My take on preparing for a Photoshop edit session plus a little surprise inside.

1. Roadmap T Retouching
o
Michael E. Stern
PHOTOGRAPHY EDUCATION CONSULTING
626-298-6747
michael@CyberStern.com

2. File Quality Checklist
This photograph has
a)! Resolution absolutely nothing to do
with the presentation.
b)! Dirt I just thought it was cool.
c)! Focus
d)! Orientation
e)! Image Size

3. a)! Resolution
If you work with scans, make sure you have enough resolution.
This is the marker for file quality. The correct term is ppi, or pixels
per inch although alot of scanner software (the driver) identify it
as dpi, or dots per inch. We work with square pixels and not dots.
Why do the manufacturers create this misinformation? Perhaps
they used to work for the government.
File Quality Checklist

4. b)! Dirt
c)! Focus
d)! Orientation
Electronic gear attracts dirt and dust. There’s no getting around it. Practicing
the proper removal and attachment of camera lenses, blowing air onto the
camera chip, wiping the scanner bed down are to be done with precision and
patience. You can have this performed by pros or do-it-yourself. In a pinch,
the clone stamp and healing brush also work wonders. Help yourself though
and don’t change lenses in a windy, dusty environment, while sailing or cooking.
One last thing, make sure your image is in focus and is in the desired
orientation. Sharpening a file is necessary due the the process of converting
analog to digital and does not relieve you of the responsibility of focusing the
camera.

5. e)! Image Size
Image size and document (print) size are interchangeable terms. While having
enough resolution is important, how big is the print going to be? Knowing the
document size is important. How important? It’s like making sure that you have
enough paint in the can for the job at hand. Huh? A 50 inch print at 72 ppi will
probably be unacceptable unless your standards are low. Or your clients’ or
your audience. And we know that’s not the case, eh!
One must “endure to ensure” that the resolution, the document size and the
paper surface are all in alignment.
File Quality Checklist

6. Identify The Issues You Wish To Address
a)quot; Tonal Quality –or- Contrast
b)! Color Casts
c)! Damage
d)! Clarity of Detail

7. a)quot; Tonal Quality –or- Contrast
As we begin our journey towards digital nirvana we must not distance ourselves
from photography basics. High on this list are tone and contrast. Content and
concept are very important too but when we scan, shoot or receive work from
other sources, and assuming that we like the image content or story, we must
then evaluate the technical aspects. Although how we respond emotionally
and intellectually to the image is important, we have to have good judgement
and taste when it comes to the tonal range and contrast. An image that lacks
tonal modulation, has too little or too much contrast (and feels like it is fighting
the content) will probably be distracting and keep our photography from being
successful.
Identify The Issues You Wish To Address

8. b)! Color Casts
Whether it’s a shot from a digital camera or a scan from a desktop device, you’ll
want to change the color. You’ll want to do this because the photo is old and
faded, or the color of the digital capture is off (I know that’s never happened
to you), and always for printing. How we do this is as important as why we do
this as it will affect the quality of your print.
Using a levels adjustment layer to plot the black and white limits of your printer
and then using a curves adjustment layer to adjust the gamma (middle values) is
in my mind the easiest way to create files with the right sequence of data for the
printer. It does take practice but if you want controllable WYSIWYG, then you
must master this step.
Identify The Issues You Wish To Address

9. Behold the power of a curves
adjustment layer!

10. c)! Damage
d)! Clarity of Detail
The last things you’ll want to address are how much and what type of damage
there is and how clear the original detail is. Now if you’re creating from scratch
(shooting original material) this isn’t much of an issue unless you have poor
work habits and lousy glass. Otherwise we’re talking about scanning 2D and
3D subject matter. That’s right folks, 3D objects can be scanned with great
success. Just to prove it, the next slide is an object that was scanned, brought
into Photoshop, turned to B&W (the dark side for you purists in the audience)
and printed.
Identify The Issues You Wish To Address

11. This is one of three
dozen fine art images
from a series titled
“Remnants” that I have
been working on since
2003. All images are
created using a
modestly priced
flatbed scanner and a
lot of passion for the
concept.

12. Ain’t it amazing?

13. Identify The Tools For Each Step
a)!Dust & Scratches great at removing spots
b)!Healing Brush use a layer
c)!Clone Stamp size/opacity/shape/hardness/angle
d)!Levels/Curves use an adjustment layer
e)!Crop Tool hide or delete
f)!Hue & Saturation color adjustment tool
g)!Sharpening be sure to use a blend mode
h)!History Palette do you have enough steps set?
i) Shadow/Highlight! ! make a duplicate layer first

14. The clone stamp (on a separate
layer) was the main tool used on
this file.

15. Additional Tasks
a)! S.E.A.S.O. Save Early And Save Often!
b)! Archiving ALWAYS!
c)quot; Metadataquot; For Protection of ©

16. Develop A Protocol For Managing Your Time & Document(s)
a) What am I trying to accomplish?
b) How much time do I have?
c) How much time has been given to me?
d) Do I have all of the components in one place?
e) Have I pre-visualized the end result?
f) Where are my sketches and notes?

17. Build in breaks for your mind and body
throughout your edit sessions.
Get fresh air often, rest your eyes and stretch
those legs and arms.
Work in soft and low color-correct lighting.
Calibrate your monitor.
Let ‘er rip!

18. This presentation is copyright protected by Michael E. Stern