@marthadimeoIt could be debated which is worse—shadows and three-quarter tones with little or no detail or, highlights and quarter-tones nearly blown out. For most images—and for most subject matter—neither is desirable. Images with these types of maladies are usually assigned to the outtake pile.
In last month’s blog, titled Bringing Out Shape & Detail in the Darkest of Colors, I addressed the issue of recovering shadow detail and gave a sneak peek at recovering highlight detail. Now, I’d like to delve into the topic of highlight recovery a bit deeper with a few more examples.
Bridal Gowns ~ Satin & Lace
The two images presented here are pulled from the pages of Grace Ormonde Wedding Style magazine. Brides and bridal gowns are always a challenge to photograph. Whether the photos are candid shots of a bride on her wedding day, images from the photo pit at bridal runway shows, or carefully planned and executed studio shoots, the challenge is always the same—holding detail in the white and off-white fabrics.
In this first example, the editors at Wedding Style magazine wished to include this image of a YolanCris gown in the regularly featured Bridal Runaway spread. In its original form, with the loss of all detail of the gown’s delicate eyelet and embroidery work, it was unsuitable for publication.
As shown in the detail view, the beauty of the eyelet and embroidery work is barely visible.
Reproduced as is, it would not have served the bridal designer as a flattering representation of her work, nor would it have been useful to the magazine reader searching for her dream wedding gown. Moreover, from a magazine production standpoint, the image did not meet the quality standards I had established for the publication. (At the time, I was the Production/Imaging Director for Wedding Style magazine.)
As illustrated in the After view, with carefully considered Photoshop retouching and tonal manipulation, the shape and delicate details of the gown’s design was restored. As a result, the image was reclaimed from the outtake pile and then handsomely reproduced in the magazine.
Worth Noting As You Look At These Photos
As you review these images, you may not be seeing an accurate representation of the “After” photo. It all depends on the quality of your screen. Please see “Test Your Display” at the end of the article for more details.
The second example is very similar in nature. It was nicely composed and styled, but the dress suffered from loss of detail in the satin and lace. It would have been a disservice to run the photo in its original state. Once again, the outtake pile was averted by solving the problem in post-production.
Can Your Over-Exposed Images Be Saved?
If you are questioning whether an over-exposed image under consideration for a project can be improved in post-production, it is quite possible the answer is “yes”. If there are just a few percentages of density in the areas of the image that appear to be blown-out, in most cases, much can be done to restore detail. If the image was captured as a RAW file, all the better; that gives the Digital Imaging Specialist even more to work with.
Do You Have the Opposite Problem— Shadows are Too Dark and Lack Detail?
See the article, Bringing out Shape & Detail in the Darkest of Colors. And, to be sure to visit the portfolio galleries.
Let’s Work Together
Would you like to take advantage of our complimentary image evaluation service to have over-exposed, under-exposed—and everything in-between—reviewed? Learn more by visiting the Services page. For an easy way to get started, submit files using the Complimentary Image Review page.
Thanks for reading. Share with a colleague—social media buttons above—if you found this article to be helpful, informative, or just interesting to read!
On a Technical Note:
It is a given that a high quality, color-calibrated display is mandatory for graphic design and photo professionals. If you are reviewing images on an uncalibrated, aging, or low-end monitor, you may not be seeing what is actually in the file.
Are You Seeing What’s Actually In The File? Test Your Display
Eizo, a manufacturer of high-end displays, published an informative article about display quality and display evaluation. To determine how your display is performing, download the test images provided with the article. Once on your local drive, open them in Photoshop or another photo editing program. If the results are less than satisfactory, consider investing in a better quality display, especially if your work involves image editing or image evaluation.
©Martha DiMeo 2014 — Photos ©Respective Image Owners