For Tixeon

[nldunne]

For this image I took an original image and made a work file. Next I did my rotations for lines needing it. Then I made a b/w in my HUE SATURATION TOOL.
With my GRAY SCALE/VALUE FINDER at VALUE 8 piggybacked over the near snowman on the hearth, I used the BRIGHTNESS TOOL to match the snowman brightness to match the VALUE 8 on the G S/V F card by reducing the BRIGHTNESS 4 points on the scale. After that, I put the color back in and finshed the image.

The image was taken under houselights only.

This is not the same values as a AA ZONE SYSTEM SCALE, but it does serve its purpose well enough.

[nldunne]

Here is a small variaion on the original image I put in here in HERE'S LOOKIN' AT YA - 4 days back.

I dug out my GRAY SCALE/VALUE FINDER 10 point gray scale and worked on the skin of Anne's hand. When I finished it, the image showed a light level much closer to that given by a Skylight than my original did.

Also, it gives a better separation of tones between her hand and cheek - at least to me it does when I sit back from the screen a bit.

[nldunne]

In this image - Tixeon - at the time I could not get close to anything due to police ribbons blocking off the corner everywhere.

When I thought about using my GRAY SCALE/VALUE FINDER to fine tune the image, I took my G S/V F and my GREYTAGMCBETH Colour Chart to the window with hazy bright light coming in. Woriking with a deep red value on the Gretag Chart, (Square 15, I worked with my G S/V F card Values until I found one that matched Square 15 - that was Value 2.

On the P C image, I 'piggybacked' my G S/V F card until the VALUE 2 was right against the fire truck door. In the HUE/SATURATION TOOL I removed the color. Then I used the BRIGHTNESS TOOL to match the brghtness of VALUE 2 and the truck door until they matched as close as possible - both in b/w. This was only a click or two down in down brightness arrows. Then I put the DEFAULT COLOUR back in.

This result gave me a much closer image with better separation of tones than my original effort did. This is especially noticable in the separation of ladder and roof, poles to building, better yellow on the tanks on the ladder among others.

These two scales are going to at hand at all times for times like this when I cannot reach a colour to match up close.

[nldunne]

Here is another idea that works well

I opened my website ESSENTIAL VERMEER and found the image GIRL WITH A PEARL EARING.
i did a SAVE AS and put it in a folder in my art work.

Next I opened the Saved Image into my art program. Then I put my GRAY SCALE CARD over different areas of the image's face until I found a close match of skin tones to a VALUE in the G S Card that was close to the skin brightness in my own image. I went into the Hue/Saturation Tool and make the VERMEER image b/w to double check my match - then returned the colour back in.

Then I put the G S/V F card over my image - set the Value chosen above to the skin tone closest to it. Next I went into my HUE/STATURATION and made my image a b/w and balanced the image with the BRIGHTNESS TOOL as in examples above. All I then did was resize it for posting.

BTW - To see what I mean by "Piggybacking" - just put a piece of paper over your fingers, or a picture of something on the table and move it around. That is how I match my VALUES of my G S/V F CARD to the tomes in my images.

[nldunne]

Here is another example I tried

I took my 24 Square GretagMacbeth Color Chart and held it up so I could select a color value matching the tree in the center bottom. Then I put my Gray Scale card over the Green Selection - #4 - and that gave me Value 3 on my Gray Scale Card.

When I put my image on the P C I piggybacked my Gray Scale - with Value 3 over the part of the tree I wanted - I made a b/w image in my HUE/SATURATION TOOL. In the BRIGHTNESS TOOL, I DOWN CLICKED (on the arrorws) 1 click to match the two grey tones. Then I returned the DEFAULT COLOR back in the image. From there I just added a small amount of sharpness and resized the image.

This is like the fire truck image - I chose deep red #15 - both of them I could not reach the subject I wanted up close - so used this method.

The results are not too bad - although today's image is nothing in itself - only the accuracy I tried to attain.

[Tixeon]

Norm; I have to admit that your technique is unusual (at least to me), but it gets you what you want, and that's all that counts. Once I read your explanation completely through, it made perfect sense, although initially a little complex. I do pretty much the same but with the Image Histogram & it's values 0-255. A lot of people have trouble using the Image Histogram & therefor don't put much value in it. It's very powerful (in a zone system sort of way) when used properly.

You showed some very interesting examples......Thanks......tw

[nldunne]

My thanks for the visit.

You are welcome. I am glad you could make something out of it.

I do have the histogram on the still cam, but not on any art programs - so this is my only way to achieve results I want.

[nldunne]

TW

This image was done about 6.30 am last June on Vancouver Island.

I did this one by selecting a part of the clouds that would come closest to the VALUE CHOSEN - #3 - on the GRAY SCALE. I did a DOWN ARROW CLICK of 2 CLICKS IN MY BRIGHTNESS TOOL in HUE/SATURATION. I feel it turned out reasonable well for these types of images as well.

This one is on our front room wall. We are now looking for small light for over top of it.

[Tixeon]

Originally Posted by nldunne

My thanks for the visit.

You are welcome. I am glad you could make something out of it.

I do have the histogram on the still cam, but not on any art programs - so this is my only way to achieve results I want.

OK, now I understand. Considering that, I think you do a wonderful job of placing tones where you want them - very innovative approach....tw

Originally Posted by nldunne

TW

This image was done about 6.30 am last June on Vancouver Island.

I did this one by selecting a part of the clouds that would come closest to the VALUE CHOSEN - #3 - on the GRAY SCALE. I did a DOWN ARROW CLICK of 2 CLICKS IN MY BRIGHTNESS TOOL in HUE/SATURATION. I feel it turned out reasonable well for these types of images as well.

This one is on our front room wall. We are now looking for small light for over top of it.

Beautiful view & good job Norm.

[nldunne]

T W

My thanks for the visits and kind words. They are most appreciated and keep me striving to improve.

I have to spread my K around, but have a big bowl of K, berries and Cream for your kind thoughts in these threads.

[nldunne]

T W

This one is interesting. I used the COLOR CHART to match my distant trees in the darker part at SQUARE #14. I found a GRAY SCALE VALUE to match it.

In my HUE/SATURATION TOOL, i did my usual b/w and put my VALUE CHOSEN - VALUE 3 - over the tree. After UP CLICKING about 3 CLICKS or so, I returned the color to the image. I did the rest the same as the others.

[nldunne]

T W

I used my Color Chart #14 to match a part of the tree in the b/g in this one.
Then I used VALUE 3 of my GARY SCALE to match #14 Green
In my HUE/SATAURATION TOOL, I did my usual match of grey tones as I did in the others. This match came when I UP CLICKED my BRIGHTNESS TOOL 3 CLICKS.

The rest is the same as the others.

Sorry for the double post of the words.

[Tixeon]

Dang, Norm, That guy looks just like you - good study shot.

Just curious, you mention using the HUE/SATAURATION TOOL. What software are you using?

[nldunne]

Anne did that at our Local Waterfront Market. I was probably thinking of my next idea to try - that is my usual 'thing'.

You may find this hard to believe, but I am still in the dark ages. I have - and love the simplicity of - PICTURE IT Version 7 - from back in the late 1990's. I did have a current copy of GIMP in here, but did not like it - too much hassle for all I need. Also, I love the crop tool on this program - better than some I have seen.

I go into the HUE/SATURATION TOOL, take out the color in the SATURATION TOOL, do my grey tones match, then put the color back in before I go out of the H/S Tool. Simple, yet it works well enough for me.

I try to do as much in cam as I am able to do - and as little as possible on here. These exercises I did here, I use, but did them mainly for fun this time. Maybe some beginner or......can find some value from something in here.

I have always felt - it is not what you have - but what you do with what you have. I still follow that idea.

[Tixeon]

I started using Paint Shop Pro way back when it was shareware & currently use ver 10x. It's way easier to learn & use than PhotoShop & a fraction of the price with 95% of the features. There's a lot of people out there that will criticize others for not using PhotoShop but like you said above "....It is what you do with what you have...".

I think it's nice that you went to the trouble to detail how you do what you do. I'm sure it will be of value to others......tw

[nldunne]

My thanks for the visits and sharing as well. I am sure someone will find something of value in here.

Good luck with P S P. I will keep in touch when I have some more ideas to share.

[nldunne]

T W

This was done on our way home from Sunday Services during a snow fall. We are heading in the general direction I am looking (more stralight than my angle).

I used VALUE 7 on my G S/V F CARD on the nearest white R C M P car (below the yellow sign) as my base for my grey tones match. It was only 2 DOWN CLICKS to make my match.

No flash was used - but the sky was not as dark as some days - so the snow was a bit brighter. It shows the conditions well.

[nldunne]

T W

This image was done the same time as the fire truck was in here. Sadly I nipped the steeple of the church. The image is nothing in itself, but does show that soft lighting can be worked up this way. I think I am able to detect a small amount of exhaust from the left hand police car. The box behind that car is what I used as a tripod to do the fire truck image earlier.

In this one, I like how the details are sharp (cars) and gradually goes soft as one looks to the background. I am happy to have had that light fog around that morning.

However, I used Value 5 on the G S/V F Card to match the grey of the steeple. It had some sdmoke and a light fog around the building. I did 4 DOWN CLICKS in my BRIGHTNESS TOOL to match my Grey Tones.

[nldunne]

T W

While out on errands, we stopped in the local library. The light looked not too bad so I gave it a go. I used the G S/V F on location to pick up a VALUE 8 for the skin.

At home I gave it an 8 DOWN ARROW CLICKS - with the BRIGHTNESS TOOL - to balance the skin to VALUE 8 in the b/w match in HUE/SATUATION TOOL.

[Tixeon]

Originally Posted by nldunne

T W

While out on errands, we stopped in the local library. The light looked not too bad so I gave it a go. I used the G S/V F on location to pick up a VALUE 8 for the skin.

At home I gave it an 8 DOWN ARROW CLICKS - with the BRIGHTNESS TOOL - to balance the skin to VALUE 8 in the b/w match in HUE/SATUATION TOOL.

I like the B&W a lot better than the color in this instance. The lighter gray scale is kinder on her skin.

Your system does really work well for you - although, a little unconventional. I'm not aware of any other approach that is designed to help one remember (for reference) the proper brightness tone for any part of a scene or subject.