AV News 194 - November 2013
Remember computers and micro electronics are fickle, they can (and do) fail at
the most inconvenient time so be prepared. Now could be an opportune time to
drop a few hints regarding Christmas presents, if you don't already have a
device for backing up your data then an external hard drive could prove a very
useful present.
Now back to Photoshop 'Variations' - what is it and how is it used? In simple
terms 'Variations' provides an adjustment 'colour ring'. When first opened at the
centre of the ring is your unadjusted original image (named Current Pick).
This is surrounded by six
different colour versions of the
same image. These are digital
equivalents to the additive colours
of red, blue, green, and the
subtractive colours of yellow,
magenta and cyan so familiar to
traditional colour printers. Also to
the right side of the ring is another
unadjusted original (again named
Current Pick) with darker and
lighter images above and below.
At the top left of the Variations
control box are two more of the same image, the leftmost image is named
'original' and the other is again named 'Current Pick'. Yes there are three
images all named the same.
Clicking on any of
the named colour
images within the
ring will change the
colour content i.e.
clicking on the red
image will increase
the red content of
all three 'Current
Pick' images and
also of the darker
and lighter images.
The 'original' image
at the top left
remains unchanged,
thus providing an
instant comparison
of any changes to
either colour or density. By clicking on either the 'darker' or 'lighter' images
situated at the right side of the control box all images except the top leftmost
original image will change density, again providing an instant comparison of
before and after. Each successive click will increase the chosen effect by the
same factor.
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