Damien Symonds

Well, I'd like to help, if you'd still like to do it.

https://www.damiensymonds.net/what2buy_cal.html It's true that laptop screens aren't ideal, but a calibrated laptop screen beats an uncalibrated desktop screen every time.

https://www.damiensymonds.net/preventing-banding-in-backdrops/

Keep using the laptop monitor. Buy the calibrator.

Then your alternative is to add a radial gradient to roughly mimic the light that's already there: But that adds a LOT of complexity to the process.

Can you explain a bit more about what you don't like about this result? I'm only looking at a small screenshot, of course, but it looks ok to me.

Oh shit, that's bad. You want the "With Settings" one. https://www.damiensymonds.net/2010/05/jpegs-in-acr.html

The photo you've just posted has the sRGB profile assigned just fine. In Bridge, go to Edit>Camera Raw Preferences. Do you have this one chosen? https://www.damiensymonds.net/wp-content/uploads/blogger/_FCAHAtBdVFY/S9uus-UP6_I/AAAAAAAAAMg/BbKDmekAxD4/s400/ACR2.gif

Oh Adrienne, your photo makes me cry. PLEASE don't wait too long to take the raw class. Yes, the colour is replaced with the nearest printable colour, but the colour isn't really the problem. It's the SHAPE. The clipped area loses all shape and detail, and ends up just as a flat area of colour.

Exactly as you said. Is this the troubleshooter you're following? https://www.damiensymonds.net/art_tscs2.html

It's not about the clipping, it's about the data quality. ProPhoto is such a huge colour space, which means the available data has to be stretched out over a huge gamut. In 8-bit, it's just not enough data - there's banding. https://www.damiensymonds.net/2010/09/bit-depth-explained-by-cake.html

Regarding the trees, a Levels layer and move the middle slider on the red channel to the right. Regarding the drama, the time has come: https://www.damiensymonds.net/channel-mixer-class

A little bit of motion blur, so it's not perfect. But yes, it'll pass.

Wonderful news!

Ok, first things first. Do this. Also, this.

None of that stuff matters, don't worry. The big difference, as I've already said, is that you have Bridge now. Concentrate on learning that.

And Bridge?

The bolded part is the issue. Not all viewers are colour-managed, you see. Only ever use Bridge for browsing on your computer, and only ever use Firefox for browsing on the internet.

Oh, ok, good. I was going to express disappointment about your raw processing Yes, the focus is quite acceptable. Yes, I think it's feasible, but VERY difficult. You'd need to allow an hour or two, I reckon. Unless you happen to have any other photos taken at the same angle, without the little guy there? Or at least with him in a different position?

Did you shoot this one in raw format?

@Summer Michelle?

@margaretbonson?

How did you go?

@Aubrey?

No, prints are never too dark. It means your screen is too bright.