PREPARING DIGITAL IMAGES FOR A SLIDESHOW |
Taking those great images can be loads of fun (figure 1), but the resultant images can be disappointing. We are lucky we live in the digital age: computer software can now save those seemingly throwaway images--and improve the keepers, too. Once the images have been taken and processed, they can be optimized for monitor display and integrated into a slideshow. In this article, I will discuss my workflow for slideshow development. This will include
- a discussion of image problems that need correction,
- a discussion of Photoshop techniques for problem correction,
- and a discussion of software used to build the slideshow.
Although there are other programs with many of the same features, I use Adobe Photoshop CS2 for my image processing. All of my images are captured in the Camera Raw format. Using this format, I can adjust things like exposure before I open the image in Photoshop for normal processing--while preserving the original image data at all times. A good book on Adobe's Camera Raw is Real World Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS2 by Bruce Fraser.
Camera Raw also allows me to take advantage of special techniques, such as Luminance Masking, which can help preserve detail in shadows and highlights that might otherwise be lost. Once the image processing is done, I use WnSoft's PicturesToExe to create the slideshows and, as a side benefit, screensavers.
Photoshop can be a lifelong study. There are usually many ways to accomplish the same tasks in Photoshop. It is wonderful how much can be done with just a small subset of the Photoshop tools. As I continue to use the application for my processing, I am constantly learning new tricks. In the future, and with increased processing skill, I expect to derive more from my old images. That is why my first workflow step is always to transfer the raw images onto CD or DVD disks--before any processing is started. I will be revisiting many of those old images again.
As a second step in my workflow, I like to preview potential slideshow images in Breeze Systems' BreezeBroswer Pro. With this application, I can quickly analyze the raw images for quality. Being able to view them as a full-screen slideshow in BreezeBrowser also helps with the evaluation. Once I have selected the images I want to use, and from BreezeBrowser, I print a contact sheet identifying the chosen images. I next collect the images in a separate, working folder. Now, I'm ready to begin working in the digital darkroom.
Note: all images in this article were taken by the author. |