To view the LucisArt ED/SE User Interface and see an explanation of the controls please click here.
To create the LucisArt 2 effects with lucisArt 3 please click here.
Color Correction: The most frequently used usage tip is this color correction tip. LucisArt works on intensity information. In color images you can see color shifts in patches of the image. There can be gray and orange areas in shadows or some red and blue sections of the image will be brighter. These color shifts can add drama. If you do not like them they are easily removed using layers in Photoshop.
Place the LucisArt image on one layer. Place the original image on the layer above it. On the layer with the original image use blend mode color. This assigns the colors of the original image to the image on the layer below, which is the LucisArt image. Merge these two layers and you are done.
Repair Unflattering Details in Skin Areas: LucisArt brings out image detail throughout the image. Therefore when enhancing detail skin imperfections will also be enhanced. This can easily be repaired four ways:
- Use the Photoshop History Brush (set at about a 10% level) to remove the LucisArt-processing from the skin areas as needed.
- Create a Winslow version of the image where the skin is smoothed, place the LucisArt image that has too much detail in areas on the layer above the Winslow image, use Photoshop erase on areas of the detailed LucisArt image and finally merge the two layers.
- Process the image twice with LucisArt, first with Exposure or Whyeth to enhance image detail and then process the image with Winslow to smooth the image.
- Use Photoshop masking to remove LucisArt processing from parts of the image.
Note: For best results keep about 50% of the image detail in the eyes and mouth so the image looks cohesive after the skin has been smoothed.
Some LucisArt images need both color correction and the removal of unflattering details in the skin areas: However this is very quick and easy to do as shown with a particularly challenging wedding picture. So when processing an image with LucisArt you may have to adjust the color and remove image detail. To give you an idea of the types of unaltered LucisArt effects you will see when enhancing portraits please click here.
Adjust the severity of the LucisArt effect using Mix: Many times creating a beautiful result is achieved by creating an overly dramatic LucisArt image but using Mix to mix in a large percentage of the original image to make the final effect more subtle. In particular the special effects Whyeth, Plaid, and Klimpt are used this way.
Repair image Exposure: In underexposed image the effect Exposure can be used to bring out image detail and fix image exposure. Fixing overexposed images requires a second step. LucisArt will bring out the image details in the bright areas however the image will still be too bright. Therefore you will need to darken the image a little using something like level adjust in Photoshop. Processing the over-exposed image using LucisArt and then darkening the image with level adjust will result in an image with greatly enhanced detail when compared to using level adjust only.
LucisArt works better with images that are slightly underexposed- about a quarter of a stop or less: If you anticipate enhancing an image with LucisArt later create the image by shooting it a little underexposed. Then the LucisArt processing will be more effective.
Go wild – develop your own effects: Applying the LucisArt 3 filters multiple times to an image allows you to create more unique artistic effects. For example by moving the LucisArt 3 SE Winslow slider you can view a variety of possible watercolor images. If instead you first process the image with the lower levels of the LucisArt 3 ED Enhance Detail Slider to crisp image detail, and then bring the enhanced image back into LucisArt 3 SE and move the Winslow slier to look at the possible watercolor images you will see a more painterly look and the value for the Winslow slider can be higher before all the image detail disappears.
Some LucisArt ED/SE combinations photographers like and that you might enjoy experimenting with:
Enhancing Detail followed by Winslow
Winslow followed by Enhancing Detail
Enhancing Detail followed by Sculpture
Sculpture followed by Enhancing Detail
Sculpture followed by Winslow
Click here to view image examples showing the effect of using LucisArt multiple times on one image.
Pre-process an image with LucisArt 3 ED to get a more painterly look using LucisArt 3 SE - Winslow: When processing an image with the Winslow slider frequently you discover that the image loses all detail when the Winslow slider has not been moved very far. You can effectively increase the dynamic range of the Winslow slider and create a more painterly look by first crisping up the image detail first using Exposure. Then bring the detailed image back into LucisArt. Now as you move the Winslow slider you will see that you can move the slider further out before all image detail is lost and the image has a more painterly look.
Experiment: Many people make the mistake of not applying the LucisArt effects strongly enough, especially when using Winslow. As you move the Winslow slider you will see the detail disappear and the image become very dark. But if you keep moving the Winslow slider to the right the image may lighten again and acquire an interesting surrealistic look.
Try processing an image multiple times. During LucisArt processing each pixel is compared to every other pixel along hundreds of radial lines. Then depending on the LucisArt settings chosen these relative intensities are altered- some stretched and some diminished. So LucisArt measures and alters relative intensities, the intensity differences between pixels. Each time your image is enhanced with LucisArt you have a whole new set of contrast differences to measure and manipulate. LucisArt processing is like treating your image like it is made of Play-Doh or modeling clay. LucisArt is fun to use and expands your creativity.
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