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Post by BuckSkin on Sept 19, 2018 4:16:14 GMT
I have had this installed and in my "filters" menu for a couple years and hadn't used it until today: vicanek.de/imageprocessing/contrastmask.htmBy the way, this is from the WireWorm guy. I have read and followed very involved tutorials on creating contrast masks; this little program does all the work in a single click. I had no idea just what it would do; so, I used it on a practice image; and, by just leaving all the sliders at the default positions, it improved the image immensely. Alas, it is one of those programs that opens in a wee little window and I can find no way to make it full-screen; and, it doesn't seem to preview on the big full screen image either. Search as I may, I have found no useful information on just exactly how to get the best out of this program. For instance, what does the "blur mask" do and why would I want to blur the mask ? And "keep saturation", I don't want my saturation messed with; so, where should I set this slider ? If any of you guys have first-hand experience with this plug-in and know where I can find any tutorials and the like, I would appreciate the information. Thanks for reading and all help is appreciated. |
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Post by Bailey on Sept 19, 2018 12:07:49 GMT
Hi Buckskin,
I don't use the MV Plugin but after having a quick look at your link I did a quick Google search on Contrast Masks and found this very easy tutorial on contrast masks from Earthbound Light. It explains what they are and how they can be created in Photoshop and PSE (at bottom of tute).
The tutorial answers your question on what blurring the mask does and when to use it. The tute also gives a bit of an insight into what the " black box" plugin probably does in the background after you play with its sliders.
Hope it helps 
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Post by Sepiana on Sept 19, 2018 12:38:38 GMT
Search as I may, I have found no useful information on just exactly how to get the best out of this program.
BuckSkin,
Do you still have all the files that came with the download? There is a .txt file (Notepad) with suggestions how to use this plug-in. If not, make a new download to get this file.
You can also contact Martin if you need more information.
vicanek.de/contact.htm
There is some explanation of this in the tutorial by Michael Reichmann, the one Martin posted the link to on this plug-in page. See Step #6.
luminous-landscape.com/u-contrast-masking/
In the Wire Worm plug-in, we can enlarge the window by dragging out the corner handles. It doesn't seem possible in this plug-in.
As to the image preview, this is what the .txt file says . . .
"100%:
Press to show actual pixel resolution.
Fit:
Press to scale the image so it will fit entirely in the preview area."
According to the .txt file, . . .
"Keep Saturation:
Amount of saturation applied to brightened areas. Sometimes it is necessary to reduce the saturation. A value of 70 will be appropriate in most cases."
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Post by BuckSkin on Sept 20, 2018 0:22:00 GMT
I had forgotten about it, but I do still have the txt file; thanks for reminding me.
I have every one of MVs free plug-ins installed; of them all, WireWorm really gets a workout; it seems the further from civilization one gets, the thicker the overhead wire population.
I am now reading the Luminous-Landscape article; in fact, there are two L-L Contrast mask articles.
I did do some manual contrast masking on some HDR images a couple years ago, using instructions I found in an HDR book, but I have forgotten all the steps.
The txt file mentions "local contrast"; I have often wondered just what local contrast is in an image; and, the contrast that is not local, what would we call it ?
The information I have been reading makes mention of using a contrast mask on images to be printed, even though the non-masked image may look better on the monitor, on account of printers making the darks too dark and the lights too light; that probably explains why many of my printed images so often lose detail in the shadow areas; if I simply brighten the image in an attempt to remedy the dark areas, then the light areas print too bright.
The next time I have something to print, I will try this contrast mask business and see if I don't have better results.
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Post by Tpgettys on Sept 20, 2018 2:01:47 GMT
Thanks for the tip on this plug-in BuckSkin . I see there are several there, and they all seem to be free!
For those interested, you should be apprised that they are all for 32-bit hosts (PSE 12 and before, I think) except for the wireworm app.
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Post by Bailey on Sept 20, 2018 2:54:31 GMT
[offtopic]
Hi Buckskin,
... The information I have been reading makes mention of using a contrast mask on images to be printed, even though the non-masked image may look better on the monitor, on account of printers making the darks too dark and the lights too light; that probably explains why many of my printed images so often lose detail in the shadow areas; if I simply brighten the image in an attempt to remedy the dark areas, then the light areas print too bright. The next time I have something to print, I will try this contrast mask business and see if I don't have better results. That is not my experience regarding printers and prints. To have any chance, unless one is happy to rely on pure luck, to get an extremely close match between what you see on your screen and a print one must have a properly calibrated monitor and an appropriate printer profile for the printer, ink, paper combination one is using to make the print. I use SpyderStudio from Datacolor to calibrate my monitor and create my own custom printer profiles. My print outputs are a very, very close match to what I see on my screen. [/offtopic] |
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Post by Sepiana on Sept 20, 2018 3:06:19 GMT
I had forgotten about it, but I do still have the txt file; thanks for reminding me. I have every one of MVs free plug-ins installed; of them all, WireWorm really gets a workout; it seems the further from civilization one gets, the thicker the overhead wire population. BuckSkin, you are most welcome! Glad you found the .txt file.
Same here. I keep Wire Worm busy.
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Post by BuckSkin on Sept 20, 2018 3:59:53 GMT
Same here. I keep Wire Worm busy. WireWorm is an amazing program and even more amazing is that it is free; in fact, all - but one - of my favorite applications have not cost me a red cent; my most favorite application and most used application only cost a mere twelve bucks and it was money well spent. We didn't even pay for Elements 7; someone gave it to my wife for Christmas years ago when we didn't even have a computer to put it on, nor a digital camera to use it with. When I finally got her her Big Girl Camera, and we had to get a computer on account of her being in college, it just dawned on me that she had Photoshop Elements somewhere buried in a drawer and the box had never been opened; I searched the house until I found it, had someone show us how to install it, and from that point forward the horse was out of the barn. |
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Post by BuckSkin on Sept 20, 2018 6:29:36 GMT
Well........, so much for that; I was reading that article (and it's mate from the same author); I got interrupted and came back to it later and all looked as I had left it, until......., I went to scroll a bit; immediately there was a big box jumped in front of me wanting $12 to continue; if I had $12, I would sit up with it. |
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