special effects Archives

July 15, 2022

art study, f164, Free Effects & Goodies, Gavin Seim, inspire, special effects

The editing mistake photographers are addicted to and how to stop doing it.

Presets, photo editing software, and gear. We have the tools in 2022. But I want to change how you think about your photos.

I’ve been a photographer for over 20 years. I watched digital be born and the entire industry change. I’ve run the gamut in everything from street and wedding photography to fashion photography of Models in Mexico and fashion photography.

I saw photography go from a technical creative art to something mostly driven by internet marketers and “Ai” tools. But I always see the same mistakes that make photos ordinary no matter how good the software gets.

I don’t need to second guess. People either like my photon or not. A clean Natural HDR 4 process made it look good and that’s a wrap.

Sometimes digital is so easy, that we lose an opportunity. Trends come and go, but in the end, photography will always be about emotion, inspiration, and creativity. If you learn to discover shadows and souls with confidence, your photography will always get better regardless of the tools you use.

Confidence is not always easy. I’ve learned a lot as a street photographer. You can have all the software. You have the best camera, and download the best Lightroom presets (yes I have those for you) But what you need is to see as no one else sees. That’s what I want to show you today.

You’ll find the presets I use here on the site – They do matter because they make completing your vision easier. You can get my free lightroom presets and film styles like Filmist and Natural HDR.

Most photographers edit wrong, but not for the reasons they think!

In this video, we’re going head to head with the mistake that nearly every photographer has made, and may are doing every day. If you can get past this, it changes more than just how you edit. It’s going to change your photography mentality.

As I showed in the video. The perfect capture and the perfect edit are a myth. That’s what makes photography so amazing. There’s always something we can improve that will affect the emotion of your photo, or the lack of it.

Knowing how to edit, starts with knowing what you want. Presets and styles are invaluable because they help me find my look without wasting brain cells.

Black and white, color, contrasty, soft. Deciding does not have to be hard. here I used Filmist and Elegance 4 to give more depth and that’s it. You can get my free lightroom presets and film styles on the FIlmist page.

I usually start with Filmist because it works so well. But there’s something more important than what you edit with! That’s knowing what you want to create with your edit. An actual vision.

Ansel Adams taught this way back with visualization techniques and using Zones in our exposures. Something we studied at length in my Exposed Master Class and in Photo Perfect.

IN the end making the craft of your photography second nature, finding your confidence, even if you know it won’t be perfect. That is what will transform your photography. The tools you use just, are just things to help you get there.

I’ll explain it all in detail in the video. You can also watch it directly on my photography channel here

Enjoy and we’ll see you next time – Gavin Seim

I like capturing things people don’t even think about like the corner drug store because in 20 years everything will change and then simple photos like this will matter. But here it was easy, this was all about shadows and sunset. Using Silver 4 and Blackroom was a no-brainer.

The full gold chrome look that I talked about in this blog post. Decide your look hand and commit to it. It will change your perfective on every image you publish.

July 9, 2022

capture one, lightroom, special effects

Fuji Classic Chrome as a Preset – This is the recipe

I made a blog post the other day where I showed you the new Filmist 1.7. It has better Portra presets and my new Fuji Classic Chrome preset for Lightroom and as a Capture One Style and a video LUT.

Classic Chrome is a Kodachrome-inspired simulation popular in Fuji Cameras. I wanted a Classic Chrome Preset that worked on any camera.

Even if you don’t like the Classic Chrome look. You’ll find this video useful for your own editing as I’m going to share secrets about how to make more nuanced color edits that work across all kinds of photos and cameras.

NOTE: If you have my Filmist film presets pack, the latest Classic Chrome-like preset is included in. But in today’s video, I’ll show you the recipe so you can make your version if you prefer.

VIDEO: How to create a match of the look as a Classic Chrome preset.

Download the latest Gen.2 version of my Classic Chrome Like preset with Filmist presets. You can also get the the classic Negative film preset free in the Filmist sampler pack.

Why use the preset over the Classic Chrome camera profile…

Seim Fuji Classic Chrome preset on a Canon 5D MK2 file. — Balanced greens are still vibrant but not over the top. Bring that slide film feel even applied to a Canon RAW file like this one.

Simulations in-camera can be beautiful. But to get all the options you have, you have to bake them into a JPEG. This means throwing away information for a color recipe. Custom simulations can be made too, but they only work on the baked-in JPEG also.

The other option is to shoot RAW. Most cameras will then allow you to apply that look as a camera-specific profile. Fuji is one example of this. In Lightroom and Capture One you can select Classic Chrome to look as a profile and it will look very similar to it’s baked-in JPEG counterpart.

I wanted a Classic Chrome Preset that works on everything. I apply the Classic Chrome from FIlmist, I can do it on any file regardless of what camera it came from giving me a consistent look. And I can see every slider that’s been affected, adjusting it as needed.

Classic Chrome Lightroom preset and Capture One Styles recipe on Sony file — Classic Chrome look in LIghtroom applied to a Sony RAW file. It produces those nice sift colors with rich tones inspired by Kodachrome

In Lightroom and in Capture One I can even adjust the intensity of the Classic Chrome preset. I can’t with a baked-in profile.

So In this video, I want to show you how the new Classic Chrome look stacks up with the Fuji version of this Kodoachrome-inspired look (hint it’s almost perfect). Then we’re going to rest in it non-Fuji file to get the Classic Chrom to look on Sony, Canon etc.

And in case you don’t have my Filmist pack and don’t want to buy it, I’m also going to spill the beans, showing you my settings and channels in case you want to make your own variation of Classic Chrome.

I hope this was helpful. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions. And subscribe to my YouTube channel for more videos like this.

Gavin Seim

The Classic Chrom preset works on any Fuji file even when the camera does not include it — While I can use camera-specific color profiles on Fuji files like this one from an XT3, I find it easier to just use the Classic Chrome preset or capture one and have the added control.

July 2, 2022

capture one, free capture one styles, free lightroom presets, lightroom, special effects

I made a Classic Chrome preset for any camera in the Filmist 1.7 update.

Why do camera-specific color profiles like Classic Chrome have to be camera-specific?

They don’t! In the end, it’s just a mix of colors and contrasts. A very detailed mix. And that’s what I’ll show you this week along with some samples of how these recipes look in real life.

The Filmist 1.7 update brings a lot of nuance, especially in the brand-new Classic Chrome recipe.

There’s a free sampler with 3 great film presets on the Filmist project page. It now includes the new Portra 160 1.7 update

First, I updated the Porta Gen.2 Presets.

Porta 160 for LIghtroom and Capture 1 Film presets - FIlmost free film preset — The latest version of Portra is more natural in both its LIghtroom Presets Variant and Capture One style. This is one of 3 Portra presets but this one can be found free in the FIlmist sampler pack.

I make Filmist 1.7 to have more refined Lightroom Presets, Capture One Styles, and video film LUTS that include a major refinement to the Gen.2 Portra presets, making them work more naturally like film.

Portra works on nearly anything and after years, the latest version of my gen,2 Portra presets much like the new Natura 1600 is just subline.

You can also watch my video on making the gen.2 Portra formulas.

The reason great recipes are better as presets is that they take a lot of dialing in. You will never do them manually every time. If you’ve seen things like my Sliders master workshop or the 3 Magic Sliders video on my channel, you have seen how these details matter.

Next, I finished the brand new Classic Chrome preset!

Canon RAW FILE, Classic Chrome Preset in Lightroom Classic.

Yes, I finally finished the much-requested Classic Chrome formula as a preset that can be used in any camera. It’s very clean and versatile. It’s actually a Fuji variant of Kodochrom, though since there were many Kopdachromes I can’t say which one specifically.

For those that don’t have my presets, I will be doing a video on how to create your own version of this recipe on my channel in the next week or so. So stay tuned.

Side by side of classic chrome presets in Capture one and Lightroom — Same image in LR and C1 using the presets / style. Almost identical in LIghtroom and Capture One, I programmed the preset to give a very accurate rendition.

If you own a fuji Camera that supports the Camera specific RAW profiles in LR, or C1 you can shoot RAW and then apply the camera-specific color profiles. The problem is they don’t work on other files or even older models of your Fuji camera that did not include that Film profile.

So Like I did for the Classic Negative Lightroom Preset and Capture One Style. I’ve been working for weeks building and refining a recipe for based on Classic Chrome V2.

The win here is that you can use this on any file type!

Here I used Classic Chrome on a Sony A73 file and result looked great.

Classic Chrome is a process that many photographers love because it’s very gentle and has that subtle feel.

This recipe is only included in the Complete version of my Filmist, since I already give away the Classic negative recipe for free in the Filmist sampler pack.

Side by side – The baked-in JPEG of the Classic Chrome look next to the preset process on the RAW file. Lightroom.

While in the Lightroom vs Capture One debate, I often favor the interface and speed of Lightroom. This was one of those times when the more advanced color controls in Capture One let me dial it in a little easier.

As you can see here however even in Lightroom, the baked-in JPEG from the Fuji camera next to the same photo from RAW file and NOT using any camera-specific profiles, just the preset. Well they are nearly identical which makes me happy.

A baked-in JPEG varies a lot from the settings and dynamic range you apply inside a Fuji camera. Here you just have the clean look and then can simply mod it with sliders of even the built-in Chemical tone mods that are in FIlmist. More control is the order of the day when you shoot RAW and then apply the color after.

Like I said next week I plan to make a video showing how to edit with Classic Chrome and where it works well. I’ll also give you an insider’s view of the formulas so you can play around and make your own variant even if you don’t use my presets or styles.

For Filmist users, make sure you update to V1.7 of the film pack in the portal. Then let me know in the comments how you like the results of these new updates 🙂

Enjoy – Gavin Seim

The Filmist Classic Chrome style used from Capture One

June 25, 2022

lightroom, special effects

Lightroom Layers – Huge June Masking in LIghtroom update!

Layers let us do easy masking and Lightroom has really improved that feature this year. here’s wahts new…

When people compare Lightroom to Capture One, they often talk about layers in Capture One. This year that advance has waned, because what we call masking in Lightroom, is really the same as layers. They are probably more powerful, practically speaking than Capture One layers. Competition is good, right?

My last video talked about the new adjustable presets tool in the June release of the various Lightroom versions.

In this video, I want to show you the new masking in lightroom layer mask updates. They are not only more adjustable like the presets, they are also faster. A lot faster. Especially the Ai masking which is honestly pretty unreal now.

Watch on my youtube channel here

Neither Lightroom or Capture One replace Photoshop layers. Those are different levels of editing. See how I use BlackRoom actions for an example of this.

That said, the ability to do this new kind of detailed masks and layers instantly in Lightroom is still changing how I edit. Even though Photoshop has more advanced layers, the batch and speed abilties of doing layers in a RAW editor eviroment is better for many things.

Thej Lightroom masks panel gives you layers than can be easilly adjusted.

I’ll also show you in the video how to use Speed masks for these layers, or make your own speed mask presets in lightroom. I’ll also show you the new features and why they are a big deal.

Elegance Speed Masks 4.2 update.

If you use my Elegance 4 mask system to speed up combo masking and effects, I made a big update that improves the Ai tools since they are so much more usable now as well as other things. Make sure you get the Elegance 4.2 presets update. If you did not get an email, you can login to your dashboard here.

Lightroom masks vs Capture One Layers?

Masking in LIghtroom is layers in any practical sense and regadless of what you call it, it can transform the way you edit RAW files in Lightroom, espcially if you use Speed Mask presets to make it fast and easy.

In practice they can do the same things and C1 has more slider avilable on layers, and Lightroom only has the more limited local adjustments panel.\

But masking in Capture One is manual. No the mahic brush is not even clos eto Lightroom Ai masks. Worse, you still can’t save layers into Capture One styles, making autiomatic this process like we can now do in LIghtroom with Speed Mask presets, a non option.

All and all, I would say Lightroom has taken the lead. But you personal prefence will of course weigfh in here and both do a great job.

Let me know if the comments what you think of how masks and layers are working in these updates. – Gavin Sem

June 22, 2022

lightroom, special effects

Lightrooms’ big new feature in the 11.4 June update is presets!

First AI masks and now Adjustable presets. They’re the best new Lightroom updates I’ve seen in years!

Lightroom and Capture One are competing head to head these days. Plus with others like DXO and OnOne Raw working hard. It’s good to see Adobe having to step up its game and deliver real features that reward subscribers.

I’ll be quick today as I show you the game-changing feature you’ll find in Lightroom 11.4 and its companion versions of Lightroom Cloud and even Lightroom mobile.

Still using Lightroom 6? Obviously, this feature is only for cloud subscribers. But a subscriber put me on to a plugin called Opal that gives you this function. I never knew about it until now. Don’t expect it to be as integrated and fluid as this new 2022 feature, but it looks cool.

Grab some presets (there are free versions) like FIlmist, Natural HDR or Silver and try this yourself like I did in the video. It’s pretty amazing.

Finally, adjustable presets in Lightroom!

It’s something people have asked me about for a long time. While it was something you could add to a point with extensions, it’s now a simple tool that just works in Lightroom. It even works inside mask mode to increase or decrease the intensity of effects like in Elegance 4 Speed Masks.

I think this is better than what we can do with layer opacity in Capture One, because it’s not simple and works on every setting we can apply. it changes settings dynamic to alter the effects, rather than creating a lower opacity like a layer.

This is so easy to use. Just watch the video and tell me in the comments what you think.

What I love here is that this feature is tightly integrated with how RAW develops and the presets module works. It dynamically updates all settings related to the current LIghtroom preset, which means you can then go on to add another preset to mod it, manually adjust settings, etc. Everything remains fluid and non-destructive/.

Page [tcb_pagination_current_page] of [tcb_pagination_total_pages]

First

Last