Magnolia, how I edit (part 1)

Not for anything in particular, I decided to edit this photo I took of a magnolia branch in a friend's garden last week. Or the week before. Anyhow, this first picture is the finished image. Below is the straight out of camera (shot raw) version, photographed using my 24-105mm f/4 lens on my Canon 7D body. About 5pm.

Straight out of camera

First I imported it into Lightroom 4 and adjusted the white balance. I raised the shadows a bit and reduced the highlights slightly, then went to 'edit in photoshop'. BTW, this is all done on my laptop, rather than using my lovely colour-calibrated monitor, as I am actually in the middle of entering last financial year's accounts and am blogging instead. Procrastination, you know ;) This does mean that it would look different if I was editing properly, as the colour and light is much better on my big monitor. But this is just for fun, so c'est la vie!

After a quick Lightroom adjustment

OK where was I? Into Photoshop (I use CS5) now. First I tweak the levels, deliberately lightening the whole thing. Then I create a bit more of an S-curve in the 'curves' adjustment window, making the magnolia flower pop. I add a colour overlay in effect, using #fcff9c (light yellow) at 8%. These aren't habitual settings or anything, and sometimes I'd use actions instead (purchased or previously created). Today I'm just playing :)

Speaking of actions, I then run a 'Sharpen' action from one of the Itty Bitty Action sets I have installed, and also 'Reduce Noise'. After this I shift back into Lightroom for some finishing tweaks.

After Photoshop edits

Back in Lightroom, I play with the curve again a bit more, and increase the exposure, as I want a lighter, barely there feel. I increase the clarity a bit, though, I don't want the magnolia to disappear into the background. Under 'white balance' I adjust it to +10 in tint. Post-crop vignetting is set to -24. Vibrance to +12. Um, a little more tweaking of shadows and highlights. Technically it's blown out where the sun is, but I like it.

Hmm, yes I think that's done.

Finished version

Of course, if I knew what I wanted it for, I might process it quite differently ;) This one might make a nice wall art someday...

Creative work

While I started the week with a bit of scrapbooking, that is for a future newsletter for Scrapboxx so I can't show it yet. Anyhow, that was only on Sunday. Since then my creative space has been all about getting cold fingers on my mouse-hand as I edit photos, play with blogs and plan / research / procrastinate / get distracted on the computer.

I thought I'd do a quick share from the session I'm finishing. This first image is how the unedited raw file looks, and below that is the finished, edited version.

At the moment, I'm processing RAW files using Adobe Lightroom, but am using a 30 day trial to do some serious learning, so I'll let you know how I go (I'm halfway through the month). Then I edit briefly in Photoshop CS5. Usually I use IttyBittyActions, I also have a custom vignette action I like to use and a few of my own changes to make as I feel the need. When using actions, always tweak (edit the opacity on) every layer you end up with from using the actions to make sure you're controlling the impact, and also learning about what the actions are using in Photoshop to make the changes. Then it's back to Lightroom for saving and exporting and stuff like that.

Usually I use Adobe Bridge to view my files, processing the raw files one at a time as I open the ones I want to edit in Photoshop CS5. So, there is a brief overview of my editing process this week. I'm also linking up with creative spaces this fine Thursday, there is always a lot of lovely crafty goodness in the list, check it out :)

Painted doily Background

Last week I shared a layout I made for a Scrapbook Creations colour team assignment. Often I use the colour challenges to create my own backgrounds, usually by customising and layering over patterned paper. I use this same technique when creating canvas backgrounds, sometimes.

For this page, I began with a teal patterned paper, some gesso, some teal acrylic paint and some small white paper doilies. I also had a bit of tissue / dress pattern to add. I used the gesso as an adhesive as well as to add the white coverage, and simply splodged it onto the paper. Pressing the doilies firmly into the gesso, I then firmly wiped it around the page. I sometimes use a piece of muslin for this, or an old credit / store card to get a firmer 'swipe'.

While the gesso is wet I add the colour and mix that in as well. It's a pretty organic, messy process really! When the page is dry, I often need to let it sit under a heavy book or two to flatten out, and then use it as a background for a mixed media piece or a scrapbooking project.