Click here to download the photoshop action file.

I’ve recently helped PP in a wedding photography project. Shown below is one of the photo from the event and I’m going to apply a cross-processing effect on it. Applying the effect in this particular photo helps in bringing out the vibrant colors.

Actually, cross-processing means developing color print or slide film in the wrong chemicals. This causes wild color and contrast shifts and requires lots of trial and error. Image contrast is usually high with blown-out highlights, while the shadows tend toward dense shades of blue. Reds tend to be magenta, lips almost purple, and highlights normally have a yellow-green color cast.

Here’s how I create the cross-processing effect. First, convert your image to cmyk mode by clicking Image > Mode > CMYK color.

Next, bring up the Curves dialogue box by clicking Ctrl + M, or Image > Adjustments > Curves. Click on the slider and make sure the black is on the left and graduates to white on the right. I’m going to place 6 points in this chart. Its very easy, just click on the line to make an additional point. Click OK to confirm your changes.

Next, I’m going to make some levels adjustment. Bring up the Levels dialogue by pressing Ctrl + L, or Image > Adjustments > Levels. You’ll need to enter the figures for the below channel. Click OK to confirm your changes.

You’ve now completed the CMYK cross-processing effect. Convert your photo back to RGB mode by clicking Image > Mode > RGB color. Shown below is the before and after applying the CMYK cross-processing effect.

Click here to download the photoshop action file. You can load this action to your Photoshop. Click play and this effect will be automatically applied on your selected photo.

PP asked me this question the other day. Which color space should he use to process his photographs? Lets start by understanding what color space is. Color Space is the way Photoshop defines Red, Green and Blue. It’s the RGB model that defines what the values of a specific color are represented. For example, at white, R is 255, G is 255 and B is 255.

Usually people who are new to color management would use sRGB. Adobe RGB contains much more control when you’re using advanced color management techniques like printing with profiles and soft proofing.

Unless you’re experienced in these techniques, sRGB is the one you should use. One more thing that you have to take note is that with Adobe RGB, you won’t be able to make use of your color profile in other softwares that are non Adobe product.

Do you like to shoot sunset? However you do not have time to go to beach or mountain? Not a problem, sunsets are ubiquitous. No matter where you live, you get one every day. You can also shoot sunset at your door step or through your high rise office windows.

Here are some of the techniques I used to shoot sunset:

1. Stable Your Camera – The best way to stable your camera is mount your camera on tripod. Nothing beat this option. Beside that, use remote release cable or IR remote release to trigger the shutter in order to prevent camera shake.

2. Camera Setting – I always use Aperture Priority mode and use the lowest ISO. If your camera have Sunset scene mode, use it, camera will decide the optimum setting for you. The most important is turning your camera flash OFF.

3. Light Metering – Try to having a bit of under-exposure will allow you to get more vivid colors of the setting sun. There are two ways to achieve correct exposure when shooting the sunset:
   1. Use Spot Meter - Set your camera on the spot metering mode and take your meter to the bright area but not the sun directly.
   2. Use Negative Exposure Compensation - you can set your camera for negative compensation of 2/3 to 2 stops.

4. Focusing - Use manual focus because sometimes when shooting in extreme lighting conditions some cameras can have trouble focusing. Therefore switching to manual focus to ensure you get nice crisp shots.

5. Composition - Positioning the horizon away from the center of your photo can bring more life to your sunset photos. Instead, keep it near the bottom of the shot to dramatically highlight the sky. In combination with this, leaving some foreground in the shot, such as a person, building or a tree, will give greater interest and give you a great opportunity to work on silhouette photographs.

6. White Balance – Turn off the Auto White balance mode because when you set your camera to ‘Auto’ in it’s white balance mode you run the risk of losing some of the warm golden tones of a sunrise or sunset. Instead try shooting in ‘cloudy’ or ’shade’ to get more warm which sunset suppose to be.

WARNING !!!

No matter what, DO NOT look directly at the sun! Not with your bear bare eyes, and not through the eyepiece, it can cause irreversible damage to your eyes.