Tutorials/Articles/Other Writing
I have a goal of writing more about the things I love. For this website, that would be photography, the desert Southwest, and Photoshop. Like for many people, writing doesn't come easy for me, but the desire to share what I know with others motivates me to try.
So far I've completed several tutorials. The links below will take you to the them. There is a banner at the top of each page, like the one on this page, that will allow you to navigate the rest of this site. If you leave the tutorial and wish to return, use the "Back" button on your browser or return to the "Home" page and click on the link for "tutorials".
Thanks for stopping by. (NOTE: Copies of the tutorials in PDF format and Photoshop action sets to do many of the steps described in the tutorials are available for a nominal fee on the Special Offers page. Updates for Photoshop CS6 were recently added.)
Resources--below are links to videos watched that describe how other photographers have incorporated the tutorial techniques into their workflow. They provide detailed visual instruction on the basic concepts and go on to show how quickly and creatively these methods can be applied when developing images in Photoshop.
Sean Bagshaw
Chip Phillips
Michael Brietung
Feedback--I occasionally receive email about on the Photoshop actions and tutorials available here and, with the sender's permission, have posted some of it below.
- "Your tutorials have been incredibly helpful in so many ways! While the actions have been helpful and are a tremendous timesaver, the tutorials have helped me also in thinking about light and tone when composing and then processing an image. Your concepts were a real turning point for me, actually, so thank you for that!" Sarah Marino (Personal note: Sarah only started photography a few years ago. You'll be amazed at what she has taught herself in a relatively short amount of time.)
- "Much of my workflow is based on your actions. You have revolutionized post-processing!!" Miles Morgan (Personal note: Miles Morgan's photographs show what a good eye in the field and in Photoshop can bring to Nature photography. Strong comps are complemented by thoughtful development to yield some exquisite images.)
- "Well, I finally decided to purchase your actions. I played for probably an hour and all I can say is “WOW! WOW!” I have been using my own manual selection methods in Photoshop while developing images and, although time-consuming, I am pretty confident with my techniques and I am generally happy with my results. These actions, however, completely blow me away! They are at least 10 times more efficient than my labor-intensive manual methods, and the results are better! I should have tried them a long time ago! And that is only my initial reaction. Thank you very much for developing such a great method and product. They are truly transformative." Yiming Hu (Personal note: Yiming Hu's photography is the perfect symbiosis of passion and skill. The light in his images is simply incredible, and the development perfectly brings out the qualities of the scene that will invite you to linger and enjoy.)
- "I purchased your tutorials on the 6th October and started using them about a week later. I have posted 13 images to Flickr since starting to use the tools in your tutorials and of those, 11 have made it into Explore, with eight making it onto the front page. The response of people to the images has blown me away. In one week I have doubled the number of views my account has seen compared to the last 12 months, and I have had heaps of feedback and encouragement. The use of luminosity masks for tonal control to assist with selective adjustments is enormously powerful and has proven easy for me even though I'm a relative novice. I use Lee filters almost always when using my camera and attempt to get as much as possible right in the image to start with, but your tools are incredibly powerful to help me achieve the final result that I had envisaged at the start. After using your tutorials I looked further and purchased another set from Sean Bagshaw which has also been very helpful and insightful for me in coming to terms with the power of CS6. I am blown away by how useful and effective the luminosity masks are and how good they are for use during dodging and burning. This has really expanded my toolbox for managing light in my images. I am very pleased." Nick Twyford (Personal note: Nick Twyford has some lovely seascapes in his Flickr photostream. The perfectly balanced light he has brought to these images makes you want to linger and enjoy the beauty he has captured and created.)
- "I just finished watching Sean Bagshaw’s Complete Guide to Luminosity Masks . When you couple his videos with your tutorials and custom actions panel you have one of the finest tutorial series around." Dan Charnitsky (Personal note: In my interactions with Dan I have found him to be extremely enthusiastic about photography with a genuine love for light and image creation. His images remind me that the world is a wonderful place to explore with a camera.)
- "I have been using most of your actions for about a year, and I must say they are great. I have gone back through a lot of my older images and have adjusted them with your actions....WOW!.....and I even saved several that I thought were DOA. I think most photographers will admit to buying or trying program after program only to feel let down, but your actions really deliver! The best money I have spent in a long time. Keep up the great work." Michael Kish (Personal note: Michael Kish's portfolios epitomize the very best in nature photography--thoughtful and unique compositions in just the right light and pixel-perfect presentation in the final images. He excels at finding images in the field and then again at bringing out the best light when processing the digital files.)
- "I read the Triple Play tutorial, downloaded the actions, and put them to use on some image files this afternoon and have to say these are the most powerful and innovative techniques for image enhancement that I have ever seen. These will be important tools in my creative toolbox! I use your lum masks a lot and the Triple Play is the next big step in their evolution." Daniel Anderson (Personal note: Dan's a friend whose work always impresses me. His eye for both composition and processing combine to create a very unique and personal style of photography.)
- "Your tutorials and actions are fantastic even though I am just scratching the surface of what I can do with them. I definitely have recommended your website to others as it is a small price to pay for such an excellent set of tools. Many thanks for sharing your knowledge and hard work." Hilary Hann (Personal note: Hilary's website shows just how flexible light can be in the hands of an artist. Her painterly photographs are in a class of their own.)
- "Your actions are so great I would tell you to raise the amount of the suggested donation. I have been meaning to email you about how good the actions are and how much they have improved my work. Using the Lum and Sat actions have helped me reach a level in my work that I was getting frustrated trying to attain. I am a believer!" Albert Horner (Personal note: Albert Horner's portfolio is a study of quiet, beautiful light. There is a real sense of peace and tranquility in the water, trees, and sky that are his primary subjects.)
- "Tony, thanks for replacing my stone axe with such a fine set of scalpels. You have advanced digital image-making for the fine art photographer by a full order of magnitude." David Kachel (Personal note: David Kachel is a former contributing editor to a former photography journal known as Darkroom & Creative Camera Techniques. I literally cut my photographic teeth reading this magazine in the 1980s and owe much of my interest in advancing Photoshop techniques to David and the other writers of this publication who graciously shared their knowledge with me and other photographers. It's sometimes hard to know all the influential people that helped get us to where we are today until they suddenly reappear and say, "Remember me?" I am well aware that everything is connected in the most surprising of ways, and very much appreciate the reminders of where I came from when they come along.)
- "Your actions are transforming the world of landscape photography! The saturation and luminosity masks have become critical steps in my processing." Michael Anderson (Personal note: Michael Anderson's portfolio shows some of the finest nature photographs ever made. He has a way with light like no one I know.)
- "The new custom actions panel shaved time off of my processing and web file creation as soon as I downloaded and installed it. Rather than hunting for the action set and then the needed action, a quick glance over the panel, a click of the button, and I am on my way. I always appreciate improvements like this and feel a sense of liberation when they come into play." Adrian Klein (Personal note: Adrian Klein's photos embody that wonderful symbiosis of in-the-field composition and in-the-computer development that creates the best image possible. He's mastered the essential tools for digital photography and has a busy workshop schedule to share his skills with others.)
- "I want to take this opportunity to thank you for putting together one of the best and most useful tutorials I've ever read and used. The time it saves me and the level of control and flexibility it has afforded me in post-processing has been incredible. I refer new photographers to your tutorials whenever I can. Thanks again and keep up the great work!" Tuan Le (Personal note: Tuan's images have that wonderful balance of light that characterizes a well made image.)
- "I am a huge fan of your actions and tutorials. They have transformed my workflow significantly. Their insightfulness streamlined my Photoshop work and helped me achieve a turning point in my photo editing. Prior to learning these techniques, I was often yearning for more from my photos. These really helped me round the corner." Brian Donovan (Personal note: Lots of well-seen, well-crafted images on Brian Donvan's website. He obviously puts a lot of care and thoughtfulness into his images.)
- "I want to thank you, Tony, for making these tutorials and actions available. I know I still have much to learn in PS, but your explanations are really helping me see the light (pun intended) and to become more proficient with PS. Your documentation is easy to follow and I am a having fun learning and trying new things. While I have been doing photography as a hobby for probably 35 years, it is only in the past 3 years that I have become serious with digital. I never really used layers or masks in PS, so this is all new to me. Your tutorials are extremely helpful and have opened my eyes to the digital darkroom." Eva McDermott (Personal note: Eva McDermott has images from many different parts of the country on her website, but her Midcoast Maine and Inverness Nova Scotia portfolios show the advantage of getting to know a place well.)
- "I have sampled a fairly broad range of the learning materials out there and I can say that what you offer is worth much more than you charge, and, with some effort on the part of the learner, your tutorials provide what I might term a graduate level course on using Photoshop. I cannot think of a better or more powerful set of tools to leverage what Photoshop can do than your actions."--Mike Babiak via personal correspondence 15 February 2012.
- "I wanted to thank you for the tutorials/actions that you have set up. Your actions and instructions on how to use them has taken my processing to another level, a level that I feel I wouldn't have been able to reach if it wasn't for your writing and techniques. Your work is greatly appreciated." David Thompson (Personal note: I really like the color, light, and texture David brings to his images. There is a sense of fine craftsmanship both in the compositions and in the processing.)
- "I must say that even though I created and used my own luminosity masks before I learned about yours, the money I spent on your actions has been possibly the most ridiculously good deal I’ve come across in terms of photo editing software and time-savings ever. Thanks you so much for making this all available." Geoff Schmid (Personal note: The drama and sheer beauty of Geoff's online portfolio speaks to a great love of both Nature and creative expression. Photography is meant for a spirit like his.)
- "Thank you for all of you detailed work with the luminosity masks. I am an "old school" darkroom worker who has made the switch to digital. I really love the control your method provides. I have tried various software packages but they don't give me the level of control I desire. Now that I have started to understand the concept behind the methodology, I am not sure how I ever managed to control my images before. The level of precision these tools give me is of the highest order and I am looking forward to exploring not only a new photographic path, but also to rediscovering some images that I just couldn't get right with my old techniques the first time around. Ultimately, all of your tutorials and actions for $25 was a bargain and after working my way through the luminosity masks tutorial, I felt I had to give you something for your efforts, which have made me a better photographer. Least I could do!" Paul Simon Wheeler (Personal note: There is a nice radiance to Paul Wheeler's work that you don't normally see in black and white images. His mid-tone grays are full of texture and as a consequence they have an interesting glow about them. It's not necessarily easy to develop a personal style with black and white images, but Paul has done so successfully.)
- "I recently purchased your complete set of tutorials and actions. They have completely changed the way I process my images. I have many archived images that I will likely go back and rework. I am so glad that I tried your techniques. Thank you!" Chris Ross
- "I downloaded your luminosity masks a while back but then didn't use them for lack of time. I stumbled upon them again recently while looking for a good blending method for HDR style images where I take a normal and an underexposed shot for the sky. I'm hoping that I will be able to dump grads for most work and get better results to boot. So far your method is working beautifully and far better than any other method that I have found." Jeff Grant (Personal note: If you want to see what solid comps and light look like in nature photography, Jeff's site is a good place to start. I really like the balanced light he is able to achieve in his images.)
- "You are making a wonderful contribution to the digital editing community. I have used many of your actions, but my favorite is the "Cloud Sharpener" -- it works wonderfully on clouds, snow, and moving water – especially ocean-scapes." Alvin Kroon
- "I still have a lot to learn about the luminosity masks but clearly there is a lot of potential to be had. I’ll have to dig through my archives for some difficult images to see if I can breathe new life into them." Richard Wong's "In the Field" blog (Personal note: Richard Wong's website has a wonderfully eclectic mix of images that celebrates the joy and diversity of the medium.)
- "Wow…I’m ecstatic about the added control and creativity your masking techniques give me. I applied your luminosity and saturation actions to a fall color image that I have been struggling with for a couple months and it finally came to life in an authentic way. The tools I normally use in PS, LR, and tone mapping do not give me the subtle control of color and luminosity that I achieved using your masking techniques. The painting actions for luminosity and saturation are especially wonderful for local control and achieving balance in the image. I also worked on a B&W (RGB) image with your actions and love the creative possibilities with luminosity and tone to make the image pop. Thank you for sharing your excellent tutorials and actions." Charles Hallsted (Personal note: Chuck Hallsted has a unique eye for composition and the ability to processes images to perfection. His meticulous attention to detail in all parts of his work creates some truly lovely images.)
- "I have attached a few recent images I have applied your luminosity masks to and I am so happy with the results. These masks have completely transformed the way I work. I can't thank you enough!" Craig Spittles
- "One of the most powerful techniques and post-processing procedures Tony has shared with the community is luminosity masks. These masks give you the power to apply an adjustment so selectively and naturally that you will never look back again." From Kostas Petrakis' landscape photography blog.
- "I recently finished going through your tutorials and using my photos as practice. This was quite a learning experience and has improved my workflow tremendously. The tutorials are first rate, clearly written, and very understandable. I no longer spend time creating “hard edge” masks. The luminosity masks are the building blocks for a more efficient process and have greatly improved the quality of my master files. I have found the advanced Photoshop actions for Luminosity Painting, Saturation Masks, Smart Glow, and "masking-the-mask" to be particularly powerful and very useful. Thanks so much for creating and sharing this informative set of tutorials and powerful set of actions." Charles Zabilski
- "I just thought of you now as I am printing. I donated for your actions a few months back and I am really glad I did. That extra bit of control over my images is just what I needed." Wesley Law (Personal note: Wesley Law just put up his website in June 2010 and it's definitely worth a visit.)
- "I donated for your Adobe actions a week and a half ago and wanted to give them a good workout before I passed judgment. Wow! I've been using Photoshop daily at work since version 2.5 and thought I knew the program very well. Wrong! After having used the actions many times the past week, I am amazed at the tonal control that that is possible through the actions. No more or at least much less lassoing, feathering, and using curves. This is like using curves and feathered selections on steroids. I cannot overemphasize how useful these actions are to my image processing. Well worth the money." Dan Jurak
- "Tony, I can't thank you enough for your tutorials and actions. Learning and becoming proficient with Photoshop is a long and continuous process and I have progressed a lot further and faster from reading your tutorials and trying to understand how the actions work than I would have otherwise. The Luminosity and Saturation masks are a part of my standard workflow now when processing my scanned 4x5 images and I can't imagine a more efficient way to make the kinds of adjustments that most images need. All of the other actions are simply part of my toolbox now and get pulled out when an image and situation calls for. I recommend these actions to all those who may be interested in my workflow. Thanks, Tony!" Lon Overacker (Personal note: Lon Overacker has an exceptional eye for landscape images, especially intimate compositions, and his portfolio is must see for anyone interested in nature photography.)
- "I bought your full TK actions set back in December and haven't looked back since. I honestly don't know how I managed without them. Once I got the hang of them, they became very intuitive to use. They constantly give amazing, realistic results with an incredible amount of control. I'm very grateful to you for providing of these techniques for such a minimal expense considering the massive effect they've had on my image-making." Colin Croke (Personal note: Colin's images show how good photographers can find good light anywhere they go.)
- "Thanks Tony for creating such a wonderful tool. It really will help me with a lot of images...in fact, I consider it a big revolution in terms of my future approach to digital post-processing...especially slides scanned from my 617 format." Rafael Rojas (Personal note: The images in Rafael's portfolios, in addition to being well-composed, also show a balance of light, color, and contrast that is the hallmark of someone skilled in the art of creating beautiful images using digital techniques. His images look perfect on many different levels.)
- "I actually use luminosity painting with almost every photo I process, but it wasn't until recently that I decided I should start mentioning it. Normally, with the pictures I post on NPN, I only include the field specs, nothing about processing. But, like you said, folks should really give luminosity painting a try. It is one of the few techniques that I can truly say has made a significant, positive impact on the quality of my work. I discovered it through other photographers including post-processing info on their NPN posts, so I figured it was time I returned the favor :)". From an email exchange with Joel Hazelton (Personal note: Joel Hazelton is a very talented photographer whose Arizona images demonstrate a unique, personal vision of the desert landscape. His website might remind you of Arizona Highways magazine . . . only better.)
- "Just a note of appreciation: I spend a lot of time using your luminosity masking tools, and I spend a lot of time investigating other mask-building techniques to see if they are useful to me. Besides what I knew before using your tools, I have found nothing worth adding to my standard repertoire. I use your tools all the time." Eric Vogel
- "For years I have been using the dodge and burn layer, but it was always difficult to target just what I needed. I have been using masks with curves to make adjustments as well, but in making the mask, it was again difficult to get just the right tones. So when you so graciously introduced all of us to the luminosity masks and the offshoots, it was like the choir started singing and the lights went on. Now I am more confident than ever in instructing workshop attendees on the power and usefulness of masks in processing photographs digitally. Again, Tony, thanks so much." Youssef Ismail (Personal note: Youssef Ismail's photos not only shows an incredible command of the light, but he also has a very active blog and workshop schedule that shares his considerable knowledge with others.)
- "I just wanted to say thank you for your excellent service, far above and beyond any call of duty. I regularly use the masks you provided and think they are just superb. To be given a free update like this is just plain great" Joe Rainbow
- "When I started learning Photoshop for post-processing images I was bit confused with so many tutorials available on the Internet. However, when I found your extremely well documented set of tutorials and revolutionary way of doing post-processing in very natural way, I knew I was on to the right thing. I would like thank you very much for sharing this. Luminosity and saturation masks are now an integral part of my work flow." Avishek Roy (Personal note: I've had the pleasure of watching Avishek Roy's photography develop and mature in a photo forum where I participate. His new website is a real treat. Go there, visit the portfolios, click the "PLAY SLIDESHOW" button, and enjoy.)
- "Your tutorials have been helping me for quite some time now and I'm very pleased with the quality I can achieve using your methods. It has saved me both time and money. If you ever need samples from people who have downloaded and worked with your methods I would be more than glad to send you a couple of pictures to use to that end." Emmanuel Coupe
- "Of course, you have ruined my perfectly efficient Lightroom workflow because most of the mages I send out of LR over to PS for editing are those on which I want to use your luminosity actions. But sometimes a secret weapon like your masks justifies a little hit to workflow efficiency." Stan Robins
- "Your articles have re-sparked my interest in some things that I have been doing by hand and through calculations using many different types of channels from different color spaces. To be able to dodge and burn while a mask selection is in place is just great and makes so much sense. I cannot wait to start the creative process again with a fresh outlook. However, I don't know whether to thank you or curse you as I'm a perfectionist and have a feeling that I'm going to rework a lot older images. Seriously, I do want to thank you for writing such a comprehensive approach to masking." Jacob Getz
- "When I got your recent email it jogged my memory about the "Magic Mid-tones" tutorial and I went back to review things. Well my life just changed. Now I want to re-edit every photo I have done in the past 3 months. I just wanted to let you know that you have single-handedly improved my final images YET AGAIN. Other than stitching, my PS process is completely TK. Honestly, how do you come up with this stuff?" Mitch Fowler (Personal note: Mitch Fowler has an eclectic mix of images on his website, and his mountain light images are some of the best you'll ever see. He has scenes of weather conditions that no one else has photographed and the images are all wonderfully composed and crafted.)
- "I thought I was pretty efficient with Photoshop but for some time now I have looked at my work and thought there was something missing. Having spent time watching the videos and experimenting with some of my images, I realise it is the subtle and dramatic (if one can use those two words in the same sentence) changes your luminosity masks can make. I am torn now between thanking you for the incredible learning path you have started me down . . . or sending you hate mail for the other path of revisiting most of my images to improve them. I think the thanks would be appropriate. I am not in the habit of using too many "Amercanisms" but these masks are totally awesome." Barrie Tumbridge
- "I really LOVE your actions and your PDF tutorials! I like that it isn't just about pressing a button but rather about understanding WHY you press the action button and then about WHAT you are going to do with it once you do. It's helped me to understand much more about light and tonality than I've ever known before. I appreciate your desire to share your knowledge with others." Kristin Westlake
- "I thought I was pretty efficient with Photoshop but for some time now I have looked at my work and thought there was something missing. Having spent time watching the videos and experimenting with some of my images, I realise it is the subtle and dramatic (if one can use those two words in the same sentence) changes your luminosity masks can make. I am torn now between thanking you for the incredible learning path you have started me down . . . or sending you hate mail for the other path of revisiting most of my images to improve them. I think the thanks would be appropriate. I am not in the habit of using too many "Amercanisms" but these masks are totally awesome." Barrie Tumbridge
- "I have spent some time this summer learning to use your Triple Play Actions and found them to be very helpful; I used Triple Play on many (but not all) of the images in the Southwest Beauty group. I think these Actions are incredible and have told several photographers about them and given them the link to your web site. Thanks for all the work you do and the time you spend creating these wonderful tools!" Shirley Antes
- "I have studied your tutorials and find them very beneficial indeed. I am a big fan of masking as it is so organic, as you know. Also, I feel I have more control with these techniques compared to plug-ins, which I use at times, but often find erratic. So I am very much appreciative of your shared knowledge and look forward to any future releases." Mark Colliton
- "Your masks and techniques are impressive. They have totally changed the way that I process my images and for the better. I was working with the saturation and vibrance masks last night and they work brilliantly. I found you when I searched "luminosity" on Google and there you were. The more I read the more excited I got because you provide the tools and techniques, and then we get to apply them to our images anyway we like. It's very flexible." Terry Wood
- "What I love about your innovations is the opportunity to improve my own capabilities while simultaneously improving my imagery!" Patrick Flynn
- "I actually just finished reading your new Triple Play tutorial (which is fantastic!) and thought I'd send you a quick email to say thanks. I've worked with Photoshop for many years but it wasn't until I stumbled across your techniques that I discovered the ability to intersect masks. Who knew something so small would open so many possibilities! Also, your tutorial on sharpening for the web extremely useful. Keep up the great work as your techniques have really been a big help in my workflow." Jarrod Castaing (Personal note: The images on Jarrod's website are a working definition of a perfectly crafted image.)
- "I am a 10-year Photoshop-user and digital photographer, and I have to say that I am blown away by the material in your tutorials and the sets of actions. It is a complete revelation for me! I have been looking for this exact set of materials and am so happy that you have presented it at such an incredible value!" Randy Van Winkle
- "I went through all of your tutorials last week, which was a pretty intense learning project. Absolutely amazing! The web sharpening is perfect!" Jay Goodrich
- "I sent $20 for your luminosity masks on
6/6/08. Those actions alone have been worth every penny :)" --Rob Graham via personal correspondence 11 April 2010.
- "I just wanted to say thanks for the Luminosity Masks and Painting tutorials. I never really understood it before, but your tutorials helped me see the light. In just one day it has given me a very powerful post processing tool that I will now use routinely in my workflow! Awesome job! I used your tutorial to create the actions myself and it has totally revolutionized my processing. I figured I should at least donate a bit to credit you for your time. Thank you!" Doug Roane (Personal note: Doug Roane's images display an intense love for nature that is evident in every picture. His work always reminds me just how beautiful this planet can be.)
- "Your tutorials are fantastic. I worked through a few of them online. I have been doing a fair amount of HDR and then blending back the original frames as layers in CS5, but your tutorials are a huge step forward. Very good of you to share these with others. I think your tutorials address a huge need for those of us that want to take our photography to the next level, own PS, and want to get more out of it. They are very easy to follow and duplicate on our end. I can’t say enough positive things about them and I’ve only looked at a couple so far. It might be a late night for me tonight." --Bruce Leander via personal correspondence 24 NOV 2010.
- "I have used your masks in one of my images recently and was seriously blown away by what you have devised. The masks worked better than the circular polariser. Can't thank you enough for setting this all up and it's absolutely incredible that you have shared your skill with the photographic community with such generosity. You certainly are encouraging many to try this route and if I may dare say, there are many occasions where it wouldn't be possible to achieve the end result without your techniques." Debashis Bandyopadhya
- "This is great stuff, Tony. You have opened my eyes to a whole new way of visualizing where I can take my images. I've only been playing around with this for a little bit and I can already see the possibilities." Mike Franzone
- "Thank you for the tutorials download. I spent most of yesterday reading through the Luminosity Masking and Painting tutorials and practicing the techniques. I must say, they are nothing short of fantastic - very well written, easy to understand, and, if you'll excuse the pun, truly enlightening! Thank you for making available such a superb resource!" Devin Finaughty
- "Your article in April's Outdoor Photographer (Cloning Color, Retaining Texture tutorial) was a miracle for me. I am straining to get four master demo prints absolutely perfect and got stuck with some red lens flare in one of them. Sure, no problem, I could just select the areas and desaturate them, or use the sponge brush or whatever, but I was waiting to figure out the better way so that I could fix them and not be at all destructive to the print, and leave no indication of the fix. I read your article tonight and BAM it clicked with me! I rushed into my office to try the fix, which I knew was going to work because I understand a bit about the separation of color and detail (since I work in LAB all the time) and as soon as I tried your tip, it worked perfectly! The technique is now a powerful and indispensable tool in my workflow." Mark Metternich
