[Rainer.]

I decided to just get to it in GIMP and see what things I could do with curves, using a simple portrait for starters. Can't believe that I hadn't done it before...

Before










After





Problem: Now I feel like all my photos need tweaking.

[RipVanWinkle]

I didn't know GImp had curves.

I just recently deleted all of my illegal software, and I'm pretty sure the copy my old photographer boss gave me was illegal.

So I just bought Photoshop Elements...perhaps Gimp could be a supplement to PSE

[H.M. Murdock]

GIMP is alright, mostly because it's free. It's way too clumsy to use, though; I hate the layout.

I think you've got a good start, man, but tone it down. Try for a happier medium using the girl's complexion as a standard. It should be a warm, glowing tone, not a dark color. If you had a darker topic for the picture, then I would love these tones. But as it is, smiles and friendships don't go well with emphasis placed on darkness.

[tht00]

Yeah. Curves are awesome. I've known about them for a while and used them on occasion, but I'm beginning to use them a lot more.

The thing to remember is that small adjustments go a long way. If you want the photos to remain realistic, don't overdo it. I've found that to be a basic rule-of-thumb for any post-processing. Especially concerning curves or HDR.

If you want to be artistic, by all means, get creative. I just noticed that your photo was getting a strange saturation, especially in red, and it's just sort... there. In-between 'artsy' and 'real', IMO.

Originally Posted by H.M. Murdock

GIMP is alright, mostly because it's free. It's way too clumsy to use, though; I hate the layout.

The layout kinda sucks... depends what platform you're on. On Linux, I can open up Gimp on one of my extra desktops, have plenty of space to work, and come back over to another desktop for whatever else I'm doing. I know there are Windows tweaks to give you this ability. I recommend you use them. Otherwise, the Gimp takes up a lot of space on the taskbar and just creates clutter. Fast.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Rainer.

Problem: Now I feel like all my photos need tweaking.

Haha yeah that's how I feel everytime I learn a technique as well.

[Rainer.]

Originally Posted by H.M. Murdock

GIMP is alright, mostly because it's free. It's way too clumsy to use, though; I hate the layout.

I think you've got a good start, man, but tone it down. Try for a happier medium using the girl's complexion as a standard. It should be a warm, glowing tone, not a dark color. If you had a darker topic for the picture, then I would love these tones. But as it is, smiles and friendships don't go well with emphasis placed on darkness.

Part of it is also probably me battling an extra bright laptop LCD. I should figure out how to better work around that.

[tht00]

Originally Posted by Rainer.

Part of it is also probably me battling an extra bright laptop LCD. I should figure out how to better work around that.

I've been running into the same problems... my gamma just seems way off from the rest of the world..


I was thinking... should we start a stickied 'post-processing' thread -- where people can describe/demonstrate different techniques, such as using curves?

[Rainer.]

Originally Posted by tht00

I've been running into the same problems... my gamma just seems way off from the rest of the world..


I was thinking... should we start a stickied 'post-processing' thread -- where people can describe/demonstrate different techniques, such as using curves?

Well, I'd say that it's a bit more tidy if separate threads are just created, and then we go off on teach topic individually. One stickied thread would get cluttered, fast, and I'm not sure about the current interest in it.




And about the GIMP layout, if you'd rather use GIMP 2.2.4 instead of the current 2.4.4, there's also GIMPshop, like GIMP, except a bit more sane when it comes to Windows.
gimpshop.com

[bobthecockroach]

Paint.NET has curves and, unlike GIMP, was designed to be used by humans.

[Rainer.]

Thank you, Daniel. I shall be checking that out shortly.