First, another thanks to Dee for creating the subforum. I hope more of our members will share their ideas and then we all learn. In fact, writing a tutorial is a learning experience.
I guess there are no ground rules for the Digital Darkroom forum, but if we get around to creating DD etiquette, one of the rules has to be honest critique. You can do this without offending, and I think Uncle Pugs critique of my result was perfectly appropriate. Maybe it should have been located in the original DoubleDip thread rather than the tutorial thread, but it is still welcome.
One the beauties about Photoshop is that there are so many ways of applying it and so many differing results that can be produced. If anyone thinks they have an easier, better or even different method of producing a result, I hope they will share it with us.
Fpoole: Thanks for pointing out that the purpose of the tutorial was to illustrate how to produce a particular result.
Uncle Pug: I dive South Florida and we have flame scallops. I have no real point of reference for DoubleDips picture other than his comment about the green top. I made adjustments that I found pleasing to my eye which may not reflect what these things really look like, or what others will find attractive in a photo. For example, the Hue/Saturation adjustment to the top of the scallop can produce a wide range of color, so there is a lot of room for personal adjustments using this technique. Similarly, the adjustment of the rest of the photo using individual color channels in Levels can produce a wide range of results.
I also have a bias which I should disclose. I like saturated images and have no qualms shifting color to make the image more attractive (at least to my tastes that others may not share). I know there are purists who feel that any image adjustment in Photoshop should only be made if it produces a more real to life image.
When you first start working with Photoshop there is a tendency to over adjust images. More experienced photoshoppers (including yours truly) are not immune. The name I like for this is over cooking an image. Anyone should be free to express their opinion that the picture was on the stove too long.
Finally, I recently told Yoda I may need a trip to the optometrist. Where are the eyes? I did some cloning and may have blinded the poor guy.
Best Always
Bob