Conference Buddies

http://www.deke.com (search for “Transparency”)

Commercial Printing – Postscript Printing Language

70-80% of Illustrator functions are not supported by Postscript

• i.e. gradient, transparency

Thus these features might not print correctly (does fine 99% of the time)
Workaround Solution:

• Rasterize before sending it to postscript
• Open the Illustration in Photoshop with really high resolution (300+ depending on your printing document & complexity of graphic).
• Opening in Photoshop will rasterize the graphic but will be okay with high resolution.
• Print from Photoshop or place back the graphic into Illustrator or Indesign.
• Keep text within Illustrator.

Can target the fill and stroke independently on the Appearance Window before going to the Transparency Window to change the opacity.

Transparency Window

1. Knockout Group – turn on twick (1st = “-“, 2nd = “check symbol”)
2. Combines everything in group so you do not see the overlapping sections

Masking

1. Create shape & place on top of the object you wan to mask (in separate layers)
2. Transparency Flyout – Make Opacity Mask
3. Clip and Invert Mask (Play around to achieve what you want – 4 different combinations) –– Black = Transparent, White = Opaque

Blend

1. Can blend between shapes/groups (must be organized the same)
2. Object > Blend > Make – must have object A (blend) B
3. Use blend tool > specified steps to add more objects
4. Open the blend to access the path to adjust the spped and angle of the blend

Can apply Blend Modes to individual attributes of the Appearance Window

Blend Mode – designed for RGB thus may not work all the time in CMYK

• When Screen Mode does not work (black turns white instead of transparent) then change the # of CMYK to all 100.

Clipping Path

• Create boundry within layer & click on the clipping path icon on the bottom of the layers window

• use furry brush to create 4 lines

• create a layer mask with a thick diagonal opening to reveal the lines

• animate the layer mask from left to right

• turn into a smart object

• warp the smart object to create curvature

• duplicate the smart object and reflect it horizontally

• place the duplicate next to the original to create a reflection like effect

• group both smart objects into a new smart object

• apply layer style to the new smart object -> inner and outer glow (neon blue)

• Create a template file within Photoshop with each changeable text, image, etc. in individual layers. Be sure to label each layer.

• Create in excel, the text and images you would like to use for each replacement within the Photoshop template. Be sure to label each column with the name corresponding to each layer.

• Save the excel file as delimited text file.

• To load the delimited text file, open Photoshop and go to Image > Variables > Define…

• Photoshop will then create individual files for each item entered within the delimited text file.

Actual Word Effect Using Scattering Text

1. Create text & rasterize
2. Pattern Maker > Use Image Size
3. Randomize 10+ times & save each pattern
4. Ok & Exit Pattern Maker
5. Display each pattern for each frame
6. Last saved pattern apply radio blur
7. Last frame will be original text

Scaling Layer Styles

• Right click style & choose scale > change % to liking

Photoshop Lack of Animating Scaling Workaround

1. Create text/graphic into a pattern
2. Apply style “Pattern Overlay” (where you can scale)
3. On each frame, change the scale
4. Can also use the scale at smaller % to create a pattern
5. Then apply filter like warp & animate from left to right

• Filter > Noise > Add Noise
• Gaussian Blur > 1 pixel
• Levels > Adjust sliders close to each other to create space
• Load Luminosity > to load only white sparkles
• Conver to Smart Objects
• Enter into smart objects and transform height, then animate top to bottom, save
• Apply Displacement Map (of cloud file) > 30 for Horizontal & Vertical
• Apply Outer Glow

Do not export animation as Flash – very buggy, will crash Photoshop

• Workaround: export as Quicktime, then use Flash Encoder to change into Flash file

http://www.DVConfidential.com

Convert video into a smart object

• Smart object is the grouping/nesting of objects together
• Apply filters throughout video clip
• Change/Edit filter
• Does not distruct the original video file

Time Lapse Photography

1. Images needs to be named in sequential order
2. Do not open all images at once
3. Select 1st image, check sequence box
4. Set frame rate and click OK

Photoshop CS3 has the ability to animate layer effects.

Human Eye Sees

• Monitor Screen = square pixels
• TV Screen = rectangle pixels
• Turn Pixel Aspect Ratio on for Video
• New File > Choose Film & Video settings

Clean Script: takes out all Adobe Files

• There are 4 levels
• Use if computer is acting funny with Adobe Software
• Scripts can be found on the Adobe Website

Photoshop CS3 Extended Video Design

Video Actions available within Actions flyout menu

Animating Layer Mask

• New Layer & Fill with Black
• Add Layer Mask (can animate position)
• When moving the layer mask, unlink, select layer mask (target), then drag

Photoshop Animation

• No scaling or rotation
• Can animate any filter and any adjustment layers
• No easing within Photoshop

• 29.97 frame rate = standard NTSC (Broadcast Quality) – USA
• HD different
• Film 24 frames/sec. – 4K film resolution
• POW – Europe

Photoshop does not recoginize sound files so it cannot be read…

• Workaround is to change the sound file to “.mov” and open in Photoshop
• Photoshop then reads the sound file as a blank movie file
• Export the movie and the sound is embedded
• Open movies with sound into Photoshop and sound will remain when exported.

From Photoshop CS3 Extended to After Effects

Custom Background Formula

1. Convert blank layer to smart objects
2. Enter smart object
3. Fill 50% gray
4. Filter > Render > Fibers – Variance (around 10-15)
5. Render: everything under here can be done in smart object and give you a texture look
6. Filter > Blur > Motion Blur – Angle 90 degree, Distance 200 pixels
7. Creates a more silky look
8. Convert to layer
9. Transform & scale it 500%
10. Animate from top left to the bottom right
11. Save & Close smart object
12. Apply Distort Filters to Render Filters (Formula)
13. Add Polar Coordinate Filter
14. Any other filters under the Distort Menu for different effects
15. New layer, Fill with color, Screen Blend Mode
16. Filter Blending Modes icon within layer allows you to change the blend mode of the filter – original texture bleeds through to create new patterns

Once a movie, you cannot stretch it out.

• You will need to make it the actual length.

LAB Color Mode

• L = Lightness
• A = red, yellow
• B = green, blue
• Redefine color – Example:
• Change red car to green
• Change color mode to LAB
• Curves > change to “a”
• Add two points in the middle of the curve
• Move the top right point down to change the color
• Move the point to the left to give back saturation

Keyframes created in Photoshop will not transfer to After Effects which means you cannot make edits to it

Google “After Effects Fractual Noise” and you will find a lot of free formulas to create backgrounds

http://www.ricksammon.com (go to Articles Page)

Background Textures within Actions – more within top right drop down menu

Artistic Effects/Textures

• Art History Brush > Texture Brush > Small Brush Size > Paint Around the edges

Photoshop > Preferences > General > History Log

1. Select detailed
2. Text file of everything you’ve done – step–by–step

Fish Eye Lens Effect (curved horizon)

• Edit > Transform > Warp

Create Vinneatte

1. New Layer
2. 50% Gray
3. Filter > Distort > Lens Correction
4. Hard Light Blend Mode (more of a Renaissance Effect)

Polarizing Filter Effect

1. New layer
2. Color with 50% Gray – Sky (Darker Blue Sky & Whiter Clouds)
3. Color Burn Blend Mode

Color Replacement Tool

1. Colorizes each object without going out of bounds but only within one layer
2. Alternative: New Layer > Color Blending Mode

Sunset Effect

1. Level > move left slider towards the middle
2. Increase colors with color balance

Some filters are affected by the foreground color (ie. Graphic Pen)

• When using filters always play around with foreground color and fade filter

Human eye sees 11 f-stops

To turn Shadow & Highlight into an Adjustment Layer

• Turn image into a smart object

Shadow & Highlight is good for adjusting shadow and highlights back to the original state

Slight Desaturation

1. New color layer with Soft Light Blend Mode
2. Desaturate background

Three most common portrait retouches:

1. Removing blemishes
2. Balancing skin tone
3. Softening skin

Use retouching tools in the following order:

1. Healing (tiny things) / Patch Tool (big stuff)
2. Paint Brush
3. Liquidfy
4. Cloning Tool

Removing Tan Lines

1. Color in the area
2. Apply the Color Blend Mode
3. Adjust the opacity
4. Use the Clone Tool at 50% opacity and with a large brush to blend the overlaping tan lines area

Skin Softening

1. To keep the skin looking more natural, use 30-35% opacity of the blurred skin + keeping some skin textures

Adding Skin Texture

1. If it looks a little too much on screen then it is perfect for print

Slimming Effect

1. Liquidfy > Push Tool (5th tool down from the tool bar)
2. Move up = push left
3. Move down = push right

Tucking in the Chin a Little

1. Filter > Distort > Puck
2. (Select area and use filter)

File Organization
Example folder structure:

• Master Job folder
• 01_Raw Camera files
• 02_RBG files
• 001 Selects
• 002 Layered files
• 003 Flattened
• 004 Not Used
• 03_(ie. LAB, JPG, etc.)

Color Calibration
Use a gray card (white, gray, black) to adjust the levles according to the RBG # seen on the Color Window
-    Adjust the levels until all 3 RBG # match
-    Take a picture of a gray card for each lighting condition
-    Can save the level setting and load it for all images with that same lighting condition

Cut-Out Image with Pen Tool

• Cut out image and select
• Select > Modify > Border > 2 pixels
• Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur > 1.2 pixels
• Select image and create new layer and fill with black
• Deselect and apply the Gaussian Blur
• Adjust with Transform tool and Move tool

Shadow & Highlight Tool
Can be used to bring back details into shadows
-    Shadow Amount: Around 30% is usually good
-    Highlight Amount: Move to right to add light

Photographing Green Food

• Very hard to photograph – usually comes out really dark
• Use the Shadow & Highlight Tool to brighten the green

Shooting Products Proportionally

• Shoot the biggest product first & keep shooting in the order according to size from biggest to smallest
• Keep the camera in one position and do not move it throughout the photo shoot
• Instead of taking group product images, shoot individual product shots then create a collage out of them. This way you can easily swap out individual images.

Food Photography

• Traditionally, a View Camera is used and the technique is to pull it back to the take the image in order to create a closer, eye-level perspective to make it more appetizing.
• Photoshop can duplicate this effect by using the Transform > Perspective Tool

• Knock Out Overlapping Areas on Text
• Convert text to shape
• Path selection tool to select the letter and overlap them
• Select All
• Select Exclude Overlapping Areas (4th icon – right before Combine Button) on top tool bar

In order of upgrade:
1. Computer: # of cores

• The most Photoshop can fully use is 4 cores. It can still take advantage of the other cores but then more than 4 can have dimishing returns. The additional cores are good in running other programs.

2. Operating system

3. Disk: 2 drives; one for operating system, one for Photoshop’s scratch disk
Ideally 3 or more; faster drives are better than bigger drives
Western Digital RAPTOR Drives are a good choice

4. Memory: at least 6 GB

5. Disk: Raid 0 (don’t use this drive as storage drive)

6. Memory: the more the merrier

• Virus scanner is known to slow Photoshop considerably – use firewall instead

Limit for Photoshop:

• OSX for Macs – current limit is 3 GB

• You can check the efficiency % of RAM for Photoshop can be seen on the bottom of the document window.

Memory:

• Mac OSX & Win XP needs at least 40-50 MB Free RAM
• Vista is very good at memory management so it does not need that much free RAM, it can get down to nothing and still work fine.
• 64 bit version = no limit for RAM

CS3 – has 6 cache levels by default

• Small files (under 50MB) with lots of layers (50+ layers) will take a very long time to open with cache levels set as 6. If the files are small, set the cache level to 1 so it will open much faster.

• Only keep at higher level (6) if you want to zoom in & out a lot.

Preferences > Performance > Set Photoshop to use 70% – 80%

• Bigger Titles + High Cache Levels = Lots of Scratch Space
• Bigger Tiles + High Cache Levels + Lots of Layers = Lost of Scratch Space + Wasted RAM

Resources:

To download the PPT:
http://blogs.adobe.com/jnack/2008/04/nnotes_on_tuning.html

3rd Party Test:
retouchartists.com/pages/speedtest.html

Hardware performance guide – specific for Mac but works for Win too:
See PPT for URL