March 12, 2012

As promised I’m not leaving users in the dust or making you buy new presets just for LR4. I’m proud to announce that PW3.5 is here. Power Workflow 3 is our flagship product for LR. If you only buy one collection of presets ever, Power Workflow is probably the one you want. It has some of everything from batch processing, to black and white, to creative color blends and it just got better.

Fully revised, PW3 is now fully compatible with LR4. More than that, there’s been extra refinements to the collection and those apply to both the new LR4 version, as well as the LR1-3 version. Both sets are included in the download.

  • Updated for LR4.
  • Series Refinements.
  • Three New presets.

Did I mention this was free. If you own Power Workflow 3, you should already have your download. If you didn’t get it, or you have an old version of PW and need an upgrade discount, just email me, effects@seimstudios.com. Send me your purchase name or email and I’ll hook you up.

Don’t have PW3? You’re missing out. Check out the presets here. And just in case you missed it, Silver Shadows 2 black and white presets have also been updated for LR4 and the Color Fantasies update will be coming next.

I’m thankful for my customers and happy to be able to make Seim Effects even more versatile. I hope you enjoy… Gav

 

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March 6, 2012

NOW UPDATED for LR1-4 | Silver Shadows 2 came out in Nov 2011 and has been a huge success. It represents years of LR refinement since version one. It may blow you away when you see the efficient high quality silver conversions possible without ever leaving LR.

With the release of LR4 came some changes that made old presets not work so well. Users of my current presets collections are getting free updates for LR4 and the first of those was for Silver Shadows 2. You should have already received it if you own them.

I always make up a free sampler pack and I wanted to release an updated one that reflects the changes that came in Silver Shadows 2, for those of you that don’t own the full pack. So below is a free sampler kit that includes 7 presets. For both Lightroom 1-3 and Lightroom4 versions.

You can download below, no strings. When you realize how powerful they are, scope out the full collection. It has over a hundred unique effects, refined and organized into the ultimate black and white toolkit. Either way, head over to the product page for the video of SS2 presets in action while you download the freebies.

Enjoy… Gavin Seim

Download the SS2 Freebie Pack, v2.3

Watch the video and check out the complete collection.

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March 2, 2012

Mouse over for before/after effect of Lumen Modified.

Silver Shadows 2 is a complete black-and-white system for Lightroom users. We released it a few months ago it’s has received a resounding thumbs up in reviews and feedback across the web. That’s cool, but it gets better.

Today I’m proud to announce Silver Shadows 2.2. It’s a FREE update for existing v2 presets users. In fact, you should already have received an email with your download.

What’s inside. Silver Shadows 2.2?

2.2 features FULL compatibility with Lightroom 4. A separate set, revised for use with the LR4 2012 process and the new adjustment features. With that however, Silver Shadows 2 remains compatible with older versions, and includes a set for LR1-3 users. Both sets have all the Silver Shadows 2 presets effects.

New Effects & Refinements:

Silver Shadows 2.2 also includes three NEW presets including, Lumen Modified #1 and Light Modified #2 (Cp). Both are versatile creative effects to go with the more than 100 existing black and white presets in Silver Shadows 2. They give you rich tones and bold notes while maintaining dynamic range. Another new effect is Dynamic Dark Boost, a conversion meant for images that are a bit too dark. With this effect you can quickly bring up tone without altering exposure. It can also be used on lighter images for an ultra high key effect.

There’s lots of little refinements and updates throughout Silver Shadows 2. You can find a full list in the release notes of the info page that comes with the download. If you don’t yet own Silver Shadows 2, head over and check out the demo to see why it’s the only black-and-white toolkit you need. If you already have Silver Shadows 2, get your download now. This version completely replaces the previous. V1 users of Silver Shadows can also get a discounted upgrade to V2. If you did not receive your download or have press/support related questions, contact us, effects@seimstufios.com.

Gavin Seim

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January 26, 2012

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.

Power Workflow 3 (LR 1-4) | Lighflow (Aperture 3)
Any Photography Type.

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  (PS and Others) – Any photography type.

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.

Creative Essentials (PS CS2-CS5) – Any photography type.

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.

Hollywood Effects 2 (PS CS2-CS5) – Most powerful for wedding and portrait

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.

 

 

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November 10, 2011

The new Silver Shadows 2, black and white toolkit for Lightroom is now available from Seim Effects Photo Tools. SS2 is a complete black and white preset system that’s been refined and rebuilt from the ground up for stunning silver conversions without leaving LR.

V2 contains  over 100 refined easy-to-use black-and-white presets that address the subtleties of digital silver conversion, photographers can easily mix and match, customize and tweak to create artisan quality black-and-white images without leaving Lightroom. I uses the Seim Effects workflow structure that permits both large batches and single images to be processed quickly and accurately without leaving Lightroom.

The cost is Silver shadows is just just over $50 for the entire collection. You can find out more on the Seim Effects website. Silver Shadows 2.

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