Photoshop CS5 and HDR Toning

The most significant new feature for me in Photoshop CS5 is the new HDR capabilities including HDR Toning. It is easily my favorite feature in CS5 and has the potential to open up whole new realms of more luminous and realistic photo aesthetics.

Although similar in intent to the often over-used Shadows/Highlights Editor, HDR Toning's effects are much more controllable for me and less prone to the obvious masking effects. Over use into the special effect realm is certainly possible and often probable, but with restraint, this new feature allows for a realism in open shadows and luminosity that can make a significant contribution to photographic veracity.

Specifically, dynamic range in a photograph is often rendered with undue darkness in the shadows and a tendency for near wiping-out of highlights when made bright enough to give a sense of light-filled luminosity to the image. With careful and restrained use of the HDR Toning Adjustment you can work both ends of the tonal range to carefully open up shadows to a more natural human vision state and bring brighter values up without driving them to pure and undetailed whites.

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Photogaphy Workshops

Interested in learning more? Perhaps one of our digital photography classes would be of help? We take the imparting of information and the empowerment of our students quite seriously. The digital age has considerably enhanced our ability to teach, and we believe your ability to capture what you see. This program is designed to help you benefit from both of these advances. We hope you can join us on a workshop.

Next Workshops:

Color Management in a Day
March 5, 2011

Photography Critique Session
March 10, 2011

Highway One San Mateo Coast
March 12-13, 2011

Joshua Tree National Park
April 2-4, 2011

Guangxi China
April 11-23, 2011

San Francisco Digitally
June 4-5, 2011

Photoshop Straight and True
June 11-12, 2011

RAW to Print: Summer Digital Bootcamp
July 11-15, 2011

The Fine Art Print
July 18-22, 2011

For a full list of current workshops, click here.

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