How do people make their images pop like this ?

[mjoshi]

I've been using LR3 and have been learning to edit pictures but still cannot understand how people can make pictures pop while they are not using anything too fancy. Here is example of a thread

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1019&message=38964705

User used non-L prime lenses as well as 40D + 60D combination to shoot this and when you see the pictures you can see the clarity on face of people and pictures look very clean and eye catching. I've tried many times but never get it right. How do people do this in LR3+ CS5 combination ? What is secret behind taking a flat looking picture from your camera and putting it thru editing and come out with something that is eye catching ? Can someone please share how this is done ?

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Thanks
M

 

[ukchris]

If you look further down that thread to his second post, he tells you exactly how he does it.
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Chris

 

[newmikey]

-"increase micro contrast on a duplicate layer with the Unsharp Mask Tool, Amount: 20%, Radius: 50px, "
-"Increased color saturation iwth Velvia action."

I use more or less the same steps in GIMP/ImageMagick. The rest of what he mentions (all good stuff) is seasoning to taste.

Microcontrast is basically USM with a large radius and small amount - it will do wonders for your images whatever editing package you use.
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http://newmikey.zenfolio.com
http://www.flickr.com/newmikey

 

[mjoshi]

yes I saw that but being CS5 newb cannot make head out of of tail of what he was mentioning.

If you look further down that thread to his second post, he tells you exactly how he does it.
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Chris

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Thanks
M

 

[nelsonal]

One thing that helped me was practicing when people ask for images on the digital darkroom forum, trying what I can do, and reading those whose work I liked for the steps they followed. You could also post some of your images you'd like to make pop and see if some of the people who succeed (in your view) will share how they did it (many probalby will).

 

[GKN]

Increase micro contrast - the clarity slider in Lightroom is similar to the wide radius Unsharp mask technique mentioned. Positive clarity increases microcontrast. Negative claity can give a soft focus look to highlights - using the brush in Lightroom with the soften skin preset applied to skin (though I saved my own preset that was -60 clarity instead of -100 which I though was over the top) can give great results

Velvia action - google this - Velvia was a much liked film with heavily saturated colours - you can use the callibration options in Lightroom - or play around in the HSL panel with saturation or hue - remember to save as a preset so its repeatable.

The above are quick and easy and will mean these steps can be done in Lightroom (though CS5 offers more options to tweak)
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-"increase micro contrast on a duplicate layer with the Unsharp Mask Tool, Amount: 20%, Radius: 50px, "
-"Increased color saturation iwth Velvia action."

I use more or less the same steps in GIMP/ImageMagick. The rest of what he mentions (all good stuff) is seasoning to taste.

Microcontrast is basically USM with a large radius and small amount - it will do wonders for your images whatever editing package you use.
--
http://newmikey.zenfolio.com
http://www.flickr.com/newmikey

 

[Deleted1929]

What is secret behind taking a flat looking picture from your camera ...

I think the first mistake you are making is that you assume most of the "pop" comes from editing.

I think most of the pop was there to start with. It's in the framing and composition and using light well. Good exposure.

He made some tweaks in Lightroom and starts from RAW, but you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, as they say. These weren't "flat" to start with - he got the core elements right when he shot, IMO.

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StephenG

 

[mjoshi]

Thanks I'll pursue that route.
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Thanks
M