Doc Russ' Magic Seven Step Elixer for Image Processing
Step 7. Save the results and create a report.Strictly speaking, this isn't the final step in the sequence because it requires something to be done before starting the process and throughout the steps above.
Step 7a. First, use the Photoshop Preferences dialog to save the history, as shown in the figure. This will preserve the record in the image file itself, as well as producing a readable text file listing the various steps taken. This is useful for reviewing what you have done, and essential if the image will be used in court. It is often a wise choice to turn this on only after experimenting with various possible operations, to produce a clean record of a sequence that matches the set of layers in Step 7b, and which corresponds to the final version of the image that is saved.
Tech details: Saving the Metadata to the image file allows the log to be read by anyone who is subsequently given a copy of the image file. Consequently, this should only be done for the final sequence of operations. The text file, however, is a good way to temporarily record the steps that are attempted while trying to find the best set of functions.
Step 7b. Each step in processing the image should be preserved by keeping the result in a separate layer. Before applying each operation, use the Layer > Duplicate Layer function to copy the current image to a new layer on top of the previous one. It is then possible to show the entire sequence of processing operations by simply turning on the visibility of a layer, and to vary the layer opacity to show that the enhancement reveals details that were actually present before the processing, but less visually evident. It is also useful to name each layer with the operation applied to it, including any value settings.
Tech details: The primary advantage of preserving the processing steps in a set of layers, beyond simple documentation, is their use in presentation. Clicking from one layer to the next, or gradually varying opacity to show the important details emerging from the previous step, alleviates many concerns about whether the processing has added any information to the image. It is even possible to use Photoshop to export the set of layers to a Quicktime movie file for presentation.
Step 7c. If ClearID is installed and has been used to perform the various functions, selecting the ClearID > Create Verification Report function will produce an html file listing the various operations with their settings. ClearID also automatically produces the set of layers corresponding to each step.
The Seven Steps:
- Back to course listing
- Back to the beginning
- Step 0. Average multiple frames.
- Step 1. Adjust the colors.
- Step 2. Remove or reduce artifacts.
- Step 3. Remove or reduce noise.
- Step 4. Remove or reduce blur.
- Step 5. Maximize image contrast.
- Step 6. Enhance sharpness and detail.
- Step 7. Save results and document.