[Manipulated image, left, uses pro tricks and Photoshop’s built-in filters to even out flaws in original, right.)

Even though art directors always want images shot on a two-wall cyc, it’s not always that easy. For those difficult shots to make it into print, it’s Photoshop to the rescue.

This image was one of dozens that were all composed properly but lacked, for want of a better word, camera stability. In addition to a shaky shot, the background intruded and the overall lighting was warehouse flourescent. Still the pose worked, the model worked, and the connection between prop and product worked. For anything other than a strict studio setup, these shortcomings are fairly common, though not always in combination.

The left panel reflects numerous changes, some subtle, possible only because of Photoshop’s amazing arsenal of filters. We used smart sharpen, lighting effects, gaussian blur and hue and saturation to drop out the background, highlight the model, pop the product, pump up the contrast and in general whip the image into good enough shape for print repro.

Would we prefer crystal sharp knife-edged images? Yep, but for that occasional deadline 911 we’d be DOA if it weren’t for Photoshop magic. See more on the web site under services>imaging.