Section 5.4. The Magic Action for Layered Workflow


5.4. The Magic Action for Layered Workflow

It takes only minutes to record this "magic" Workflow Action, but if you're too lazy, you can download it from from www.kenmilburn.com. The magical part comes when you realize that you can include the layers in the workflow for almost every image automatically. It also ensures that you'll follow a properly layered workflow for at least the most basic steps. Figure 5-3 shows the Layers palette.

Figure 5-3. The Layers palette after running the Workflow Action.

NOTE

Actually, there's nothing magical about this Action. My friend Doug Sahlin suggested it and I thought it a brilliant idea. So he said I could use it if I put his name in a prominent place in the book. Fair enough.

To install the Workflow Layers Action:

  1. Go to the folder you downloaded it to, select the Action, and press Cmd/Ctrl-C to copy it to the clipboard.

  2. Navigate through your systems folders to Program FilesAdobePlug-ins. Once in the Plug-ins folder, press Cmd/Ctrl-V to paste the Action into this folder. If you have Photoshop on other machines in your office, repeat the process on all those computers as well.

To use the Workflow Action:

  1. Use Bridge to open the image you're going to process. If the image is a RAW file, make sure you've preprocessed it in Camera Raw.

  2. Open the Actions palette (WindowActions) and click the small palette menu in the upper righthand corner. Choose Dougs Actions (he didn't invent them, just recorded them under that heading). Several new Actions will appear in the palette, which are self-explanatory. Choose Workflow Layers and click the Play button (forward arrow) icon at the bottom of the Actions palette.

  3. Faster than you can blink, all the new layers will appear. Select the Background Layer and choose the Spot Healing brush. Make sure the Sample All Layers box is checked. Now spot out all the zits, trash, stray phone lines, and dust marks. The spotting will all appear on the clear layer just above the Background layer.

  4. Select the Burn and Dodge Layer. If there are large areas that you want to brighten or lighten, select them with the Lasso tools. Then choose EditFill and select a percentage of white to lighten or a percentage of black to darken. You can do the same for small areas by simply painting with the Brush tool set for a percentage of black or white.

  5. Select the Curves layer. Double-click the Curves icon and the Curves dialog will open. Set the Curves dialog to your desired settings.




Digital Photography(c) Expert Techniques
Digital Photography Expert Techniques
ISBN: 0596526903
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 124
Authors: Ken Milburn

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