2021-09-21 Fine Art Photography SIG meeting notes

We met online using ZOOM 6:00pm-8:30pm

The goal of our Fine Art Photography SIG is to help each other to create fine art from our photography.

ATTENDEES
Mike Barry
Rich Ernst
Michael Hohol
Jim Limburg
Chuck Rutenberg
Albert Wang

OUR MAIN DISCUSSION TOPICS WERE "LUTs", "Dodge and Burn" and "Renaissance master painter styles"
Rich demonstrated a Dodge & Burn technique that Blake Rudis teaches
Michael Hohol discussed another Dodge & Burn technique
Rich also showed off a multitude of Panels that he has installed into Photoshop
Mike Barry demonstrated how to use and create custom LUTs
We didn't get a chance to discuss Renaissance master painter styles

OUR MAIN DISCUSSION TOPIC FOR OCTOBER WILL BE "Using the Pen Tool"

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT - RESEARCH "Using the Pen Tool"
Everyone has the homework assignment to research "Using the Pen Tool", study them and bring back some information for the group to discuss at our next Fine Art Photography SIG meeting. If you find some good "Pen Tool" information online, tell me where it is and I will put a link to the information on our website.

FCDCC.com/resources.php
Digital Photography School - basic LUTs
- https://digital-photography-school.com/create-your-own-style-using-luts-photoshop/
PiXimperfect - Create your wold amazing LUT filters in Photoshop
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl9eZmFMjSY
PiXimperfect - Create a LUT filter from any image
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epPOrHG6SnE
National Gallery of Art - Free classical paintings
- https://www.nga.gov/collection/collection-search.html
Rikard Rodin - How to put your FACE in a painting in Photoshop!
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oTnIpfAp_k&t=5s
Michael Hohol - Adding Texture in Photoshop (on the resources page)
Michael Hohol - Dodge & Burn in Photoshop (on the resources page)
Lesa Snider - How to create a twirl effect from a photo in Photoshop
- https://www.macworld.com/article/226428/how-to-create-a-twirl-effect-from-a-photo-in-photoshop-and-photoshop-elements.html
3DLUTCreator - Tool for creating LUTs from any image
- https://3dlutcreator.com
Jacob Surland - How to Create Your Own Style by Using LUTs in Photoshop
- https://digital-photography-school.com/create-your-own-style-using-luts-photoshop/
PHLearn - LUTs Quick Install Guide
- https://phlearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LUTs-Quick-Install-Guide.pdf

SIG Project - FINISH-IT-PHOTO
Several members showed their versions of the "Sculpture" image by David Fahrney.

The FINISH-IT-PHOTO for October will be: "Swetsville Sculpture" from Mike Barry. You can find a link to the RAW file on the Fine Art SIG page of the FCDCC.com website.

If you haven't already sent in a FINISH-IT-PHOTO, please do send Mike Barry an image in RAW format. Mike will choose one of the images, send it out to the SIG members, and everyone will create their own interpretation of the image to show at future meetings. The idea is to show how all the members would process the same image in different styles.

Constructive Critiques
We didn't discuss any images this time.

What Project Are You Working On?
Several members showed personal projects that they have been working on.

AGENDA FOR OUR NEXT FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY SIG MEETING - Tue 10/19/2021 @6:00pm
1. The main topic will be "Using the Pen Tool" Please research on your own so we can all discuss it at the meeting (optional)
2. We will discuss our interpretations of the FINISH-IT-PHOTO Please, everyone send Mike Barry a RAW image file that we can use for this Project.
3. We will hold constructive critiques (optional) Pick as many as 3 images that you would like critiqued, and be prepared to show them by sharing your screen during the ZOOM meeting.
4. We will pick a topic for the next meeting

If you don't have time to research the topic, or you don't have any images that you want to have critiqued, that is OK, you can just attend the meeting and participate when you want.

I would like to see more pictures from our Fine Art SIG in the regular club meeting slideshows.

Jim Limburg will send out the Meeting ID, passcode, and meeting link when we have scheduled the meeting, which will be about a week before the meeting date.

We have put video of previous Fine Art SIG meetings online and you can link to them from the Fine Art SIG page of the club website.

Please email Mike, info@fcdcc.com, when you find mistakes, missing information or if you have suggestions for the Fine Art Photography SIG and I will try to address the issues.

=============== Meeting Topics =================

2021-09 : LUTs
2021-10 : Dodge and Burn
2021-11 : imitate Renaissance master painter styles

Topics suggested by Michael Hohol
1. Super Resolution process in Lightroom, as described in the Photoshop User magazine August 2021, pages 20 - 26. Also Photoshop User magazine May 2021, pages 32 - 39.
2. LUTS = lookup tables.
3. Using a HDR tool more effectively.
4. Long-exposure hacks: streaky clouds & silky water: Photoshop User magazine August 2021, pages 136 - 142.
5. Create outline from an image: Photoshop User magazine August 2021, pages 171 - 172.
6. Fake bokeh with lens blur: Photoshop User magazine July 2021, pages 128 - 133.
7. Telling colorize, in Neural Filters, what colors you want: Photoshop User magazine July 2021, pages 158.
8. Tips on using content-aware fill more effectively: Photoshop User magazine June 2021, pages 64 - 68.
9. Using Perspective Controls in Photoshop: Photoshop User magazine June 2021, pages 70 - 80.
10. Creating a grid portrait effect: Photoshop User magazine June 2021, pages 100 - 107.
11. Mixer brush painting with stencil masks: Photoshop User magazine June 2021, pages 116 - 121.
12. The Lighting Effects Filter in Photoshop: Photoshop User magazine May 2021, pages 76 - 93.
13. Dodge & Burn and Texture: Photoshop User magazine May 2021, pages 134 - 138.
14. Creating Distressed Textures: Photoshop User magazine May 2021, pages 140 - 149.
15. How to take and retouch night photos with fog: Photoshop User magazine April 2021, pages 28 - 31.
16. Getting elemental with Liquify: Photoshop User magazine April 2021, pages 74 - 84.
17. Going a step further with 3D reflections: Photoshop User magazine April 2021, pages 86 - 99.
18. Creating a halftone pattern: Photoshop User magazine April 2021, pages 112 - 119.
19. Getting creative with difference blending mode: Photoshop User magazine April 2021, pages 130 - 135.
20. Stencil Effect: Photoshop User magazine April 2021, pages 136 - 143.
21. Exploring Lightroom’s Color Adjustments: white balance, profiles, vibrance, saturation, HSL/color panel, localized color adjustments, color grading: Photoshop User magazine March 2021, pages 84 - 94.
22. Creative Uses of Step-And-Repeat: Photoshop User magazine March 2021, pages 96 - 108.
23. Motion Blur
24. Get Creative With Path Burs: Photoshop User magazine March 2021, pages 137 - 142.

New topics suggested by Mike Barry
1. Fisheye distortion
2. shadows
3. still life, table top, ordinary things
4. imitate Renaissance master painter styles
5. crystal ball photography
6. water splashes

Old topics suggested by Mike Barry that we have started
1. Composition
2. Color Grading
3. Dodge & Burn
4. Frequency Separation
5. Layer Effects and Blend Modes
6. Compositing
- Selections
- Masking
- Image Harvesting
- Overlaying Textures
- Changing Backgrounds
- Shadows
- Atmospheric fog
7. Edge Effects
8. Typography
9. Custom Brushes
10. Topaz Filters
11. Disintegration/Dispersion/Shatter Techniques

=============== Color Look-Up Table Notes =================

maps one color into another color
used to edit video and still images
Photoshop comes with a default set of LUTs
creates a distinctive look to a movie or set of images
- changes anything that an adjustment layer can do (except masking)

How to use a LUT in Photoshop
=============================
Open image
Click on the "Adjustment Layer" icon, and select "Color Lookup..."
Select a 3DLUT file from the dropdown menu
Adjust opacity of the adjustment layer to adjust intensity of the LUT changes
Mask the adjustment layer to localize the effect
Stack LUT adjustment layers to combine their effects

How to create a custom LUT in Photoshop
=======================================
Open image and leave it on the "Background" layer
Add adjustment layers that change the color/contrast (without masking)
Adjust opacity of each adjustment layer
Save your new LUT
- File | Export | Color Lookup Tables...
- Add a description your new LUT in the "Description" box (optional)
- Check "Use lowercase file extensions" box
- Adjust the number of grid points (32 is a good compromise between quality and performance)
- Check "3DL", "CUBE", "CSP", and "ICC Profile" checkboxes (CUBE is for Photoshop)
- Click "OK"
- Save to a directory where you will be able to find it again
specify filename, and Photoshop will add file extensions

Copy custom LUT to the default LUT file for Photoshop
C: | Program Files | Adobe | Adobe Photoshop CC 2021 | Presets | 3DLUTs

How to use your new custom LUT in Photoshop
===========================================
Open image
Click on the "Adjustment Layer" icon and select "Color Lookup..."
Click on 3DLUT File box and select "Load 3D LUT..." option
Navigate to LUT directory, Select LUT file and Click OK