Common user issues
COMMON USER ISSUES DATABASE
I frequently get questions from users of this panel, but also from users of the Artisan Pro panel when things aren't working for them, the way they hoped. Often it is just a matter of reading the manual or following the video instructions closely. Having said that, it just takes a few tips or examples from my side to help them on the right track.
This page is a collection of some cases I find interesting. If you have something you think would be nice to have answered here: send me an email.
Always keep in mind: Masking starts in the field! Yes, even B&W post-processing starts in the field by envisioning it in the field how the end result should look like. It doesn't start with a piece of magic software or end with it. A holistic approach to photography is the real magic.
USER CASE 1 - BIRD IMAGE AND MURANO BRIDGE SUBMITTED BY HARALD BIEBEL
"Bird image - generated masks cannot be used"
Harald Biebel: "Yesterday I bought the new Quick Mask Pro 2022 panel and I’m happy using it. Unfortunately following the steps in the introduction video with the bird and working on the attached similar picture I shot did not deliver any usable results.
If you find time, please have a look at the attached file and let me know if this is suitable at all for work with the panel.
I suspect the contrast between darks and lights surrounding the bird are not strong enough… what do you think?"
"Masks for antennas?"
Additional comments by Harald Biebel: Hi Joel, the first one is the picture I was referring to yesterday. I think it is not correctly exposed for QMP. Correct? The second one has antennas in the top right part against the sky. Do you think the wires that attach the large antenna could be masked with QMP, or is there not enough contrast? Thanks for your good work and also your great support! Harald
Response Joel Tjintjelaar
Murano Bridge Sky mask
Masks > Sky Masks > Default followed by Enhance Black + Enhance white.
Murano Bridge mask
Manual Object detect (after indicating with PS Object detect) > Sky behind subject > Partial Blending on for soft blending edges where bridge is adjacent to buildings/background > Low Mid preset. Followed up by Advanced Refine > Low Key (adjacent zone of Low Mid). Few adjustments to make the lampposts more visible.
Bird mask
Manual Object Detect > No Sky Behind Subject > Tight Range (there are almost no feathers 'sticking out' the animal) > Low Key. Selected generated mask 2. Followed by Advanced Refinement in a different way: the parts where the bird is lighter than its background can only be adjusted if the channel is inverted first - remember Light on Dark subject is usually an exception, in those cases the channel needs to be inverted first before adjusting with Advanced Refine.
Joel Tjintjelaar: First Murano - It was easy to mask the sky - also some antenna details were quite easy to mask but of course, you can’t have it very detailed as the contrast there’s a bit too low. But that the antennas couldn’t be masked so well is actually a good thing. You don’t need to have full control over it. But they should have softer edges, as they’re very small and blend in better with the rest. Else they look like they were superimposed. With some more adjustments with the panel (hit the +black or +white buttons on top of the panel > they are advanced mask in mask corrections) they can even be sharper, but I wouldn’t recommend it. I could also mask just the bridge separately with all the details.
See the attachment of Murano.
Bird: the problem here is that there’s too many varying contrasts. I’ve mentioned that in some of my webinars and also the Advanced Masking video that this will always make it difficult. Not enough contrast or too many varying contrasts will make a mask sometimes impossible and sometimes more challenging. If you look at the photo you will see that then the bird is lighter than its background and then darker, etc. But see attachment, that’s what I could do quickly.
I chose Manual object detect after quickly selecting the bird (you can also choose Auto Subject detect with same results) > No sky behind subject > Low Key with tight range (there’s almost no long feathers and other translucent details).
Then I took the 2nd mask and did some advanced refinements. For the area where the Bird is lighter than its background, I’ve explained in the manual and also short video you need to invert the channel first if that’s the case and you want to refine it. So I did so for correcting that part of the bird. I chose advanced refinements > High Key > invert channel > a few adjustments with subtle black and white for that area only.
Then for the areas where the bird is darker than its background, you have to use the normal channel (not inverted). And then do the same.
See attachment after a few minutes of masking with the panel. It could be better if I spent more time and it could’ve been a few seconds if the contrasts weren’t all over the place.