Workflow and batch processing: Actions, Scripts, etc

Handout for this week's class:


How to write an action:

1. Open your Actions Palatte and click "create new Set" (the folder icon) on the bottom. Name your set "My Actions" (or whatever)

2. Click the "Create New Action" icon at the bottom (looks like a page with the corner folded) Call it "Sharpen" or whatever you plan to write/record.

3. Notice the red "record" button is now on. WHATEVER you do will be recorded in a list of steps in your actions palatte under the new action you just created. When you are done with all the steps of a certain process that you want to record, click the stop button (little square on far left). The red button should go off.

4. Now you can open any image and hit the play button (triangle at bottom) and all the steps you recorded/wrote (your new action) will be applied instantaneously to that image.

5. Alternatively, to have this new action that you've recorded (or written) applied to a large number of images, go to FILE > AUTOMATE > BATCH and run it on a folder.

Things you might like to write actions for to save time:

Sharpening
Embed copyright info
Curves Brightening
Make a duplicate copy of a tiff and flatten it
Save for Web

SCRIPTS:

to save a folder of tiffs into JPGs in an instant, go to FILE > SCRIPTS IMAGE PROCESSOR

Hair Masking/ Scripts / Photomerge

In class this week we will go over hair masking, batch processing & scripts and Photomerge.

HAIR MASKING & COMPOSITING
Click below to download handout on hair masking:


Refer to the Lynda.com videos Photoshop CS5: Selections in Depth, chapter 4.

BATCH PROCESSING/ SCRIPTS:
To turn a folder of hi-res tiffs into a new folder of JPGS, go to File > Scripts > Image Processor. For a folder of websize/emailable images choose "fit image" and 700px Width and Height.

PHOTO MERGE:
To make a panorama out of several images shot of one scene, go to File > Automate > Photomerge. Choose several files by clicking browse. Then choose Auto layout (or try perspective) and hit OK. Photoshop will automatically combine your images into one. Crop and save.
3 images:

Photomerge panorama result:



HW Due Next week: Make one Photomerge panorama using 3 or more files you shot RAW.

Monday section: This HW is due Monday Nov 8
Thursday section: Nov 11

HW Due Next Week: Midterm Promo Card & Hairmasking

Midterm project: printed mock-up of postcard (promo card)
Please hand in 2 copies of your postcard (printed with front and back) plus hand in digital files 2: front and back). Print a mockup on cardstock (not regular thin paper). Try to have it printed double sided, otherwise you can glue it together. Use at least one image and include your contact info. Think about being specific as to what type of photography you are offering.

You can download postcard templates from VISTA PRINT


ALSO!!...
Read Hair Masking PDF and do the steps on one of your OWN photos.
Download the PDF here

Reading in Martin Evening Text:

Type p. 124
Batch processing p. 722
Batch Renaming pp. 621-622

Due dates:
Monday class: Due Oct 25th
Thursday due Oct 28th

Photo Galleries in NYC

A good condensed list:
http://art-support.com/galleries_ny.htm

Some upcoming shows I'd recommend:

Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao
at Julie Saul
535 W. 22nd


Christopher Bucklow at Danziger Projects


Laura Letinsky at Yancey Richardson


photographer Albert Watson
At Hasted Kraeutler Gallery
Up from October 21, 2010- December 4, 2010
Opening night Reception: October 21, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

HW: Pen Tool

Class this week will be spent looking at pen tool selection methods.

HW for next week:

Select part of an image using pen tool (make a path). Change that portion of the image using an adjustment layer. (for example, make a certain part of the image desaturated)

Please refer to Lynda.com
Photoshop CS5: Selections in Depth (watch the videos in Chapter 6, drawing selection methods)

Reading: Martin Evening text, pages 49, 452-459, 532-535

Monday class: Due Oct 18
Thursday class due Oct 21

Compositing HW

Monday Class: This assignment is due Oct 11
Thursday Class: Oct 14

READING in Martin Evening Text:
Smart Objects:pgs 515-531, 550-556

2 TIFFs are Due Next Week

TIFF #1: Double process one raw file twice, 2 different ways (either for exposure or color temperature). Open each time as an object from camera raw by holding down shift when you open the image will say 'open object'. Stack the 2 smart objects on top of eachother. Make a mask and combine the 2 images appropriately.

TIFF #2: Take 2 photos on a tripod of the exact same scene. Don't move the tripod. Change one thing about the scene (Have the same person both sitting and standing in different spots, for example) Or bracket the 2 shots to compensate for exposure. Stack the 2 images on top of eachother once in Photoshop. Make a mask and combine the 2 images appropriately.

Compositing & Smart Objects

Compositing is the combining of visual elements from separate sources into single images, often to create the illusion that all those elements are parts of the same scene.

See the Files for Students for example files.


Demo 1: Double Processing a Single RAW File for Color Temperature

In the first exercise, we will process a single RAW file twice to create a new image that has correct color temperature overall. (Use move tool to drag one image on top of the other. Hold SHIFT when dragging and images will align perfectly)



Demo 2: Double Processing a Single RAW File for Exposure/ Smart Objects

In this exercise we will process the same file twice to create a new file that has correct exposure overall. Each time you open the image from Camera Raw, hold down shift and open as a “Object”. Once you have processed the image twice, hold SHIFT when dragging and images will align perfectly. Use gradient tool and brush tool to paint in certain areas. You may need to decrease the opacity of your brush tool. Double click the smart object layer to refer back to the original raw information.



Demo 3: Layering Several Images to get correct exposure

By bracketing, shoot the same scene with multiple different exposure settings so you can increase the dynamic range of the image. Shoot Several Images of the same scene on a tripod, then layer them on top of each other and create masks to achieve an overall correct exposure. Mask the images together to get information in all areas of the image. (This is an alternative to HDR)


Demo 4: Layering Images of the Same Scene

Using several images of the same scene shot on a tripod, one can create a new composite image of this scene that never actually existed. Capture several different frames of the same scene and then layer them to embellish or eliminate certain information. For example, you could shoot several frames of a busy street corner and mask them together to either make all of the people crowded together, or eliminate the people all together.