Damien Symonds

I just want a nice raw edit. Not too dark. Backdrop extensions and stuff, don't matter right now.

Please please PLEASE take the Raw Class. This needs to be SO much better, if you want to have any chance of achieving the look you desire.

No, white would be too stark, I think. It would be better to go black. Simply add a black Solid Color adjustment layer, and mask it carefully around. Don't forget the Shift Key.

Right. And that's what I want to see.

Well, yes, by re-scanning it. But if that isn't an option, I suppose you'll have to try gentle desaturation. One does not simply "remove" a background. One "replaces" a background. So, you need to tell me what you want to replace it with.

Oh darn If this ever comes up again, follow these guidelines. Anyway ... You actually wrote the answer in your question The wonderful Dust and Scratches filter

Which is why I beg you to take The Raw Class before too much longer. It will make everything make a lot more sense. Correct. That's why your raw processing must be PERFECT before moving on to Photoshop work, because there is no going back. Because you only sent me the raw file, not the accompanying xmp file, I can't see what you've done. But that's ok, I just need you to save a jpeg version of what you've done, and post it right here in the thread.

A bit more info here as well.

See under the histogram, there are three sliders? A black one, a grey one in the middle, and a white one? The numbers I gave you, as I said, are for the black one on each channel.

Oh, great!!!

Right. So try again for me. On the actual raw file.

So, earlier, when I said: ... you didn't actually go back to the raw file?

It will end with ".CR2" if you have a Canon, or ".NEF" if you have a Nikon, or ".ORF" if you have an Olympus, etc, etc.

Whoa, no, that's not right. I want the actual raw file that came out of your camera.

Hmmm ... do you mind sending me the raw file?

Yes, I'm happy to have a go, but you'll need to give me a raw edit with much more light in the shadow areas.

Now, add a Hue/Saturation layer and clip it to the Levels layer. Then slowly lower the Saturation slider to your taste.

Hi Cathy, have you found this one? http://www.damiensymonds.net/tut_white.html

This is a question for the Levels Class - please post it there.

How happy are you with the accuracy of the scans? The second and fourth photos have a lot of black areas with very little visible detail - is that an accurate representation of the prints?

Yes, it's a real blight on the profession. I can't think of any other profession where people start a business and accumulate clients first, then gradually learn the craft later. I'm not meaning to offend you personally, just making an observation about the industry as a whole.

All of this is explained in the Print Sharpening Class, I promise.

Yes, that's right, I figured this would be an output issue, not a camera or editing one. Did you prepare the 6x4 print for the client, or did s/he get it printed themselves? If the latter, do you know which lab they used? Could it have been a crappy one?

No, I literally mean this is a question I can only discuss in the Raw Class.

Hi Erin, may I see a 100% crop from the SOOR? Thanks.