Post processing and color treatment.

[lkiller123]

Just going through Flickr and found some really nice colors in these shots.

I've done some post-processing before but was never able to achieve such kind of effect.

What I am looking for in those shots are the cinematic(movie-like) colors, they are just too awesome.

How can I achieve such colors? I use both lightroom and photoshop.


Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/13947614@N06/5405510176/


Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/13947614@N06/5390434117/

[Dainas]

Those are great shots of Sanghai! I love to browse Flickr too for the same reason

[lkiller123]

Yeah unfortunately those are not mine.

Do you know how what to do in post-processing to achieve such effect?

[Hondacity]

i don't have ps

but try this...not sure if this is the effect..

[Metric]

I found that those/similar effects can be achieved by tweaking the color balance adjustment layer (or by simply going to color balance in the menu).
For the cinematic feeling, try to push your highlights towards a warm color (yellow/gold) and shadows to a cooler color (teal/blue/dark purple). Also, pushing the saturation on certain colors (reds or blues) also may help.
Subtly is the key - too much color adjustment overpowers the image in many cases. Personally, I try to get the colors to where they still look natural, but have almost a 'shot on old film' feeling.



Click here to download the .PSD (CS5)

[Dainas]

indeed, this person devoted allot of time to his personal PS tweak though.

[lkiller123]

Thanks everyone so far for the tips.

Metric, how do I work the PSD file?

[Lestat]

indeed, this person devoted allot of time to his personal PS tweak though.

it doesnt take alot of time if you dont want it too.

there are TONS and i mean TONS of Photoshop "Actions" you can download that do everything automatically for you.

Google "photoshop actions" and you will be created with a plethora of free actions that can create some super fantastic effects for your images.

What Metric posted is basically a Fake Cross Processing effect. but it makes it really look neat.

you can also use a very basic program called Photoscape and it has what it calls film effects built into it.
i use that alot along with the Photoshop actions because the actions, though are automatic, are 100% flexible in going back and retouching things.
where photoscape doesnt offer you the chance to change ALOT, but you can do some.

[Mescalamba]

Mix of cross-processing simulation and maybe first one is fake HDR. Cross-processing can be done very easy via Nik Color Efex.



Thats how it can look, but theres like 16 possible cross-processing effects, so one can use what he wants, apply strength or even first simulate some film look and than cross process (in this case it was first simulated Velvia and than used crossprocess).