Wacom - Weekly Hints and Tips

[Julia]

Re: Wacom - Weekly Hints and Tips

How to assign the Intuos4 ExpressKeys for development

For use of the Develop module, you can configure your Intuos4 ExpressKeys so you can activate the settings directly in the "Basic Panel" :
"." key = toggles continuously through the basic functions, such as Temp, Tint, Exposure, Recovery, etc.
"+" key = increases the value of the basic function by five units, or by increments of 0.10 in the Exposure function
"-" key = reduces the value of the basic function by five units, or by increments of 0.10 in the Exposure function

In this way, you can gradually adjust key image parameters very quickly and accurately using the ExpressKeys.

[Julia]

Re: Wacom - Weekly Hints and Tips

How to make a Virtual Copy in the Intuos4 radial menu
The Virtual Copy function can be used to make a copy of the current edited version of an image, which you can then edit simultaneously and independently of the original, e.g. you can convert it to a black and white image. The edited version of the original is the basis, i.e. a Virtual Copy that has just been created has no Image history.

To ensure that you always have this function ready to hand, you can assign the shortcut CTRL+' (Windows) or z+’ (MacOS) in the Intuos4 radial menu.
To do this, first configure the shortcuts in the "Wacom Tablet Properties" (Windows) or "System Preferences > Wacom Tablet" (MacOS). In the Tool line select the Functions icon and then the Radial Menu tab.

In the bottom half of the menu there appears an image of the radial menu in which you can now select an available control slice (e.g. in the 7 o'clock position). Select the property Shortcuts on the right-hand side under Function. Now enter the shortcut CTRL+’ or z+’ and then label this combination "Virtual Copy". When you have finished, the "Virtual Copy" function appears in the control slice at 7 o'clock.

In this way, the function is very easy and quick to use: press the ExpressKey for the radial menu once, then select the control slice with the Intuos4 pen – that's it!



The Intuos4 Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 bundle: a killer combination

[Julia]

Re: Wacom - Weekly Hints and Tips

How to assign export functions as a submenu in the Intuos4 radial menu

[Julia]

Re: Wacom - Weekly Hints and Tips

Dodge and Burn

Even if you might get the initial impression that Adobe Lightroom is primarily an image editing application with limited correction features, you can use it to make highly sophisticated modifications. Using the Adjustment Brush, for example, you can achieve similar effects to those you get using layers and masks in Adobe Photoshop.

For instance, you can make a conventional 16-bit RAW image look like an HDR image by skilful use of the Exposure function.

First of all, select the Adjustment Brush and set the parameter for Exposure to a value of -1.45. Then apply the brush to the windows shown in the example in order to burn the concealed details. For more exact editing, you can adapt the brush size using the Touch Ring, while you control the intensity of the burn tool by the pressure you apply to the Intuos4 pen.

Then select the Adjustment Brush again and set the parameter for Exposure to +1.75. Now you can brighten objects in deep shadow, such as the chairs shown in the example. Zoom the image to 1:1 or 2:1 aspect ratio to make sure you don't apply the brush to image areas you have already burned.

After you have finished dodging the image with the Adjustment Brush, you can fine-adjust the overall brightness using the controls for Recovery and Fill Light in the Basic Panel.

And that's it - the image is finished. By skilled editing, you have created an HDR effect.

[Julia]

Re: Wacom - Weekly Hints and Tips

How to assign Mask Overlay to the Intuos4 pen

The Adjustment Brush in Adobe Lightroom basically works like an alpha mask in Adobe Photoshop and, just like in Adobe Photoshop, you can display this mask as a red overlay. This feature is called Mask Overlay in Adobe Lightroom and can be activated and deactivated with the "O" key.

It is recommended, therefore, that you assign the "O" key to the top side switch on the Intuos4 pen and the eraser to the "ALT" (Windows) key or "U" key (MacOS).

When you select the Adjustment Brush and start editing the image, you can hide or show the mask by pushing the top side switch on the pen. Like in Adobe Photoshop, the mask is displayed as a red overlay. This shows you exactly where you have already done editing. If you push the top side switch on the pen again, the red overlay will disappear, and you can check the results of your editing.

If you want to delete sections of the mask, just turn the Intuos4 upside down and use the tip as an eraser to reduce or delete the areas of the mask where you want less effect or none at all. These pen/eraser assignments enable you to use Adobe Lightroom more effectively and with greater precision, and in many cases will eliminate the need for post editing in Adobe Photoshop.