Beginning the dark journey into the dreaded 'Layers'

[JBW]

the original


my usual technique


layers

[Shadowman]

Maybe it's my eyes or maybe it's partly your technique, partly your technique with layers, but your usual technique looks much better than the layers edit.

[JBW]

Maybe it's my eyes or maybe it's partly your technique, partly your technique with layers, but your usual technique looks much better than the layers edit.

I am not about to question your eyesight. I have no doubt that there is a lot for me to learn about how to edit in layers.

[DanK]

Maybe it's my eyes or maybe it's partly your technique, partly your technique with layers, but your usual technique looks much better than the layers edit.

I agree

[chauncey]

Another agreement...the use of layers themselves does not necessarily guarantee better results.
Your vision plays a very impartment role in the equation.

[JBW]

Another agreement...the use of layers themselves does not necessarily guarantee better results.
Your vision plays a very impartment role in the equation.

Impartment?

[purplehaze]

Hi Brian,

In addition to echoing the above as to the superiority of your original technique, I just wanted to add that I really like the image. Nice composition and nice processing.

And congrats on your making the foray into learning layers. I have yet to take the plunge, myself.

[Geoff F]

Layers are a useful tool in editing, Brian, but it really depends on what you do with them. Your original image is fairly 'neutral' in tones so possibly not the best subject material for extensive adjustment using layers as a base. An original which has potential editing problems would probably be more of a true test.

If I get time later on, I will download the original and see what else can be done with it.

[Geoff F]

This is my experimental edit using various Curves Layers and a little masking. You could do the same thing with duplicate copies of the original background plus edited masks over those layers. But if you do have Adjustment Layer options they are easier and increase file size by a much smaller amount.



There are alternative methods, but still using layers. Possibly this is a little bit too much adjustment but I am attempting to show what can be achieved.

Firstly, used a Curves Layer and brightened the highlights. Used a Reveal All Mask which I edited to darken down any spots which had been over adjusted. Paint over the areas to be changed with a soft edged brush. Use a low opacity (say 20%) and gradually build up the effect. With a Reveal All mask use a 'black' edit brush.

Then to add a bit more depth of saturation to the paler areas. Add a Curves Layer but any option such as Levels etc would work because I'm not actually changing anything except the Layer Blend Mode. Change the Blend Mode to Multiply and a Hide All Mask which hides the effect. Paint over the required areas with a 'white' edit brush until the desired effect is achieved. Could have done a similar edit with a Saturation adjustment instead.

There is a slightly bright area of background near the top so I darkened this with another Curves Adjustment Layer with Blend Mode set to Luminosity. Don't worry about the whole image going dark at this stage. Use a Hide All Mask and the effect disappears. Paint with a 'white' edit brush to gradually reveal the edit and darken just those required areas.

Finally, a Curves Adjustment Layer adjusted for just the beetle. Ignore any other areas for now. Once again, use a Hide All Mask to hide the effects until a 'white' brush is used carefully on just the areas of the beetle which need brightening.

But the problem with this sort of fine editing is that I am using a drawing tablet and pen and although I'm lacking any sort of 'artistic hand' I am still able to paint fairly steadily. You may find a lot more problems using a mouse for close edits.

However, just using a layer with different Blend Modes can sometimes be worthwhile.

Masking in particular can be tricky to initially understand, but it isn't too difficult once you get to understand the difference between Hide and Reveal masks and which 'colour' of brush to use for each edit. But even now, I sometimes find myself painting away with nothing happening, only to discover that I'm working with the wrong 'colour' brush.

As I said previously, this isn't really a good test subject. The results will be more obvious when applied to a problem shot.

[ajohnw]

I need to know what you have done in layers to get this shot Brian.

One simple way of getting to the same sort of result as your normal method but with variability is to generate a layer from visible as you would with any layer work before exporting the result. Duplicate this layer and go to colours - desaturate-luminosity, the duplicate layer will have been selected when you create it, then colours - invert. Set this layer mode to overlay or soft light and then play with the opacity to suite. This is a contrast / brightening layer and on this shot one adjustment layer has most effect altering the brightness of the flower.

You can also keep duplicating this adjustment layer. Best try it to see what that does. In this case it's probably more suitable as it will push the contrast of the insect up more. When doing this it's best to reduce the opacity of each of these layers by say 30 to 50% starting at some opacity of under 100%. This for instance is 3 adjustment layers going roughly 50,25,12% opacity. When happy with what you have just right click in the layer window and select new from visible - those are the ones with the eye showing and export the result. You can also just save but that just saves a gimp file so that you can stop working and pick up again later.

When you desaturate there are 2 other options as well as luminosity. Try them to see what they do. Luminosity is usually the best option.



John
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[JBW]

Hi Brian,

In addition to echoing the above as to the superiority of your original technique, I just wanted to add that I really like the image. Nice composition and nice processing.

And congrats on your making the foray into learning layers. I have yet to take the plunge, myself.

I was given a simple option by my mentors... learn layers or stay still. As i have always been a wanderer it was an easy choice.

[JBW]

Geoff and John, thanks for the advice. I will try out these ideas on a tougher shot:

original

pre advice effort

[Geoff F]

The only potential problem with the caterpillar shot, Brian, is that little pool of water on the right side. Fairly easy to 'paint' out any over brightness there using a brush on a Reveal All Mask with a layer after doing some global adjustments.