Photoshop® CS4 for Nature Photographers: A Workshop in a Book

Photoshop® CS4 for Nature Photographers: A Workshop in a Book

Released February 2009
Publisher(s): Sybex
ISBN: 9780470381274

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Book description

Using field-tested methods and practical instruction in both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, this book reveals eye-opening techniques, terrific workflow ideas, and timesaving ways to apply a broad array of Photoshop tools to optimize digital images of nature. You’ll encounter spectacular photographs from exotic places around the world shot by the authors, as well as tips and examples from some of the most esteemed professional nature photographers. In addition, the CD-ROM includes more than 60 minutes of video training as well as sample images to help you practice the techniques featured in the book.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. Dear Reader,
  3. Acknowledgments
  4. About the Authors
  5. Foreword
  6. Introduction
    1. Who Should Use This Book
    2. What's Inside
      1. What's on the CD
    3. How to Contact the Authors
  7. 1. Thinking Digitally
    1. 1.1. Photographic Techniques
    2. 1.2. Choosing RAW versus JPEG
      1. 1.2.1. What's So Great about RAW?
      2. 1.2.2. Advantages and Disadvantages of Shooting JPEGs
    3. 1.3. Understanding Histograms
      1. 1.3.1. Types of Histograms
      2. 1.3.2. Interpreting Histograms
    4. 1.4. Exposure
      1. 1.4.1. "Expose Right" by Michael Reichmann
        1. 1.4.1.1. Don't Blow It
        2. 1.4.1.2. Signals and Noise
        3. 1.4.1.3. Raw Mode
        4. 1.4.1.4. Dynamic Range and Bit Mode
        5. 1.4.1.5. The Lesson
    5. 1.5. White Balance in Nature Photography
    6. 1.6. Color Management
      1. 1.6.1. Monitor Calibration
        1. 1.6.1.1. Working Conditions
    7. 1.7. Photographing Elements to Composite Later
      1. 1.7.1. Expanding Camera Capabilities
      2. 1.7.2. Photographing Parts of the Scene Individually
      3. 1.7.3. Image Components
      4. 1.7.4. Ethical Considerations
    8. 1.8. Aperture and Lightroom
    9. 1.9. Storage Considerations
  8. 2. Bridge
    1. 2.1. Customizing Bridge
      1. 2.1.1. Setting Bridge Preferences
    2. 2.2. Downloading Images
      1. 2.2.1. Creating a Metadata Template
      2. 2.2.2. Renaming Your Images After Import
    3. 2.3. Bridge Views and Workspaces
      1. 2.3.1. Filmstrip Views
        1. 2.3.1.1. Customizing the Left Pod
      2. 2.3.2. Other Views
      3. 2.3.3. Recognizing the Icons
      4. 2.3.4. Stacking Images
    4. 2.4. Sorting and Editing
      1. 2.4.1. Zooming and Comparing Images
      2. 2.4.2. Rating Images
      3. 2.4.3. Labeling Images
      4. 2.4.4. Using the Filter Panel
      5. 2.4.5. Creating Collections
      6. 2.4.6. Using Keywords
    5. 2.5. Additional Features
  9. 3. Adobe Camera Raw
    1. 3.1. Using the ACR Interface
      1. 3.1.1. Seeing Your Image Within ACR
      2. 3.1.2. Cropping and Rotating Within ACR
      3. 3.1.3. Using the Spot Removal Tool
      4. 3.1.4. Controlling the Default Appearance of Your Image
        1. 3.1.4.1. Specifying the General Settings
        2. 3.1.4.2. Specifying the Default Image Settings
        3. 3.1.4.3. Saving Settings
    2. 3.2. Using the Basic Tab
      1. 3.2.1. Setting White Balance
      2. 3.2.2. Adjusting Tonalities
        1. 3.2.2.1. Setting the Exposure and Blacks Sliders
      3. 3.2.3. Using the Recovery and Fill Light Sliders
      4. 3.2.4. Using the Brightness and Contrast Sliders
      5. 3.2.5. Modifying Saturation
    3. 3.3. Setting the Other Tabs
      1. 3.3.1. Setting the Tone Curves: The Tone Curve Tab
      2. 3.3.2. Sharpening and Reducing Noise: The Detail Tab
      3. 3.3.3. Correcting Color: The HSL/Grayscale Tab
      4. 3.3.4. Alternate Interpretations: The Split Toning Tab
      5. 3.3.5. Fixing Aberration and Vignetting: The Lens Corrections Tab
      6. 3.3.6. Accounting for Camera Variation: The Camera Calibration Tab
      7. 3.3.7. Preset Tab
    4. 3.4. Making Localized Adjustments
      1. 3.4.1. Using the Adjustment Brush
      2. 3.4.2. Using the Graduated Filter
    5. 3.5. Setting ACR Workflow Options and Saving Files
      1. 3.5.1. Choosing the Space
      2. 3.5.2. Choosing the Depth
      3. 3.5.3. Choosing the File Size and Resolution
      4. 3.5.4. Opening an Image as a Smart Object
      5. 3.5.5. Finishing Up in ACR
    6. 3.6. Batch-Converting Multiple Images
  10. 4. Foundations
    1. 4.1. Customizing Settings
      1. 4.1.1. Color Settings
      2. 4.1.2. Preferences
        1. 4.1.2.1. General Settings
          1. 4.1.2.1.1. Options Check Boxes
          2. 4.1.2.1.2. History Log
        2. 4.1.2.2. Interface
        3. 4.1.2.3. File Handling Settings
        4. 4.1.2.4. Performance
        5. 4.1.2.5. Cursors
        6. 4.1.2.6. Plug-Ins
    2. 4.2. Views and Zoom
      1. 4.2.1. Application Bar
      2. 4.2.2. Windows and Workspaces
        1. 4.2.2.1. Screen Modes
        2. 4.2.2.2. Configuring Panels
      3. 4.2.3. Zoom Tool
      4. 4.2.4. Hand Tool
      5. 4.2.5. Navigator Panel
      6. 4.2.6. Navigating by Keyboard Shortcuts
    3. 4.3. Selection Tools
      1. 4.3.1. The Lasso Tool
        1. 4.3.1.1. Selection Modes
      2. 4.3.2. The Magnetic Lasso
      3. 4.3.3. The Magic Wand
      4. 4.3.4. The Quick Selection Tool
      5. 4.3.5. Using the Refine Edge Controls
        1. 4.3.5.1. Color Range Tool
      6. 4.3.6. Combining Tools
      7. 4.3.7. Saving and Loading Selections
    4. 4.4. The Brush Tools
      1. 4.4.1. Brushes Panel
      2. 4.4.2. The History Brush
    5. 4.5. Building Tool Knowledge
  11. 5. Workflows and First Steps
    1. 5.1. Understanding Layers
    2. 5.2. Flexible and Traditional Workflows
      1. 5.2.1. Smart Objects
      2. 5.2.2. Smart Filters
        1. 5.2.2.1. An Example of Smart Filters in Action
      3. 5.2.3. The Flexible Workflow
      4. 5.2.4. The Traditional Workflow
    3. 5.3. Cropping and Straightening in Photoshop
      1. 5.3.1. Cropping
      2. 5.3.2. Straightening Horizons
    4. 5.4. Doing Cleanup in Photoshop
      1. 5.4.1. The Photoshop Cleanup Tools
      2. 5.4.2. Zooming, Navigating, and Layering for Cleanup
        1. 5.4.2.1. Birds-Eye View
      3. 5.4.3. Removing Dust
      4. 5.4.4. Removing an Undesirable Object
      5. 5.4.5. Creating New Background on Empty Canvas
  12. 6. Exposure Adjustments
    1. 6.1. Shooting for Optimal Exposure
    2. 6.2. Using CS4 Adjustment Panel
    3. 6.3. Tonal Adjustments with Levels
      1. 6.3.1. Revealing Detail
        1. 6.3.1.1. The Clipping Preview
    4. 6.4. Targeting Adjustments Using a Layer Mask
      1. 6.4.1. Masking a Selection
      2. 6.4.2. Using the Color Range Option
      3. 6.4.3. Painting on a Mask
      4. 6.4.4. Blurring the Layer Mask
    5. 6.5. Curves
      1. 6.5.1. Clipping Preview
      2. 6.5.2. Anchor Points
        1. 6.5.2.1. Adjusting Anchor Points
        2. 6.5.2.2. Creating the S Curve
        3. 6.5.2.3. Locking Down the Curve to Limit Changes
      3. 6.5.3. Curves Presets
    6. 6.6. Creating a Virtual Split Neutral-Density Filter
    7. 6.7. Safe Dodge and Burn Layers
      1. 6.7.1. Setting Up
      2. 6.7.2. Painting with Light
      3. 6.7.3. Correcting Mistakes
    8. 6.8. The Shadow/Highlight Adjustment
    9. 6.9. Emphasizing Your Subject
  13. 7. Color Adjustments
    1. 7.1. Recognizing Color Casts
      1. 7.1.1. Using Hue/Saturation to Reveal a Color Cast
      2. 7.1.2. Using the Info Panel to Reveal a Color Cast
    2. 7.2. Removing Color Casts
      1. 7.2.1. Subjective Methods for Removing a Color Cast
        1. 7.2.1.1. Using the Gray Eyedropper
        2. 7.2.1.2. Using a Color Balance Adjustment Layer
      2. 7.2.2. Objective Method for Removing a Color Cast
    3. 7.3. Adding a Color Cast
    4. 7.4. Modifying Colors to Match Nature or Add Impact
      1. 7.4.1. Adjusting Hue and Saturation
        1. 7.4.1.1. Colorizing an Image
      2. 7.4.2. Adjusting Vibrance versus Saturation
      3. 7.4.3. Fine-Tuning with Selective Color
    5. 7.5. Layer Masks and Color Adjustments
      1. 7.5.1.
        1. 7.5.1.1. Using a Layer Mask for Color Adjustment
  14. 8. Composites
    1. 8.1. Creating Panoramas
      1. 8.1.1. In-Camera Considerations
      2. 8.1.2. Photomerge
      3. 8.1.3. Matching the Exposures of Each Segment of the Panorama
    2. 8.2. Expanding Dynamic Range
      1. 8.2.1. Expanding Latitude Manually
      2. 8.2.2. The "Cookbook" Approach to Expanding Latitude
      3. 8.2.3. Expanding Latitude via Merge to HDR
    3. 8.3. Extending the Depth of Field
      1. 8.3.1. Manual Method
      2. 8.3.2. Automatic Method
    4. 8.4. Combining Elements from Multiple Pictures
      1. 8.4.1. Advanced Selection Methods
        1. 8.4.1.1. Creating a Selection from Within a Channel
      2. 8.4.2. Compositing the Elements
      3. 8.4.3. Replacing a Sky or Other Background
  15. 9. Creative Effects
    1. 9.1. Black and White
      1. 9.1.1. Converting to Black and White
        1. 9.1.1.1. Converting to Black and White via the Channel Mixer
        2. 9.1.1.2. Converting Using the Black & White Adjustment
      2. 9.1.2. Colorizing Black-and-White Images
    2. 9.2. Filters
      1. 9.2.1. Using Smart Filters on Smart Objects
      2. 9.2.2. Using Filters Without Smart Objects
      3. 9.2.3. Blurs
        1. 9.2.3.1. Gaussian Blurs
        2. 9.2.3.2. Lens Blur
      4. 9.2.4. The Liquify Filter
      5. 9.2.5. Using the Filter Gallery
    3. 9.3. Digital Montages
      1. 9.3.1. Blending Modes
      2. 9.3.2. Surreal Montages
      3. 9.3.3. Mirror or Flip Montages
      4. 9.3.4. Mirror Images
      5. 9.3.5. Multiple-Subject Montages
    4. 9.4. Digital Multiple Exposures
  16. 10. Output
    1. 10.1. Output Workflow
      1. 10.1.1. Duplicating the Image
      2. 10.1.2. Resizing
      3. 10.1.3. Reducing Noise
        1. 10.1.3.1. Noise Reduction Advanced Settings
        2. 10.1.3.2. Sharpening
        3. 10.1.3.3. The Unsharp Mask Filter
        4. 10.1.3.4. The Smart Sharpen Filter
        5. 10.1.3.5. Targeted Sharpening
    2. 10.2. Printing Your Images
      1. 10.2.1. Soft Proofing
      2. 10.2.2. Configuring the Print Settings
      3. 10.2.3. Choosing the Best Paper
      4. 10.2.4. Adding Borders
    3. 10.3. Creating Business and Greeting Cards
      1. 10.3.1. Creating a Business Card
        1. 10.3.1.1. Adding Text
        2. 10.3.1.2. Applying Layer Styles
        3. 10.3.1.3. Saving the Layout
      2. 10.3.2. Creating the Print Layout
    4. 10.4. Using Adobe Output Module
      1. 10.4.1. Contact Sheets
      2. 10.4.2. Creating a Web Gallery
  17. 11. Time-Savers
    1. 11.1. Actions and Batch Processing
      1. 11.1.1. Creating an Action
      2. 11.1.2. Advanced Controls in Actions
      3. 11.1.3. Batch Processing
      4. 11.1.4. Creating a Droplet
    2. 11.2. Using the Image Processor
    3. 11.3. Creating a Copyright Brush
    4. 11.4. Individualizing Keyboard Shortcuts
  18. A. About the Companion CD
    1. A.1. What You'll Find on the CD
      1. A.1.1. Chapter Files
      2. A.1.2. Photoshop Videos and Elements Videos
    2. A.2. System Requirements
    3. A.3. Using the CD
    4. A.4. Troubleshooting
      1. A.4.1. Customer Care

Product information

  • Title: Photoshop® CS4 for Nature Photographers: A Workshop in a Book
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: February 2009
  • Publisher(s): Sybex
  • ISBN: 9780470381274