I think our view of layers must be much different perhaps colored by out
different types of photography. Your comments about LR being able to
undo adjustments is also available in PhotoShop independent of layers.
The importance of layers is in being able to blend one or more layers
together under masks or opacity controls or numerous other methods.
A simple use for a portrait of a woman
Layer 1 - original image
Layer 2 - global changes... exposure, color balance
Layer 3 - major skin retouching if desired... zits, cuts, etc.
Layer 4 - sharpening of whole layer but with final intent being only
to affect eyes, lips, brows, jewelry, etc.
Layer 5 - lightly blur entire layer to remove sharpening from all
Layer 6 - under mask, paint over eyes, lips, brows, etc to reveal
sharpening on layer beneath.
Finally, flatten all for final image.
A very recent example of a more complex use of layers for a portrait of
a 22 member family group ranging in age from 1 to 70+. I won't describe
the details of each layer but simply say that I had about 20 images of
20 members of the group (as a group) and 3 images of the other two
members of the group as their own group. The family group photo had
been scheduled for 11:00am but one couple had to leave early to catch a
plane. Because they couldn't be there they were photographed
separately... in the same place and from (approximately) the same camera
position that was planned for the larger group and using the same
fill-flash lighting.
Shooting a large family group with small children with everyone looking
at the camera is like herding cats. I first built a tiny spreadsheet
where I classified each person on each image as being acceptable for use
or not. From that I determined that I could build a composite of the
larger group from only two images. People were aligned in 3 rows. From
the first image the top row of people and a few from the left side of
the middle row were good. The second image provided the right side of
the middle row and the bottom row. Blending these together under masks
produced a modified main group photo. Finally, the photo of the couple
was selected and split into two so husband and wife could be inserted
separately wherever they would fit in the back row. The wife was
inserted at one side where there was a small open space which allowed
most of her body to be at least partially shown. The husband's head and
shoulders were inserted in the back row between his brothers-in-law.
Once they were inserted it was apparent that a small exposure adjustment
was necessary for them due to the change in sun between 11:00 and noon.
Masks were used to fit everything together along with a little bit of
touching up here and there people had moved slightly between shots.
Amazingly the kids were not the main problem. The main problem was
grandma who was holding the 1 year old and was most often looking at the
baby rather than the camera.
Anyhow, that's a use of layers that you wouldn't likely encounter doing
landscapes. I did this photo a couple weeks ago. The family hasn't
seen the prints yet but should see it tomorrow. If they agree I'll post
the image on Zone-10.
Chuck Norcutt (cat herder)
On 6/20/2014 6:39 AM, Bob Whitmire wrote:
It’s true that LR doesn’t do layers, but layers are kind of an
anachronism. LR allows individual adjustments that are infinitely
re-doable, in any sequence. You don’t like your curves, do them
again. It’s not a separate layer, but it doesn’t have to be because
you can ratchet it back to where you started and do it over again. I
know there are some uses for layers that LR won’t cover, and a trip
to Photoshop is in order. But not as often as it used to be. At least
not for me.
--Bob Whitmire Certified Neanderthal
On Jun 19, 2014, at 6:19 PM, Chuck Norcutt
<chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
PS Elements also does layers but Lightroom does not (without a 3rd
party add-on).
--
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