Real World Compositing with Adobe Photoshop

In Real World Compositing with Adobe Photoshop CS4, Photoshop experts Scott Valentine and Dan Moughamian explain the key elements involved in planning and executing a composite imaging project. Serious photographers and digital artists wishing to produce photo-realistic imagery or surrealistic artwork by blending-or compositing-multiple images (including 3D objects) and light sources can learn all they need to know right here.

Dan Moughamian is a compositor and photographer of landscapes and urban architecture. With more than 14 years of experience with Adobe Photoshop, he has worked directly with Adobe Systems to help enhance many of Photoshop's core compositing functions. Learn more about Dan's work at www.colortrails.com. Scott Valentine is an award-winning experimental photographer and long-time Adobe Photoshop user. He has a deep understanding of digital imaging and optical physics, and has served as a subject matter expert in microphotography and technical image analysis at a national laboratory. Follow Scott at: blog.lightningsymphony.com.

Introduction	p. xi
System Considerations	p. 1
Hardware	p. 1
Memory (RAM)	p. 2
Graphics Processors (GPUs)	p. 4
Monitors	p. 6
Hard Drives	p. 9
Color Calibration and Profiling	p. 12
Software	p. 13
Adobe Bridge CS4	p. 13
3D Modeling and Rendering	p. 14
Advanced Masking Tools	p. 15
Noise Reduction Software	p. 15
Brainstorming	p. 17
Finding Inspiration	p. 17
Storing and Evaluating Ideas	p. 18
Sketching and Visualizing	p. 20
Choosing a Final Concept	p. 22
Choosing the Scene and Subject	p. 25
The Scene	p. 25
Details Make the Difference	p. 26
Scouting the Options	p. 27
Travel Now, Travel Later	p. 29
Travel by Wire: Stock Imagery	p. 31
The Subject	p. 32
Other Considerations	p. 36
Complexity	p. 36
Color and Luminosity	p. 37
Using Stock Images	p. 41
Finding the Right Shots	p. 41
Understanding What You Need	p. 41
Searching and Organizing	p. 42
Keyword Search Strategies	p. 44
Licensing and Restrictions	p. 45
Free Sites and Fair Use	p. 49
Types of Images Available	p. 51
Capturing the Scene and Subject	p. 53
Working with Light	p. 53
Soft Light	p. 54
Hard Light	p. 56
Reflections	p. 57
Highlights	p. 60
Shadows and Texture	p. 61
Edge Contrast	p. 63
Opaque Edges	p. 64
Transparent Edges	p. 65
Distance Factors	p. 66
Perspective	p. 67
Composition and Selective Focus	p. 69
Compositional Balance	p. 69
Tilt-Shift	p. 71
Digital Noise	p. 74
Color Considerations	p. 76
Camera Location	p. 78
Equipment Considerations	p. 79
Organizing and Evaluating Images	p. 83
Bridge Workflow Tips	p. 83
Tips for Metadata	p. 84
Tips for Keywords	p. 87
Tips for Searching	p. 89
Tips for Using Collections	p. 91
Tips for Evaluating and Comparing Images	p. 92
Photoshop Workflow Tips	p. 94
Managing Your Workspace	p. 94
Using Layers and Layer Groups	p. 96
Processing Raw Source Files	p. 99
Enhancing Color and Tone	p. 100
Global Color Corrections	p. 100
Global Tonal Corrections	p. 103
Localized Color and Tone Corrections	p. 108
Controlling Camera Noise	p. 116
Controlling Sharpness	p. 117
Handling Multiple Corrections	p. 119
Managing Output	p. 121
Enhancing Source Images	p. 123
Compositing Workflow	p. 123
Identifying Problem Areas	p. 124
Retaining Image Flexibility	p. 125
Making Image Corrections	p. 132
Reducing Noise	p. 132
Modifying Tonal Values	p. 134
Correcting Color	p. 136
Making Layer-Based Edits	p. 138
Creating 3D Content	p. 149
3D Fundamentals	p. 150
3D in Photoshop	p. 157
Basic 3D Tools	p. 157
The 3D Panel	p. 161
The 3D Axis	p. 164
Creating 3D Content in Photoshop	p. 167
Understanding Textures	p. 169
Working with Materials	p. 172
Adding Contour with Depth Maps	p. 173
Lighting 3D Content	p. 174
Rendering and Performance	p. 175
Choosing Your 3D Environment	p. 176
Compositing Source Materials	p. 181
Quick Setup	p. 181
Adding Source Files	p. 184
Adjusting Scale and Placement	p. 189
Obscuring Extra Pixels	p. 193
Clone, Patch, and Healing Tools	p. 194
Selections, Layer Masks, and Alpha Channels	p. 197
Alternate Removal Methods	p. 204
Perfecting Focus	p. 206
Lighting Enhancements	p. 212
"Lighting Layers"	p. 212
Creating Shadows	p. 215
Final Touches	p. 217
File Versioning Options	p. 222
Output Options	p. 223
Commercial Press Output	p. 223
Choosing the Right ICC Profile	p. 224
Soft-Proofing Your Work	p. 227
Making Corrections	p. 231
Ink-Jet Printer Output	p. 232
Web Output	p. 235
Appendix: Project Examples	p. 239
Blue Moon	p. 239
Process the Raw Source Image	p. 240
Correct the Perspective on Buildings	p. 241
Create an Illustrator "Orb"	p. 241
Create a 3D Photoshop "Orb"	p. 242
Place Files as Smart Objects	p. 243
Position, Scale, and Rotate	p. 244
Mimic the Evening Light	p. 245
Adjust the Focus	p. 246
Add the Final Touches	p. 247
Alley Man	p. 248
Match the Tonality and Color	p. 248
Place the Man in the Alley	p. 249
Achieve Accurate Scale	p. 250
Set the Focus Points	p. 251
Work the Shadows	p. 252
More Composite Examples	p. 253
Parting Words	p. 256
Image Credits	p. 257
Index	p. 259
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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Real World Compositing with Adobe Photoshop CS4

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

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