How to work UW images in Photoshop

[PapaBob]

Greetings all:

I just published a piece on the Scubaboard article site entitled “Overall Color Correction for Underwater Photographs Using Photoshop”. It is the first installment in what I hope is a two part series. My goal is to respond to the occasional post looking for articles or other information on enhancing UW photos. There is a lack of materials on this subject other than that generously contributed by board members. I write from my readings on techniques used in “landlubber” photos, my own experimentation, and a lot of ideas I learned from you guys and gals.

My theory is that certain UW photos need overall color correction before the “finishing touch” adjustments. The article does not apply to well exposed macro or properly exposed subjects where the negative space works. The article has ideas on automated adjustments, manual adjustments, workflow methods, and theory. The article is about 14 printed pages so I suggest you use the print button to produce a printer friendly version. The pdf version is harder to read.

I tried to provide info for beginner and advanced Photoshoppers alike. However the article covers a lot of ground without the benefit of pictures coupled with step by step instructions. I have been told (thanks Mike) that it may be a little steep for beginners and take some time for more advanced users to work through some of my examples. I would be happy if any of my readers learned one or two techniques that they would find useful in working their own pictures in Photoshop. If there is a topic of interest to you then let me know and I may be able to devote another article to the topic and provide more visual instruction. If you think I missed something or can provide a better explanation then give me your thoughts. Scubaboard gave me the ability to edit the article.

I hope to expand the article to provide more useful information. I would appreciate your ideas. Feel free to send them along in this thread or by private message. I am also looking for topic suggestions for part II which will cover the tweaks and enhancements following the overall color correction. Some ideas I have are:

How to make that background water blue.

Removing noise from the background.

Hue/Saturation fine surgery.

Combining the best of multiple versions of the image.

Creating a strobe effect.

Contrast tweaks.

Finishing touches with the Color Balance tool.

Perhaps you can think of some more. Your suggestions, images, and questions are solicited.

—Bob
Go To Article

 

[Dee]

Great article, Bob....thanks! I started with PE2 and have upgraded to PS7 so I'm a bit familiar with the terms and instructions. However, I think I need to print this out and work through a photo step by step to fully understand it. I enjoy the way you write, it's very clear and easy to understand. I hope you'll add some screen shots in Article ll for even more clarification.

 

[STUEY2]

This Article Is Great. I Have Ps7 And This Article Clears Alot Of The Fog Off Using It. Being New To Photography I Found It Easy To Understand.thanks Bob,
Reguards Stuey2

 

[PapaBob]

Dee - Stuey2:

Thanks for the comments. I am working on some visual presentations and Action files, but I am pleased you are getting something from pure text. I will keep you posted.

---Bob

 

[Azotomix]

This is what I was looking for to start and understand PS. I downloaded the trial version PS CS as it reads the RAW format of my Canon and look forward to try it out. As I’m Italian and English is not my mother tongue (You can see it by the way I write) I might have some difficulties to understand all the technical words but for sure slowly and slowly and with the help of a dictionary I will learn to use it.

For the moment I used Paint shop 9 and was OK for me but PS CS has a really much better RAW converter. So decision is nearly made. I will start using PS.

As soon as I manage to understand and play with some pictures I will post a before and after. I will then wait for further advice.

Great!!!