darkening image

[kiwi]

Imac will be RGB mason,it just means custom version of RGB sorted out in the factory which equals good gamma setting for your Imac monitor.RGB is simply RED,GREEN,BLUE color channels.Anything you see on your monitor is RGB,the reason there are different RGB,S is because of the following,SRGB is meant to be cross platform ie Windows and Mac friendly so that if an image is sent from one to the other that the gamma will still be fairly close,and also cross platform for web pages.Mac gamma is 1.8 and Windows 2.2 so to counter this in Photoshop go to your levels window and drag the middle slider from 0.8 which is Mac to 1.2 which is going to be pretty close to the way it is seen on a Windows system,on your monitor it should look very light,being the gamma difference. I hope that answers your RGB question,this is a very involved subject so I will just leave it there for the moment.



When you open your pic in PS just do this.

Drag your bg layer onto the new page icon at the bottom of your layers palette to make a copy,turn the originals little eye off and click on the copy.From I find that using auto contrast or auto levels is not good,but just until you have done some tweaking that is.At the bottom of your layers palette is a little half circle this stands for "adjustment layers",what an adjust ment layer does is adds a layer mask to the layer you have adjusted,so in stead of destructively editing a layer and adding color etc,if you use an adjustment layer the color,levels,curves etc can be adjusted and readjusted ad infiniteum {sp},if you dont like what you see you turn off the layers eye and your color or brightness or levels will be untouched,whereas if you dont use an adjustment layer you ave to manually tweak back to your original settings which can be very very hard to do,so use an adjustment layer instead.The other thing is that you can paint on adjustment layers mask or add a gradient etc to create a smooth color shift etc.But if your image is dark use an adjustment layer and in levels move the middle slider to the left until it brightens to where you are happy with it,also try all the other adjustment layers as well.Getting optimum brightness etc takes a lot of practise :)


As for why the image appears darker I can only assume its because the color gamut of C4D RGB {dont know what RGB it uses,assuming SRGB} is different from your PS RGB settingswhich may be Adobe RGB which is quite a wide color gamut compared to say SRGB.But I am not positive about that so thats why gave you the work around above :)



Callibrating your monitor with the Adobe gamma assistant {control panels} could be better for you then the systems version,f you dont already have a custom setup that is.


Also try this link for how to setup your gamma from montitor to scanner to printer,and also for making soft proofs and custom ICC profiles etc in PS.


http://www.computer-darkroom.com/

Cheers

Stu.

[mason]

Thanks for explanation its a huge help and has helped.

Cheers

[mason]

Where abouts in New Zealand are you as I havent come across any other c4 users over here??

[kiwi]

I am from Dunedin :)



Theres actually at least 6 maybe more kiwis who frequent this forum bud :)



Kai was remarking recently that it was an invasion of New Zealanders in here :D



Stu.

[LucentDreams]

Originally posted by kiwi
I am from Dunedin :)



Theres actually at least 6 maybe more kiwis who frequent this forum bud :)



Kai was remarking recently that it was an invasion of New Zealanders in here :D



Stu.

Sorry mason I think we have reached our limit, until I see another Canadian I will have to kick you out :D

Ahh what the Heck, welcome to the forums,(darn NZ'ers) uhh did I typpe that out loud???

[matty2x4]

Ha ha ha... we are taking over
I have one question why do you have to convert your colours to rgb... what are they before you do that...? I have my monitor setting to generic RGB in PS and in Monitor controll panels (make sure its Millions or at least thousands), seems to work fine... it when you go to CMYK that will warp your work (whole new ball park). Macs tend to display images brighter than PCs as well so there is that, its very random
2x4

[kiwi]

In PS to check how an RGB color is going to display once converted to CMYK{cyan yellow magenta black} go to view gamut,and unless you have changed the settings the areas of color which are out of range for CMYK to print will be shown in grey,chances are they will be two saturated,the tool for this is the sponge set it to desat and drag around those areas until the grey dissapears,this way you dont have to desat the whole image.


Seeing as we are on this subject I will add a bit more for anyone floating through.


RGB colors cannot be printed as they are to saturated etc,so we have CMYK or Cyan Magenta yellow and Black.These colors can be mixed to make colors which are pretty close to the RGB color you want.If you use a pre press house you are going to get more accurate color then on an inkjet printer because of the different process that is used :)



Also converting an RGB image to CMYK for your printer is not necessary as the printer will do it anyway in order to print it.I would however recommend checking your colors are in gamut using the view gamut method :)


My own knowledge on the process of printing is very limited myself,and it is a very in depth process as you get into pre press,custom ICC etc.

Stu.

[matty2x4]

Hey Kiwi, if you want to print and not animate when you build your textures do it in CMYK then convert to rbg and place on ya objects, its pretty rare from that start colours will alter. As a rule of thumb there are a few colours that wont go from rgb - cmyk (apart from the obvious super bright rgb ones). Keep an eye on yellows - they grab a bit of cyan from god know where amking the green-ish, purples and deep blues - the saturate out especially in the shadows and mid tones, and reds - tend to geta bit dark and murky and some whits get a bit yellowsh. I have found the best way to fix this is in Image>adjust>selective colour. the update on screen helps.
If you need any more photoshop advice I have been using ti profesionally for about 9 years...:surprised
http://home.iprimus.com.au/matty2x4/home.html
Ta da...
matty2x4:wavey:

[matty2x4]

DOH! sorry about the crap spelling! (speed typing at work) and on the web page sorry the anims dont link... its an old defunct ISP account

[ndat]

Ummm... I live pretty darn close to Canada does that count?

[kiwi]

Thanks for that info Matty :thumbsup:


I have 2 years with PS myself......9?,what version did you start on? {just curious}



Stu.

[matty2x4]

Oh christ... 2.5 or 3 I think, no layers, no Hystories... how the hell did I cope:hmm:
I also used a Davinci system for a while, but PS and the price/power of computers took care of that (phew)
like the web page? thats PS not 3-D (the speedo)

[kiwi]

No layers,no history :surprised ...accccck......Damn you deserve a gold medal for that bud :)



For the site I cant get past the ani page to check it out?,just keep on getting dont have the required plugin even though I have flash 6 in the plugs folder,I do however have to admit I am not particulary savvy on html :hmm:



I have some 3d pics I painted in PS as well.....but now I cant show you...:annoyed:



Stu.

[greekdish]

Aack....I must be getting old if you guys are making fun of the poor guy for using Photoshop for 9 years....Ive been using for about 12 years now...I think so anyways, my memory fades in and out, you know us old timers. I remember vividly my first experience in PS....airbrushing an eye area....came out awesome (as far as I remember) for my first time. :rolleyes:

Well, Ive been using PS professionaly now for the past 9-10 years. It used to be great when I could copy the entire PS folder from the Mac LC in my college library onto a floppy. Yes, I was a pirate at such a young age. Shoot, who had money to buy a Mac when they cost $12,000 back then. :shame:

OK, enough of my boring background.....but if anyone needs help in color and Photoshop issues and such, Ive been working in the field of Pre-Press ever since I graduated, when I learned pre-press on a Scitex Prisma. Back then, that was the bomb, and Photoshop didnt hold a candle to this baby....granted, it was a $1,000,000 workstation made in Tel-Aviv...but that was the norm for hi-end pre-press back then.

To see if I can clarify anything for people......just in case someone doesnt know......the main difference between RGB color and CMYK color is that RGB is Subtractive color, and CMYK is Additive. (I think I got that the right way)...meaning.....The more color you add when your in RGB....the whiter/brighter it gets, and the more color you add in CMYK....the darker it gets. CMYK are inks, which as anyone knows,which get piled onto paper, make pretty pictures. :applause:

Man, Im going off on a tangent here....somebody stop me!!! Sheesh....I dont even know if I was legible there. LOL....If I only knew about 3D as much as I know about PS, Illustrator and Quark. :annoyed:

[kiwi]

Hey thanks for that greekdish,its always good to know who knows how to use what that way we can barter backwards and forwards with knowledge and learn a lot more :)



I have only been in 3d for about a year and a few months myself,and in computing total about 2 years and a bit,so I guess I am semi green...kinda tourqouise {sp}....hahahaaa.I am however 34 and I appear to be the Grandad on the board :D



Cheers


Stu.

[greekdish]

34....not too bad, Ill be 31 next month, so Im there with you. The saddest thing is, I started doing 3D way back in 1996 or something with Strata Studio Pro 1.5. That means Ive been dabbling in 3d for over 6 years now. Its a crying shame to see these young pups that have been doing for 2 years or so and producing incredible works of art. Some of the best works are by 16 yr olds!!! :annoyed:

I only wish I didnt get stuck in pre-press all my life....I've been wanting to do 3d since way back....but I guess I should just suck it up and spend more time in 3d, and learn more patience as Im unemployed right now. :thumbsdow

[kiwi]

Hey bummer you are unemployed :thumbsdow ....I am on a medical benefit myself.



Yep agree about the talent around the joint,but the thing is incooperatng all your skills together.For instance apparently not one shot in Hollywood does not get the PS treatment or AE treatment,and there you have lots of skills right :) Then theres Illustrator,Ill is brilliant for making splines for import into 3d apps especially C4D.You have the print area covered so when you get 3D sorted there is no way you will not be totally employable :thumbsup: .


The one thing you can do that people seem to neglect is fine tune your art skills,go to art class,join an art group,doing this will {if you are not already competent with art} make your 3D images better by 30% if not more,then you can apply your PS skills and viola some kick ass renders :thumbsup: I always run my renders through PS to clean up contrast,levels,curves and color :)



Hang in there dude,every hill has a dip before you climb to the top again.



Stu.

[greekdish]

Thanks for the words of encouragement Stu...I too know its only a matter of time before finding a job again. I only wish I could get into 3D as a profession right now....I cant afford to be an unpaid intern at this age. I would've done this in a heartbeat, if they had interns in 3d back in early 1990's. Back then it was $500,000 SGI's and PowerAnimator I believe, or whatever proprietary software was out at the time. I initially went to college as a freshman for a degree in Computer Science. Who knows, If I stuck with it back then, I might be programming shaders for Pixar today, or possibly programming for Alias!! :shrug:

Who knew back then what 3D would become, and who knew that football would take up all of my time, and who knew that as a graduate with a Graphic Design Degree/Commerical Photography, I would be a pre-press professional. :wavey:

Funny thing about becoming unemployed, it was the most fun I ever had in losing my job. I hated my beyatch of a boss. She was a pain in my arse, was younger than me, knew nothing about the industry, and acted like a know it all. I had the most fun that bright Monday morning when an argument broke off, and I just flipped out on her and told her off, cursed her out, made her fire me....and now I can collect unemployment on top of it!!! Whats better than that??? :thumbsup: :beer:

[kiwi]

With all the skills you have bud I would try advertising,reason being you learn new skills which can be ported too 3d,you learn to animate or see how animation is carried out properly,or even get to use 3d yourself.Best part you get paid,you add to your portfolio and a stint at an ad agency might get your foot in the door to the thick of 3d which is where you want to go :thumbsup:



Forget how old you are and let your skills talk for ya :thumbsup:



Be patient for getting into the thick of 3d,dont forget there 8000 members in here and everyone wants to work in 3d,and thats just this forum so keep it real and just plug away,that way you wont get bummed,be postive and watch what happens :)



Stu.

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