Using the 81-Filter

The first filter I want to discuss is the 81-filter. I shall talk about the others later on.

81-Filter

This is a very simple, yet effective filter for portrait-editing.

­Using the filter once-off in Photoshop:

1. Open the image you want to edit in Photoshop.

2. Create a new layer from the Background layer.

3. Select Image/Adjustments/Color Balance.

4. In ‘Tone Balance’, click on ‘Shadows’ and type ‘-7’ in the right hand block. You have now decreased blue with a value of 7 and increased yellow with the same in the shadow areas of your image.

5. Now click on ‘Midtones’ in ‘Tone Balance’ and repeat the above process.

6. Lastly click on ‘Highlights’ in ‘Tone Balance’ and repeat the process again.

7. You have now completed the filter.

Use your Opacity slider in Layers to decrease the intensity of the filter. After you have finished, flatten the image.

The disadvantage is that you have to repeat the process each and every time you want to use the filter. You can build yourself an Action to do al the above with just one click.

Building an Action in Photoshop for the 81-filter:

Go to Actions and firstly create a new set for your filters.

1. Click on ‘Create New Set’ at the bottom of ‘Actions’ and give your set a name, i.e. ‘My Filters.’

2. Click on ‘Create New Action’ at the bottom of ‘Actions’ and give your action a name, i.e. 81-Filter (Make sure that new action is stored in your ‘My Filters’ set).

3. Click on ‘Record’

4. Execute steps 3 to 6 as in ‘Using the filter once-off’ in Photoshop’ above.

5. Click the ‘Stop playing/recording’ button at the bottom of ‘Actions’

6. You have now completed your action.

If you want to use the filter in future, open the image you want to edit, create the new layer as in ‘Using the filter once-off in Photoshop’, select the action, i.e. ’81-filter’ and click on the ‘Play selection’ button at the bottom of ‘Actions.’ After the action is executed, use the Opacity Slider in layers to select the intensity of the filter. After you have finished, flatten the image.

Colour Correction

One of the biggest advantages of digital photography is that you can afford to make certain errors. It can always be corrected on the computer afterwards.

I think one of the most common errors is white balance. You either forget to change the white balance setting on your camera or the camera’s lighting interpretation is not correct – or you may decide you want a certain lighting effect for a specific image.

On-camera filters are available but it is pricy and it means that you must increase the bulk in your camera bag. Some filters, i.e. your UV- and polarising filters are irreplaceable and cannot successfully be simulated in your software.

There are filters that can be successfully simulated via your editing software, i.e. warming and cooling filters. If your image lacks some warmth, an 81- or 85-series filter can be used to add some emotional warmth to the photo. For cooling, the 82- and 80-series filters can be used.

I want to show you how to build these filters with Photoshop Actions and how I use them in practice.