Amazing Detail Action for Portrait or Scene

[Robert Watcher]

I have been working on a few methods to enhance skin tonality - and created a few actions that deal with providing extra Contrast in Shadows and Highlights as well as bringing out details in images - both portrait and landscape.

This easy "Amazing Detail" effect, was something I picked up on a few different websites (including Calvyn Hollywoood), and I created an action to make it easy to apply to any image without going through the steps each time.


Here it is applied to a face

Before


After



Here it is applied to a scene

Before


After




I have included 5 actions in this set:

Boost Highlights
Boost Shadows
Boost Contrast
Burn & Dodge Layer (use a brush with black or white paint on the mask)
Amazing Details


Download RobsGrit Action Set - http://robertwatcher.com/rsw_public/RobsGrit.atn



Have Fun

Rob

[Robert Watcher]

To help out a bit for those who are wondering how to make use of this action set.

To install Photoshop actions : First you go to your Actions Pallette in Photoshop > and click on the small button on the top right side > once the menu opens, click on Load Actions > select the downloaded action set file from your computer (RobsGrit.atn) and it will install. Once you open the RobsGrit Action Set Folder in the pallette by clicking on that name > select the specific action that you want to apply > click on Play at the bottom center of the actions pallette (presuming that you have an image file open)

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With the Awesome Details action - you can adjust the effect by playing with the Surface Blur settings being that the layer that it is applied to is a Smart Object. You can just double click on the word "Surface Blur" to adjust the sharpening to taste (yes Blur sharpens when the layer is inverted - cool heh).

The Dodge & Burn Layer action applies a new layer mask that is filled with 50% gray. By setting your brush to a low Opacity or Flow (I prefer to use Flow) you can paint over the mask with white paint to dodge different areas, and black paint to burn in different areas. It is just a really really simply way to dodge and burn using a brush. Fast too as you learn to press Ctrl X to swap the color samples back and forth between black and white.

The Boost Contrast action is actually a somewhat similar effect to Awesome Details - but there are no real controls to change with it.

The Boost Highlights and Boost Shadows actions are simply Curves Adjustment Layers. You can click on the layer and move the relevant curves section up and down to taste. I actually have a lot of actions such as these that I have recorded, which are just single steps that could be done without an action - - - but it is just so much quicker using an action and not having to remember the specific setting that I want to use.


Have fun
Rob

[Ian]

Hi Rob, I like the effect when applied to the boat but not sure for the face. How does the portrait compare to real life? Did you think the camera softened the skin tones?

Ian

[Robert Watcher]

Originally Posted by Ian

Hi Rob, I like the effect when applied to the boat but not sure for the face. How does the portrait compare to real life? Did you think the camera softened the skin tones?

Ian

It is an effect - not designed to be realistic or trying to compensate for what comes out of the camera - but to add extreme character lines and pop details on subjects where you want that more artistic look. I see that type of technique used on people in the commerical field - sports, music etc. It can give kind of an HDR effect to architecture and lansdscape depending on the settings used.

I would likely never apply it to portraits that I am commisioned to shoot - - - but for my travel work in Central America over the last 5 years, I use it quite a bit even pushed to the extreme on people and scenes alike.

Rob

[John Perriment]

It seems to me that this will work well on an old and weathered characterful face, but maybe not on a younger person, particularly a girl!

Thanks Rob, it looks a very handy action.

[Robert Watcher]

Originally Posted by John Perriment

It seems to me that this will work well on an old and weathered characterful face, but maybe not on a younger person, particularly a girl!

Thanks Rob, it looks a very handy action.

Thanks John - - - I think that it is what you suggest. When it comes to applying such an effect to people, it's not really a male or female issue as to when you might use it. It is just that it doesn't work well on smoother skin whatever the gender. It needs some weathering and creases and folds to start with to have an impact.

So it works equally as well with women and men when the character is there:




Rob