Pants

[Siobhan Wolff]

Hi Damien, I have just signed up for the channel mixer class.  I know it will take me time to digest all of that, and I need help with something quite urgently.  I wondered if you could help me please.  This client wants her husbands tracksuit pants changed to a beige colour.  Can you guide me through the process as I know I am not up to speed yet with using channel mixer.  Thanks 

[Damien Symonds]

Hi @Siobhan Wolff, thanks for posting.

Actually, Channel Mixer plays no role here.  It should be a fairly simple Levels adjustment, which I can help you with.

Did you shoot this photo in raw mode?

[Siobhan Wolff]

Yes I did Damien

[Damien Symonds]

Wonderful!

So go ahead and do your raw processing, then post the photo for me again and we'll discuss the pants.

[Siobhan Wolff]

Ok perfect 

[Siobhan Wolff]

Ok, here we are - ready for photoshop

[Damien Symonds]

Ooh ... um, no it's not.

I see from your profile (and your edit!!!!) that you don't have a calibrator.  This is very bad, and you must get one as soon as you can.

In the meantime, have you compared your screen to prints and made what manual adjustments you can for it to match them?

[Damien Symonds]

Also, this: https://www.damiensymonds.net/2011/09/cropping-tutorial.html

[Siobhan Wolff]

yes my screen and prints do match pretty well.  I need to look into a calibrator

[Damien Symonds]

Can you please read this and confirm your setup is good?  https://www.damiensymonds.net/2012/01/light-around-your-computer.html

[Siobhan Wolff]

Thanks, i never knew that about cropping

 

[Siobhan Wolff]

Oh this is opening up a whole new world.  I currently edit in a lounge room with 2 big windows, but the blinds are normally open and natural light is streaming in.  I can close those blinds and then the light will only be from my LED lighting.

[Damien Symonds]

Actually, natural light streaming in isn't necessarily a bad thing, as long as there's no glare on your screen, and as long as you're not too close to the window such that it impedes your vision.

However, that then creates a problem that you can't edit at night.

Your room must be well lit, and must be lit the same at any time of day or night (whenever you edit).

[Siobhan Wolff]

If it needs to be consistent then I need to close the blinds as I do most of my editing at night

[Damien Symonds]

Then the important question is:  Is your indoor lighting bright enough and white enough?

[Siobhan Wolff]

It is bright enough but the lighting is warm

[Damien Symonds]

Darn.  Any way to modify it?

[Siobhan Wolff]

I dont know, it is a newly renovated house   would it work if I got table lamps with white light?

[Siobhan Wolff]

I chat with my hubby it may be quite easy to change the globes in the room, they are just spots in the ceiling

[Damien Symonds]

It's really hard to make lamps work.  They're so ... "directional", you know?  Still, it might be your only option.

Anyway, I need you to know that your photo is dark.

36 minutes ago, Siobhan Wolff said:

Ok, here we are - ready for photoshop

Not, like, crazy dark.  But just enough to be of concern.

1 minute ago, Siobhan Wolff said:

I chat with my hubby it may be quite easy to change the globes in the room, they are just spots in the ceiling

Oh, ok!  That lifts my spirits.

[Siobhan Wolff]

Sorry Damien, I dont understand 

Is the image too dark?

[Damien Symonds]

Yes.

[Siobhan Wolff]

Do I need to adjust in levels?

[Damien Symonds]

No no no!!!!!!!

You MUST get it right in raw.

[Damien Symonds]

Are you aware that you don't need to pay full price to join the Raw Class again?

Clearly much has slipped your mind, and the class itself has been completely overhauled and updated since you were in it.

I urge you to consider it.