameras have an option where (sRGB is a garbage lowest common have no idea, based on the camera’s
archive their RAW files in the the capture is saved as a JPEG. Finally, the JPEG format compression itself involves each capture is done in RAW and denominator gamut designed for moni- display, what you really have to work
DNG format, an option that is some data loss. converted to JPEG at the same time. tors and will limit the range of colors with. You need to open the RAW image
made more attractive because This is great because you have a JPEG you have available.) in Photoshop to see what you really
Adobe makes a RAW file to DNG ready for immediate use (the only have.
conversion tool available for free. Is there any downside to shooting in RAW? downside is that the JPEG file takes Why your camera doesn’t show The preview on your LCD, combined
a little extra space on your memory
Note on the Note: My personal RAW files do take up more space than JPEGs, although for a serious photographer you the RAW truth with the exposure histogram that your
card).
recommendation is to archive a this should not be the most important concern, particularly since data storage has camera will show you, does give you
Particularly when you shoot RAW, the
copy in the native RAW format become much less expensive in recent years. When you set your camera to capture some idea of the data available in the
LCD version of the RAW capture that
of your camera; you may also In addition, RAW files are potentiality: they are not ready to go. They need to be in RAW, you should choose the highest you can see on the little screen on RAW file. (To find out how histograms
decide to archive in DNG, but you converted to some other format (such as Photoshop’s PSD, TIFF, or JPEG) before bit depth possible (this will depend your camera is actually a JPEG version work, turn to page 19.)
shouldn’t trash your original files. on your camera). If your camera has
they are usable.
From Score to Performance 13
02-Score to Performance-01.indd 13 7/28/09 9:59:40 PM
>> CaGcoTdshaonee emttt oths ie ionSsyrf gattofwo’ usuRra drryAme ocyW fueoo:,m m r fiB CyopUloeorTuuys nrt( ehcocveraafremfer d’resyr toataih unnwerd gi l l a RAW phoIt odtohona ’rgtde tuds ert ihvteehS . efiI nlsesotsf etftawrdoa mrI e u testhehe aa tm m epcemamomorery y w c icata1rhrd d mo yrn etcaoad mmeeryr. a >> OdfiIimnolp eaut hegbaeennlse diffi-no clilgletdi c ewikysr ti ololwlo nuohc rapet htreReeend Ae yi,imW onu at rghfi eel p e in oA CrR2Lctphoahrunoonttuaocgihgnh riA anydpgooh utebhrre ess iBiTtmmrryihidal aitggsoree s i,s.s fi hl Aloeotlclsoh a,ete t xae spn bitmedher esiilleto afn roosctkl edh odeif n r g to docctyhhhoeaausnn ewgg eeaimddn .ta o iBYgtnvooeser ustriw rd ai tonfilghlr reeekBs d rtccoi odjonwougm.bhres ee ieassn n otwdyof io ttfiliuomnh od ienkP t sahhttshoea r tloloilogu nshPgehthh o opt oasnhdo pis
problem) it will also try to do ACR application window. any subject they are interested in. These
After you find the image you want to
other things for you at the same may have slightly different exposure set-
work on, double-click on the image and it
time—for example, not give you a tings, different composition, or may have
will open in the ACR application window.
choice about where files are saved.
TpStiIts hohurd ao jerotutpcr seasrtitisohsns sfesaiutn f wasemgvenrail rey drtta,emhu ffieameoml lwtr ieaeymh my rapc a troeaagdhrorlee sdypdso c lfiri efanislrv er otredaasem. .r ar ctW el atitazhmhodeea e e tr ra ca cAroctd nahm tnreee e nmrGatedooasreo dyrtg ,lofl ec y aaaosrs euhdca o crmrmaceenhpam udtbtoeyorerpxry e. i tscI“ oafma r nsedye mosien uo ae ranxwy dplo ie csuttnalds rrio advlfeni k srdfeseu eeaptrvdpo ieclt irebeh” uret ysiihrn a att o
memory card to the computer.
To use a card reader: take the
memory card out of your camera
and put it in the card reader. The
memory card then appears on your
computer as a drive. (On the Mac
it will show up on the desktop.
In Windows, you will see it in
Windows Explorer.)
Use the Finder on the Mac or Customizing Bridge
I tuose c mopyy Epp cxaraoopsnpmtloedepr r etluhpyrt eaine nsRart mWA’esW einifidm di lmoaaenwga dsegsy e ltsfi ootficl eleacemsotsep diyn tfaoonl dade r. slimdeabsnYehyoco audwu ic.fs faeeI nr pei trsn eeltfet e twarBs an ramiyd dsc eg—au elsss fetouooep rm i neet a xovacae hdmrlas isipirmogplenelaa, rg y oaes fsyi z atoaehsu .e “ra ls iigmtlhihdautegbmseohbsxon ”iwa noi lvr, iae w
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14 The Photoshop Darkroom
02-Score to Performance-01.indd 14 7/28/09 9:59:41 PM