Frog (C&C) - please help me postprocess

Glowing

Hi there,

Post processing is not my forte - and although I like this shot, I'm pretty sure something can be done to improve it. I'd really like to blow this up and print it - I had it printed last week in 6x4 but it came out a smidgen too dark.

Do ye have any suggestions for me?

Thanks!

Oriel

Can't fault it at all

6th

Neither can I, he stands out amazingly. Composition wise I would have liked to see him dropped down a little. Where was it taken?

Glowing

Thanks! It was taken on a night jungle trek in Borneo - we saw some rather uglier creatures too

Here is the original; what sort of crop do you recommend?

Eirebear

I like the original crop, definetly cant fault te image in terms of colour, so maybe the dark print is more to do with the printer/monitor calibration?

Glowing

Thanks Eirebear, I actually sent it off to Photobox - and was dissapointed with the result, it looked a lot more vibrant on the screen. Should I just try another company?

Edit: Here's another I'm hoping to print and frame .... I know its not a frog, but any ideas here? I'm really going to have to learn how to use photoshop for my prints - the furthest I've gotten is 'Auto levels'

Eirebear

hmmm then im a little lost, ive never used photobox to be honest so maybe one of these other nice people will help?

Calina

Just on the two questions:

Before the "did you calibrate your screen" questions roll in...

1) what size was the file you sent to Photobox?
2) what size print did you try to print to? My experience is that the larger the print, the colours tend to darken a little.
3) can you remember what the quality rating was on the photo when you order the print

regards the other photograph: find a tool called curves and pull the curve down a little with the mouse. This should intensify the colour a little which I assume is what you are aiming for.

Glowing

Calina wrote:

1) what size was the file you sent to Photobox?
2) what size print did you try to print to? My experience is that the larger the print, the colours tend to darken a little.
3) can you remember what the quality rating was on the photo when you order the print

Hi Calina,

The file I sent to photobox was 1.2 megs, and I only had a 6x4 printed. I'm not sure what you mean about the quality rating .....

Thanks for the tip - I'll try that in PS now .....

Sebzy

Well the color could be boosted a bit and I would go for a crop a tad bit different due to the lines of the leaves around.

Have a look.

Glowing

I like that idea Sezby, thanks. How exactly did you boost that colour in PS?

... wow, isn't Photography busy for midnight on a Friday?

Eirebear

Glowing wrote:

I like that idea Sezby, thanks. How exactly did you boost that colour in PS?

... wow, isn't Photography busy for midnight on a Friday?

I know, were all sitting at home playing with our Hue/Saturation sliders.........very rewarding

Sebzy

Ok wanted to just boost the frog so it's red/orange in color

Image => Adjustments => hue/Saturation
From the edit menu select red

Moved saturation up 15 and then used the range scrubbing bar to push the adjustment up closer to the orange side until it looked right.

Thats all

Sebzy

Eirebear wrote:

I know, were all sitting at home playing with our Hue/Saturation sliders.........very rewarding

Yep saving my energy for the big day
Up at 7:30
phoenix park races start at 9
quick dash home
boards beer meet
then off to Dj until 2:30AM
Should get back to bed about 4 just to be back up at 8AM for the second day of races. yikes what have I let myself into this time.

Eirebear

Sebzy wrote:

Yep saving my energy for the big day
Up at 7:30
phoenix park races start at 9
quick dash home
boards beer meet
then off to Dj until 2:30AM
Should get back to bed about 4 just to be back up at 8AM for the second day of races. yikes what have I let myself into this time.

That is a bloody big day!
I have very little planned go for a drive with the missus, take some photos, home listen/watch football and then seeing as im moving back to glasgow next week, begin the farewell drinks tomorrow night.
All nice and relaxed really, just the way i like it.

Where do you DJ? what kind of stuff?

Kilree

There doesn't seem to be much wrong with the crop you first posted IMHO. In the original I thing the frog is too centred and needs to be taken to the right of the picture which is what you've done. I think I would take him a little further to the right for the sake of composition.
Just my 2 cents worth.

Spyral

regardless of crop you get cookies for the sheer cuteness of the frog !