Summary and lessons
So this exercise was a good opportunity for me to compare the different formats (raw and Jpeg in this instance) in relation to image tone and colour optimisation. It was also a chance to learn and practice the relevant techniques as well as to look critically and objectively at my digital workflow developed and polished through the previous exercises and the two key software programmes that I use for this work: Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop /Camera Raw.
My lessons from this exercise:
1) I like the versatility of raw format and this exercise once again confirmed my preference to use raw files where possible.
2) I found the features of Camera Raw and Adobe Lightroom to be comparable, although Adobe Lightroom wins where speedy adjustments are required.
3) Black point and white point adjustments are important and depending on an image, might require experimenting. It took me a while to set the points for the image used in this exercise. It’s helpful to spend time playing with different settings and adjustments just to get enough practice and see how different images respond to the adjustments. The more you practice, the faster and more precise the adjustments will become.
4) Contrast, brightness and mid-tones adjustments can be highly intuitive. It’s possible to interpret the image adjustments and what is required to produce the final image in different ways. The selection of images included with this note is the best illustration of this. Even a very slight difference in the tone and colour could introduce a different 'mood' or highlight a slightly different angle of a subject.
5) I learnt that it’s really necessary to experiment and not to be afraid to go beyond the manuals. My advice after completing this exercise is: Read the manuals and instructions but don’t stop there. Experiment and push the boundaries. Play, make mistakes – not all of it might work. What might be considered a fault in one setting, might become a key feature in another - even colour cast can be used creatively!
6) This exercise once again has been a useful opportunity to go back to M. Evening manuals and re-read many sections. There is a wealth of learning in these manuals and they are worth reading again and again.
7) I can’t praise my Eye-One enough and I think this exercise again demonstrated the need for a monitor calibrating system. It’s crucial to synchronise the gamma values of all input and output peripherals used.
