How To Create a High Key Image in Photoshop

Posted on August 9, 2010 by admin

How To Create a High Key Image in Photoshop by Michael Sweeney

A classic look in photography is Black and White imagery. Black and white images are not always pure; sometimes they are sepia tone or cool blue tone, or even Duotone which is not B/W but most drop it into that catagory. It’s a timeless look and with the right image, and a very powerful look. For professional photographers, it can also be a lifesaver with a high ISO grainy image or an image with incorrect exposure.

I am going to show you today how I recovered an overexposed image into a usable image. I shot it with a wide open F1.4, 50mm (crop sensor so about 80mm) and the between the wide open lens and the lighting, I had an over exposure or perhaps it’s better to call it “flare” going on.

You see my original image of my model below.

Original Image

I always start my editing workflow in Lightroom. Then I go into Photoshop for any heavy lifting that Lightroom either can not do or does do it well. One of my first steps is to always apply a camera profile preset which brings in the various settings to match my camera, in this case, a Nikon D300. Then I will apply a Black and White conversion preset and do some basic adjustments. As you can see, I apply the camera preset and then I use a B/W conversion preset from Jack Davis.

BAM – FREE Camera Dojo free Lightroom preset.
WOW BnW_02 – FREE Jack Davis B/W conversion preset from his How to WOW series

Once I have these two presets applied, I tweaked it a bit in Lightroom as I show here.

Highlights +40

Darks +75

Shadows -19

sharpness -80

The sharpness has been dialed down to let me run the noise clean up, then I reapply the sharpness as needed.

luminance +54

color noise +27

sharpness +40

After Lightroom Conversion

Even with Lightroom and Jack’s black and white magic, the image is still pretty much middle gray which I despise. So now we drop into Photoshop to really start tweaking the image to a high key look.

My first step is apply a curves layer in Photoshop. This brings out the whiteness of the skin.

curve example

Then I make a duplicate layer and start to sample the image and paint it using the samples. I should point out here that while you can do this with a mouse, sort of, it is much better to have a tablet like a Wacom that is pressure sensitive. I can not stress how useful a tablet is when editing like this and you need a very delicate touch.

This editing evened out the shadow under the chin. I made the eyelashes darker, whites of the eyes brighter and so on.

After PS Curves Adjustment

Once I have all my painting finished, I apply a blur to a duplicate layer of the painted image. I then apply a layer mask to hide the new blurred layer. Now I use my Wacom again to paint in the blur at something like a 20% opacity.

Final Image

You can see that we have gone from a blah image to a dramatic black and white image in the high key style. This style of image really shows off her eyes and the overall beauty of her face without the distractions of lens flare, color and and so on. If you were to print this on black and white paper or aluminum and you have an amazing piece wall art. And if you do this for a client, you are sure to get lots of interest in more types of prints like this. Everyone likes to look like a million dollars and this type of image really does it well.

About Michael Sweeney @Michael Sweeney Photography
I started my visual career by drawing incessantly from the time I was old enough to be trusted with a box of crayons. Now days I blend my photography skills with my extensive knowledge of technology to produce images that are both classic and state of the art.

How To Create a High Key Image in Photoshop

Share this post:

Celebrate 4th of July with a Free Flag Photoshop Action

Posted on July 1, 2010 by admin

***FLAG IN A FLASH Free Photoshop action***

If you have been following me for years, you have seen this the past two summers already. If you missed it or are new to MCP this year, and celebrate Independence Day, you will love this fun Patriotic Photoshop action called “Flag in a Flash.” This action is compatible with Photoshop CS, CS2, CS3, CS4 and CS5. It creates a 20×20 Patriotic Flag Storyboard in seconds. You can resize the storyboard to any smaller size square (such as 8×8, 10×10, 12×12, 16×16, etc). Perfect for framing, printing on canvas, or for use in scrapbooking.

If you have a chance, please share your completed work on my Facebook Page and on your blog. And let others know to “like” MCP on Facebook and also to come here and download the FREE Photoshop action too!

Just download the Flag by clicking on any of the photos in this post, unzip, and install the action into photoshop. Then click play. Once it runs, you will want to crop 4 photos to insert. The openings are each 300 ppi:

6.5×4.75
(2) 4×4
6×4

When cropping, make sure resolution is at 300 pixels per inch and add .25 to the width and height. So crop the 6×4 photo to 6.25×4.25 for example. Then use Move Tool to move the photos into the Storyboard. Make sure that they are under the “Photos Go Below Here” layer. Then save (or re-size and save if you want a smaller version). Color of the background can be changed by clicking on the blue square in the layers palette and selecting a new color. You also may add a photo to take the place of the white stripes, though usually that ends up a little bit busy.

Enjoy the action. Click on one of the examples to download the action. It works great for Memorial Day, Independence Day (4th of July), Labor Day, and Veteran’s Day too.

Celebrate 4th of July with a Free Flag Photoshop Action

Share this post:

FREE Mommy Cards: Perfect Gift For Customers or For Yourself

Posted on June 30, 2010 by admin

Mommy cards are a great referral program giveaway for your customers. Just add an image from a client session and give your clients a stack of these fun cards. If you’re looking for a fun and unique gift for your clients that doubles as a great way to promote your business, Mommy Card Photoshop Templates are for you!

If you are a beginner or hobbyist mom photographer, you can even use these yourself to display your work.

Download the FREE Photography MOMMY CARD Photoshop Templates!

Minneapolis baby photographer, Jen Gorney, of Elizabeth Grace Photography is giving all MCP Action readers three free Mommy Card templates for use with Adobe Photoshop and Elements. Simply save the file, customize to your liking and send to your printer of choice!

As the biggest play date season of the year is upon us (yeah, summer!), you can be sure that your Mommy Cards will be handed out non-stop as busy moms are figuring out summer schedules for their kids, meeting new moms at the park, determining car pool schedules…you name it! Perfect for moms and tots alike, Mommy Cards are a stylish way to share contact information and oh-so-fun to hand out!

Mommy cards are sized like a traditional business card (2×3.5 inches)and are a PERFECT client gift for summer. The templates are fully layered .psd files so you have full control over the fonts, colors, verbiage – you can even re-size, increase or decrease the number of photo openings. The possibilities are endless with these little cards, so get creative!

Basic Instructions:

Place your chosen image directly above the Image Layer in the Layers Palette. Go to Layer > Create Clipping Mask. You can then re-size and move your image as needed.

You can re-size photo openings as needed, change border colors (double-click “Stroke”), etc. To create additional photo openings, right-click on an Image Layer and select Duplicate Layer. To delete photo openings, drag the applicable layer to the Delete Layer (trash) icon in the Layers Palette.

To change a color, double click the layer thumbnail and choose a new color. All fonts and borders are customizable so you can match your studio’s design and color palette.

Share this post:

A Referral Program That Actually Brings Referrals!

Posted on June 24, 2010 by admin

Are you wanting ideas for a referral program that actually will bring Referrals?

Why is it that some photographers are constantly talking about referrals being their best form of advertising? What are they doing that you’re not? What makes a great referral program? Let me first start off by telling you what doesn’t… Free 8×10. Don’t get me wrong, that’s a nice incentive but that’s not (in any way shape or form) going to give you a solid base of referred clients. Why? Because there is no connection to an 8×10. It’s a distant thing that they may or may not remember to even ask for. If handing a stack of referral cards is your referral program, it may be time to re-strategize!

Here are 3 ideas for a solid Referral Program:

1. Emotions! The absolute best referral program is simply connecting with your clients. When I put in that little extra effort to make them feel that I’ve gone just a little further for them, I help them know they are important to me. Add to that a personal touch and voila, a genuine connection is made! When I accomplish that, I’m no longer a photographer, I’m their photographer. That distinction makes all the difference in the world because now they are rooting for me and they want to help me grow! It’s worth it to go the extra mile and offer some extra TLC!

For one client upon delivering a large order of canvas, she was beaming with excitement to hang them so I stayed and we hung all of the canvases as a surprise for when her hubby got home. For another client who was unsure about what to wear I created special ‘what to wear’ idea board just for her family.

2. Give them something to talk about! This is such a crucial step that I think too many photographers aren’t thinking about. Your clients probably are not so overly eager for that 8×10 you offered that they’re going to take that stack of referral cards and hand them out like smut cards on Las Vegas Blvd but if you give them something personal to show off… they will share it. And I don’t mean a personalized referral card only, I mean a fun little product that easy to showoff and have with them.

In my own business the two best opportunities I’ve found for sharing is with the 3×3 accordion mini books: FREE Accordian Book Download. Think of the mini-books as you’re businesses own mini-billboard that your client will take around to playgroups, work, church and pre-school to show off to all her friends, they are unique and fairly new so most likely she’ll be the first to have one making these little babies completely brag worthy!

My other favorite product for giving clients something to talk about is the iPhone cases! I have made sure that every client who owns an iPhone has one of my custom cases and let me tell you, it has made it so easy for my clients to talk about me. The iPhone cases have been my best form of advertisement ever! And that’s exactly how I look at them too! I don’t mark them up at all, first because I want to get them in the hand of every client that owns an iPhone and second because if they go to the uncommon website and see the price I don’t want them to have any negative feeling toward the one they have in their hand.

3. Referral Cards. Last of all are the referral cards. Absolutely I use referrals cards, did you think I wouldn’t? There just not the only thing I think about when I’m working out my referral program. Once I’ve made the connections and given the tools to talk about me then I think about the referral cards. I give each client only 8 cards. I don’t want them to take a stack of 50 and set them aside somewhere with the stack of mail they need to get through where they will undoubtedly be forgotten. Instead, I want them to feel like these are special, even precious, like there is a dollar value credit on each of these little babies, because really – there is!

Creating a strong referral program is really about giving your clients a reason to refer. If you have not done anything different from your competition, if you haven’t made a meaningful impact than what have you given them to say? In contrast, if you make every connecting-point meaningful, if you look for or create opportunities to over deliver and last you give them the tools to talk about you… That’s when you become their photographer. And when you’re their photographer they’ll share! It’s not enough to be and do a good job, that’s exactly when they expect from you, that’s the reason they’ve contacted and hired you, but if you are exceptional – that’s when you’ve make a reason for them to share more about you not just your pictures.

This article was written by Leah Remillet of Go 4 Pro Photos. Check out her blog filled with inspiration, amazing interviews, and business and marketing strategies.

Share this post:

Free iPhone Skin Photoshop Template: Make a Custom Case

Posted on June 3, 2010 by admin

Free iPhone 3G Skin Photoshop Template

Are you bored with iPhone cases? Do you wish you could offer your customers something fun, refreshing and new? How about giving them the option of ordering a case for their iPhone?

Designs By Amie is giving all MCP Action readers a free iPhone 3G Skin Template for use with Adobe Photoshop or Elements. You just save the file, customize the background, add your image and send it to be printed. Great for gifts, thank yous or to offer as a product option for clients.

Click here to download the free iPhone Skin template.

This iPhone Skin template was designed with the new mom in mind as they are super excited to see their new love’s photo one everything. The template comes with both pink and blue options, but is fully layered so you can change the colors to match any photo. This feature makes the template perfect for any mom, grandmother, senior girl, or pet owner even.
Directions on how to insert your photo and how to order a skin from Skin It are provided in the download. You can also find a tutorial on how to change the colors at Designs by Amie.

Here is what the label will look like before sending it to Skin It.

Sample Label 600x496 Free iPhone Skin Photoshop Template: Make a Custom Case

In addition, all MCP Action readers can get a free matching birth announcement with any purchase at Designs by Amie. Just type in “MCP Actions Rock” in the special notes when you checkout to receive your free template. You don’t have to add it to your cart, it will automatically be included when you receive your order.

Designs By Amie offers a variety of Photoshop templates for photographers to expand their client product line. Amie’s style is simple but elegant making your photos the center of attention. She strives to make each template as easy to use as possible and as customizable as possible by layering the templates so that you can change the colors to match your photos.

Share this post:

Watermark Your Images in Photoshop CS5: FREE & EASY

Posted on May 4, 2010 by admin

Watermarking and re-sizing are two effective ways to protect your photos from theft on the internet. And they also brand your images, which is an added bonus. While people may still copy or take a screen shot, prominent logos on re-sized photos make it harder for customers to print your images without permission.

Watermarking and adding logos to images can be accomplished in a variety of ways using Photoshop. You can add your branding with Photoshop actions and apply it one image at a time or by creating a batchable logo action. This is very effective if built correctly, but is not easy for most people to do. Another common way to add a logo or watermark is using the brush tool in Photoshop. You can watch the video tutorial and learn how. This works on most versions of Photoshop. It works well but if you have Photoshop CS 4 and CS5 there is an almost miraculous way to watermark your images.

The Russell Brown Adobe Watermark Panel is an innovative way to add your watermark or logo and re-size hundreds of images in minutes. Add your logo to the top, bottom, right, left or center. Specify how close or far you want the watermark from the edge of your image. You get to decide the size and opacity of the branding.

The only way to get the script and watermark panel for Photoshop CS4 is to become a member of the NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals). Dr. Russell Brown, a Photoshop genius, created this script and panel extension.

In Photoshop CS5, you can download this tool without being a NAPP member (though I highly recommend joining for so many other reasons). In my conversation with Dr. Brown, he granted me permission to share the download link with you on my blog. I have embedded his video below so you can see how revolutionary this will be for your workflow.

DOWNLOAD THE RUSSELL BROWN WATERMARK PANEL FOR PHOTOSHOP CS5 HERE!

Share this post:

Free Lightroom & ACR Presets: MCP Exclusive Pretty Presets

Posted on April 29, 2010 by admin

Free Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw Presets anyone? Read on to learn how you can get some Exclusive Presets designed just for MCP readers.

I receive emails at least 2-3 times a day asking if MCP Actions will be coming out with Lightroom and ACR Presets. And while I love to make customers happy, I have no intention of making Presets immediately. Adobe Camera Raw & Lightroom are a small part of my workflow currently. I use Lightroom to organize my photos and do basic exposure and white balance correction on my RAW files.

But for the most part, I end my LR editing there and head into Photoshop, where I have more control with adjustment layers and layer masks.

The good news is LR and ACR works with sliders. So they are relatively easy to use. If you find a setting you like, you can quickly and easily make a preset for it. In my opinion, this is significantly easier than making Photoshop actions. I sometimes make a preset to apply it to a whole group with similar lighting, but I usually just sync after making a change and apply that way.

If you prefer not make your own presets, you can always find Presets on the internet, some free and others for purchase. I find many still require tweaking, but occasionally you may find one that works perfect with one click.

Laura, a new MCP Blog advertiser and owner of Pretty Presets, has generously created some Free Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw Presets, for MCP readers. They are compatible in ACR for full Photoshop and Lightroom 2 and beta 3. These are only available on the MCP Blog. Check out her site for more fun products.

To download these 3 free presets and directions on installing them in Lightroom and ACR, click here. Unzip the file, extract, and read the instructional PDF to move them into LR or ACR. If you have any questions, please contact Laura through her site for support. Thank you! And enjoy.

Here are a few samples of these in use:

Share this post:

E7PX.com

Graphic Design, Photoshop tutorials,Gimp tutorials,Freebies and more in E7PX.com!

Tag Archives: Free Photoshop Stuff

How To Create a High Key Image in Photoshop

Related posts:

Celebrate 4th of July with a Free Flag Photoshop Action

Related posts:

FREE Mommy Cards: Perfect Gift For Customers or For Yourself

Related posts:

A Referral Program That Actually Brings Referrals!

Related posts:

Free iPhone Skin Photoshop Template: Make a Custom Case

Related posts:

Watermark Your Images in Photoshop CS5: FREE & EASY

DOWNLOAD THE RUSSELL BROWN WATERMARK PANEL FOR PHOTOSHOP CS5 HERE!

Related posts:

Free Lightroom & ACR Presets: MCP Exclusive Pretty Presets

Related posts: