Comments on: Morning Shizzy: Curves Flash Presentation

By: PShizzy

PShizzy — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:52:16 +0000

I swear ill make an adjustment layers post at some point, but we’re already on CS4! Also, to be honest, in my workflow, I don’t use curves a lot with color images. I have a separate way of toning my images. With B/W I love using curves, but I usually move things around a lot in the curves dialog, until I think I’m set. Adjustment layers have their place, and often that’s when you’re trying to adjust stuff for different outputs, or to have a client review and image that may require adjusting. But for the wire stuff I do, or events services, I rarely go back to the image. When I was in broadcast graphics though, I lived and died with adj layers. I have files with dozens of them.

By: Charles

Charles — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:41:31 +0000

Max,
Thanks for the tutorial. I’ve never really grasped the curves tool and have been meaning to learn it for a while now. This video was perfect. Incredibly helpful so I thank you again. I also have to agree with the previous posts about using adjustment layers. Besides non-destructive editing, they provide such an immense level of flexibility with the freedom to add masks, change blend modes, shift opacity, and make easy tweaks to the adjustment properties… I can’t think of a reason not to use them.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 30 May 2008 20:25:30 +0000

Max,
great video on Curves, the presentation was a little rough around the edges with the actual editing of the video but the information is very helpful. Reading the comment posted by John adds a great element to maintaing the original image within the file by adding layers.

By: PShizzy

PShizzy — Fri, 30 May 2008 03:36:19 +0000

John, you are correct about adjustment layers, they are great and non destructive. But I needed to do a video on adjustments first. If you don’t know adjustments, then you wouldn’t know to use adjustment layers.

Don’t worry though, layers and non destructive edits are on the “to do” list.

By: John Patrick

John Patrick — Fri, 30 May 2008 03:30:45 +0000

ACK! I have to add one itsy bitsy thing to Max’s video tutorial about using curve in Photoshop: Learn non-destructive editing! Rather than change the curves on the image itself, create a curves adjustment layer by clicking on either that half-black, half-white circle at the bottom of the layers palette and select Curves, or Select: Layers->New Adjustment Layer->Curves….

Then, edit your curves. If after you’re done and have done other things you don’t like what you did, you can edit the original curves you put down by double-clicking on the layer icon or outright delete them by deleting the layer.

I’m sure Max knows this and uses this, but I feel that if you start off teaching people how to use adjustment layers, you get them on the right foot earlier.

By: Lucasberg

Lucasberg — Thu, 29 May 2008 18:43:39 +0000

Hey Max,

I would love to see a cut outs tutorial for posters. How to cut out sports players and get a sharp edge from a busy background.