Seim Effects is all about quality tools, education and service. Gavin’s complete editing collections and video workshops are second to none. But there’s also lots of freebies to get you started. You’ll find them all the freebies category of the blog, but this list represents many popular freebies in one place. You can get a lot of good editing tools for free, starting right here. Enjoy.
That’s all for now, but I’ll continue to update this list, so stay tuned. You can also check the freebies category of the blog for the latest free goodies. Enjoy… Gavin Seim
by Gavin Seim: There’s info and videos on each product page, but I wanted do a quick overview of how you can use tools in great photo workflow and how Seim Effects collections fit into that. Having your workflow nailed down makes all the difference in creative efficiency. Whether you’re using Seim Effects or other tools, these concepts will be similar. I should also note that every collection I make is unique. Tools are not duplicates across more than one set. Each is a unique focused collection.
So lets start with our original file. A creative efficient editing plan needs a foundation. That generally starts with presets. They seem simple, but great presets are fast, powerful, essential tools that give you control. For a step by step look at my workflow check out this article, The Super Workflow. For now lets look at the SE preset lineup, an elegant collection of powerful tools.
These days most good processing starts with a RAW editor such as LR or Aperture. PW3 is my flagship collection of presets for LR and it’s generally where I start. For Apple Aperture you’ll want Lightflow. Both of these are a core. They have a bit of everything from workflow and automation presets to color blending tools, black and white conversions and detail enhancement tools.
Both refined collections stem from years of editing experience and user raves speak for them. Whatever your skill level, if you buy one editing toolkit ever, these are your ticket. These collections will help you be more creative, allowing you to mix, match and tweak to your hearts content, while saving you countless hours. (At the moment Lightflow is our only presets collection available for Aperture).
Color Fantasies (LR 1-4) – Any photography type, wedding and portrait.
CF is an extension of color. Going beyond basics and into deeper color twists, blends and hues. There’s some of this on PW3, but if you love creative color you’ll want CF. It’s all right here, a complete color effects collection.
Color Fantasies is classy, with a vast array of color tools. From vintage processes, baby tools, cross process effects and more. Complicated color mixes that will take your color to new levels.
Silver Shadows 2 (LR 1-4) – Any photography type, black and white.
Silver Shadows 2 marks a new generation for black and white conversions. Precluding the need for plugins and external tools, SS2 puts powerful silver conversions a click away and allows you to mix, match and blend tones to get stunning black and white’s, while retaining the delicate quality of your original RAW file.
If you love black and white, you need Silver Shadows. PW3 has a selection of basic silver conversion tools. But Silver Shadows 2 is a system for stunning black and white right inside Lightroom.
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So that’s presets. A workflow foundation. Now we come to refining local edits in Photoshop is similar editors. And they should not be forgotten. Often people stop at the RAW edit, but the refined edit is often what separates the men from the boys, making an image really sing. It’s that finishing touch that the best images always get.
Naked Elements is a complete texture collection in one pack. You buy one set and you get them all. Textures allow you to subtly overlay a texture image over your main piece, letting your base image be enhanced by the texture from the overlay (it’s better seen that described, so visit the product page). NE includes high res texture files that can be quickly applied in Photoshop using the included actions, or in just about any other photo editor that allows layers. You can even apply them from LR using a plugin like Perfect Layers. NE is
Naked Elements is a single collection that includes images of everything from fire, to water, to stone, to my favorite, real images of documents that are centuries old. The NE parchments textures are like nothing else and something that makes NE stand out like no other.
One of my first effects collections and one that’ been revised and refined over the years. Creative Essentials is a collection of Photoshop effects that digs into areas you can’t do with a RAW editor.
There’s some essential corrections in CE, along with sharpening tools, powerful fantasy, tonal and glow effects and more. Actions are the perfect way to take a great image and make it something more. In Creative Essentials it’s a little about workflow and a little about finishing touches.
Deep second generation finishing. HE2 is a collection of creative Photoshop actions that once again bring simplicity to complexity. It’s filled with tools for image effects, glows and in particular skin corrections.
Automated skin smoothing that would normally require a plugin can be done with quality and speed in HE2. Glows and fantasy effects that are not possible in a raw editor.
HE2 is a customizable effects mix that any wedding or portrait photographer won’t want to be without.
Creative Essentials is my general use editing pack for Photoshop, but there’s some pretty advanced stuff inside it. Well I just did a major update and I mean more than just the snappy new header image. V1.6 includes three brand new actions including a new B&W called Silver Shimmers and two new color effects, Dynamic Snap and Shadow Twist. There also been updates, including a revamp of the Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate effects. They’re much more refined and versatile now, giving you a toned black and white that is powerful and more advances than what can be done in software like Lightroom.
There’s also a bunch of fresh before/after samples on the product page along with a brand new drop down list that gives details on every included effect, plus a link to the updated sampler pack.
This is a free update for existing users, so Check you inbox as you should have a fresh download email. If you’ve purchased CE, but don’t get your update feel free to give me a shout (effects@seimstudios.com) and I’ll get you taken care of. If you don’t yet have CE head over and check it out. Enjoy… Gav
NOTE: I also want to mention that some users have been getting marketing emails from a company that’s made another action pack and called it Creative Essentials. Watch out for it. I don’t know if it’s good or not, but just a heads up. Unless it’s from Gavin Seim, it’s not my Creative Essentials. I tried to talk to them about the fact that they copied the product name and they were uncooperative.
by Gavin Seim: my Hollywood 2 Photoshop actions were featured in the October issue of Shutterbug Magazine, in the Digital Innovations column by Joe Farace. Back in September, Joe took a look at my Naked Elements Textures and Creative Essentials actions and gave them a great review. This month Joe came back for more, taking a peek at HE2, a collection of effects dedicated to adjustable finishing touches and giving any type of photo a little something more.
Joe gave a glowing review, Calling HE2 “Outstanding” and stating “If you photograph people, you need this inexpensive set of actions”. A shout out to him and the folks at Shutterbug for taking the time to notice my work. Here’s a copy of the review (click for larger version). You can also pick up the Oct 2010 issue of shutterbug and see it on pages 37-38.
You can learn more about Hollywood Effects 2 here as well as download some free samples… Gav
by Gavin Seim: Now I’m a Lightroom fanatic, but I still love Photoshop and use actions all the time for that final polished beauty. Nearly all of my signature images (best of the best) are taken into PS for some action magic once I finish in LR.
Hollywood Effects2 is my latest set and I’m not afraid to say I’m really proud of it. It’s full of great effects that are really well refined. For those of you who don’t already own Hollywood 2, I’ve decided it’s time to post a free sample pack.
Below you can download the zip file with four free actions. Am I doing this so you’ll see how good they really are and buy the whole set? Of course I am. And some of the effects in the full version are better yet. But, if you just like freebies and don’t want to spend a dime, that’s OK too. Download and enjoy… Gav
