Now In Production
Workflow in Lightroom
Importing to backup, all stages to post-produce and color correct a photographic project. My professional method applied to Lightroom and RAW.
LightroomIntegrating Lightroom and Photoshop
When Lightroom falls short, and we need more tools. Why, when, and especially how, let Lightroom and Photoshop coexists.
PhotoshopColor Correction
Software are just tools. What to do with them, how and why are discipline’s topics. Learning a method is essential for success.
ColorThe Nine Categories
Interior shots retouching opinions
Simplicity, repeatability, and efficiency are the most important factors to choose how to operate in this particular field.
The three worst issues in digital imaging
The three biggest issues at the moment, that I doubt will be solved easily, or soon enough.
Adobe’s 2022 software updates
Preliminary notes about Adobe’s 2022 Photoshop, Camera RAW and Lightroom Classic’s updates, and the direction these apps are taking.
What is art direction, and what is not
We’ll start our explorations with some, good and bad, examples and some definitions.
Mac Studio, Display Studio: opinions
My thoughts about the latest Apple’s hardware line up additions, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Apple Studio Display, preliminary considerations
Few hours untile Apple’s 8 March 2022’s keynote, let’s talk about how to update a system, with special focus on the display.
Are extensions good?
Let’s talk about the wide and rich panorama of extensions for Photoshop and their, supposes, usefulness.
Let’s talk about WebP
Photoshop’s last update made available a new image format, developed to replace JPG, PNG and GIF. A worthy addition, or a useless distraction?
Travel Photographer of the Year, 2021
Some thoughts and ideas about photography and aesthetics, analyzing a popular international contest.
The beginning of the end?
My thoughts about some alarming news from Canon’s DSLR division.
Ocean Art Contest, analysis
A review of the winners of a popular international underwater photography contest.
Specifications VS Implementation
Differences between manufacturers data and the real usability of a tool/system, and why we should always care about the second.
Adobe’s 2021 update
Let’s talk about Adobe’s major releases for 2021, Photoshop, Lightroom Classic and Camera RAW, latest features, improvements and disappointments.
Apple’s new MacBook Pros
Apple’s new laptop, as well as two new CPUs, and a first look of what we can expect next year.
A necessary update!
The latest iPhones and a quick demo for the next website design.
Quantitative analysis
One of two in-depth example to define two distinct kind of analysis, using a very rare case.
Art direction: subject
In the third chapter we’ll talk about the most important element in a photograph.
How to test RAW apps
Further notes about how to test and evaluate unknown RAW development applications.
Art direction: chroma
What, and how much, impact a brief analysis of the chromatic component has on the aesthetic’s decision making.
Audubon Awards, analysis
A brief discussion on a very unusual and interesting photographic contest.
Art direction: structure
We’ll start this journey talking about structure and architecture of a photograph. Reading and analyzing its elements to understand value and issues.
The problem with cinematic look
A frequent question: how to replicate that look, that usually focus too much on the post-production side of things.
Qualities and quantities: color variance
Finally let’s talk about the serious stuff. This is a very subtle, but very effective, quality to know and try on several images.
Consideration on global saturation
Before we move to more interesting qualities, let’s talk about saturation evaluation on a larger scale.
Qualities and quantities: luminance
The last video about color qualities in “isolation”, let’s talk about the worst tool we have in CameraRAW and Lightroom.
Qualities and quantities: hue
We’ll analyze and evaluate the practical and conceptual differences between modifying saturation and hue.
Qualities and quantities: saturation
In this video we’ll introduce a very important set of ten portraits that will helps us understand several concepts.
Qualities and quantities: chroma
Let’s start our journey in the color section on this series of videos, and move from the structure and luminosity of an image to chroma.
Qualities and quantities: detail
The last one about contrasts, this quality is, I think, the most misunderstood. Let’s try to build some guidelines.
Qualities and quantities: texture
One of the latest tools in Adobe’s RAW development, that closes a felt gap between clarity and sharpening, de facto creating a new quality.
Qualities and quantities: local contrast
A simple, but essential, quality, that we need to learn to evaluate contextually to contrast.
Qualities and quantities: contrast
Another primitive and peculiar quality. Let’s try to understand what is contrast, and why its role is so important.
Testing DxO PureRAW
How to test a new application, it’s quality, usefulness and stability. Part of a new breed of applications that would like to intermediate between the original RAW file and your favorite RAW processor.
Qualities and quantities: brightness
We’ll start our journey by studying the most important, and often misunderstood, quality: brightness.
Value and meaning in photography
A quick take about photography analysis, how to dissect images trying to understand their values and qualities.
Apple April’s update
Thoughts and analysis on Apple’s latests hardware updates. The new iMac, and when it is important to update a computer.
Examples
Some real examples of computational photography, while we wait for a in depth analysis, and the pros and cons that it can introduces in our originals.
The present
We finally talk about today’s landscape, and try to understand why everyone is talking about computational photography.
What are NFTs?
A quick introduction to a very obscure, and misunderstood, topic, that could change forever how we buy and sell digital assets.
The past
Let’s start our journey into the world of computational photography analyzing the transition from the analogue system based on film, and the digital system.
The blend-if parable
Some more thoughts and explaining, about the most interesting and abandoned tools in color correction. At least by Adobe.
WNPA 2020 reading
A quick overview of the World Nature Photography Awards, what separate nature and landscape photography from the previously discussed photojournalism?
Introduction
Possibly the most important section of any color correction training system. We’ll learn how to read and analyze both an original and a post-produced image.
Introduction
The most important trend for photographic systems. In this series we will talk about the history, present, and future of digital photography.
Introduction
A series about one of the most efficient features to subtract in Photoshop, with opacity and masks, let’s talk about blend modes.
Greenwich astro ph of the year
How much scientific photography is cold and technical? Analysis and thoughts about the Greenwich astronomy photographer of the year.
Weak edges
A desperate move, for desperate times. We will split texture and details in an image, and define its lines, to improve poor edges and noise.
2021 World Press Photo Award, Nominees reading
Thoughts and observations on the nominees’ results, close to winning one of the most popular photographic prizes in the world. To find common trends in color correction.
St. Vincent set: analisys
A quick image reading, to try to understand if there is a color correction problem, and where it is.
Adobe introduces the “Super resolution”
A new feature for Camera RAW was released today, let’s find out together what it is, and if it works as advertised.
How much change costs
Thoughts on upgrading and updating our workflows and procedures, in a field where we are surrounded by news and false informations.
The Aviator: final comments
Some additional comments on a very challenging image, after some unexpected messages.
Analisys case study: Chocolates
Similar and at the same time different to The Steak this case study present a unique challenge in determining the correct color for multiple subjects.
Analysis case study: The Steak
Thoughts and strategies about a very difficult set of challenges, unexpected both by amateurs and experts.
Image analysis done wrong
Let’s talk about why image comparison, so effective for color correction, is meaningless for cameras.
Developing your own style?
Where should we try understand trends about color correction, and why? Should we develop a personal style, or follow trends in our niche? Notes and reflections.
Reading for trends
Notes on reading originals and post-productions to find trends in online communities and forums.
Color by the Numbers: Channel blending
Thoughts, opinions, overview and examples about a procedure that is still relevant if our color correction needs to be done in Photoshop.
Analysis case study: portraits
Proposed portrait analysis, and introduction to matching procedures.
Leica, a project analysis
Preliminary observation on a very unusual set of photographs that you can find, and download, at this link.
How to know when to stop
Let’s talk about the most challenging topic for beginners, understanding when to stop correcting a photo.
Analysis case study: Exposure
Reading and measuring originals, to deduct the correct exposure and brightness.
Apple’s “Shot on iPhone” gallery reaction
Apple published, in this page, a series of downloadable images, all from latest generations iPhones. Some opinions.
Blend modes: Hue and Saturation
Two blend modes that are similar, yet very different to Luminosity and Color. Let’s see why, and how this affects their use.
Blend modes: Luminosity and Color
The two real protagonist of any Photoshop-based workflow, that empowers us to separate an intervention in luminosity and chromatic component.
Blend modes: Darken and Lighten
Two more blend modes, a bit on the weird side. Plus a difficult challenge in selecting and replacing a color.
Blend modes: Overlay
The blend mode I used the most in my colorist career, a Swiss knife that may be not as flexible as set of curves, but is for sure faster.
Blend modes: Multiply and Screen
A staple of any Photoshop based workflow, these two blend modes are between the top five most used ever.
The new Capture One 21
An overview of Capture One’s latest update, and a comparison with ACR and Lr, between two very different approaches.
The future of digital photography
Reflections on the years to come, manufacturers in crisis, and brands that will explode, and how this will affect our images.
Camera RAW profiles
A topic incredibly interesting and useless for colorists. We’ll see together what Camera RAW and Lightroom profiles are, and how they works.
One last opinion before Lr VS Ps
Some more thoughts about our prejudices about the differences between Lr & Ps, and why these are so difficult to overcome.
8bit VS 16bit
With profiles, one of the oldest questions around regarding workflows. Is it important at all? It could be, and we will test both to be sure.
Blend modes: Difference
In the least of blend modes, Difference is the most important for analysis and testing. With numerical references the only way to gather absolute answers.
The problem with marketing
Two examples of how much marketing, for better or worse, manipulates information in color correction trying to affect the choices we make about softwares.
Dehaze
Let’s try to understand how to analyze a tool with such an essential design, but with complex results.
Apple Silicon updates
My opinions on Apple’s latest keynote, and the new Macs that sports Apple’s new M1 chip. What does this means for us, and our workflows.
Lack of contrast
While not a very common issue, it is important to be able to spot it and know how to deal with it. Also, a great chance to talk about histograms.
Do we need wide gamut displays?
A very important question for someone that needs to buy a display. Let’s try to answer this question while avoiding common marketing statements.
Why do we need color management
From a simple question to the complexity of the systems we use daily. Before we even start talking about what is color management, let’s see why we need it.
Adobe’s October 2020 Update
Let’s review the latest updates in the Lightroom Classic, Camera RAW and Photoshop apps. Plus a quick introduction to artificial intelligence.
Greeneries
An important color to measure, and one that we can usually interpret. We’ll see what is its numerical range, and how much important it is in a correction.
Skintones
The second most important numeric reference, after neutrals, but by far the one that can saves so many images.
Marketing and compression
A strange case of an award winning image, that was incredibly bad.
The analysis
The step where this method shines: reading the scene and measure its elements to chose the best path to correct the photo.
Lab advantages over RGB
Thoughts about the reasons why we need to use Lab, instead of the default RGB, if we want to use “Color by the numbers”.
A demonstration
You can read the papers here:“Color correction judgements of digital images by experts and naive observers”, “Does an expert use memory colors to adjust images?” and “Color enhancement of digital images by experts and preference judgments by observers”.
What are memory colors?
An interesting, almost unrelated to color correction, topic. But incredibly important to demonstrate that the “color by the numbers” works.
The camera system
A list of issues that regards the camera, the lens and the sensor. Dead pixels, dust on the sensor, chromatic aberration, distortion, light falloff, moire and blooming.
Introducing the Issues video series
A set of videos listing in depth all issues we can find in un-retouched images. Using multiple examples we will understand hot to spot issues, and how to get rid of them.
Introduction
A quick intro about a core component of our discipline. In color correction, we need to couple relative and aesthetics, with absolute and correct. Numbers are the best foundation to achieve this.
Double color cast
Examples and solution for images that presents multiple lighting sources, and multiple white balances.
Background color replacement
Differences between photographies and graphics, real case study, and how to find a solution to a complex problem.
Lack of color
Let’s talk about a difficult to identify, and not that common, problem. We will try to understand when we have a lack of saturation, and why.
Lack of dynamic range
One of the most overlooked issues at the analysis stage. We’ll also talk about trust, sources and marketing.
Overexposure
A similar, but different, issue to underexposure. Difficult for many to evaluate, and often misidentified with lost details in the highlights.
The Mosaic
Another real case study about collaborating on a weird project, with weird issues. Still in the spotlight all the aspects regarding collaborating with new clients.
The Statue
Brief recap of a consulting I did yesterday. Ho to solve it, and to deal with a new Client for the first time.
Underexposure
One of the most common, often on purpose, photographic mistakes. Let’s see how to classify, and the hidden challenges that lurks in the shadows.
Color cast
The most basic, and common, issue we can find in almost any original. What is a color cast, and how to face it.
Tool Review: Split Toning
A tool that was created with a precise goal in mind, but that can be very helpful for colorists, in specific cases.
The Fader: the best plugin for LrC
The Fader, available at this link, is an incredibly useful and effective. An extension worthy of its name.
Tool Reviews: Snapshots
A simple yet essential tool for Lightroom & Camera RAW. Let’s talk about how it works, and why this is a canary in a coal mine for colorists.
Tool Review: Hue Adjustment
An in-depth analysis of the new tool presented by Adobe in the 2020 June update. Also a few comments about the official press release you can find at this link.
Apple’s CPU migration
My point of view about the just announced Apple Mac’s line-up migration from Intel to ARM.
Adobe June 2020 Update
My opinions about Adobe’s June 2020 updates for Photoshop, Lightroom and Camera RAW.
Tool Review Trail Introduction
We will isolate the tools we have in Lightroom and Photoshop, to be able to break up our workflows to improve them. We will search for the best, most efficient and easiest to use tools to do the job.
Introducing the Sharpening trail
A few opinions and warnings about the sharpening’s history and role. Before we start learning tools and techniques.
Introducing: Trails!
A new conceptual approach to Codex’s content publishing, that will arrive in the next weeks.
Tool Review: Calculations
A video that will disappoint many, about a tool that has no more a place in a professional workflow.
Tool Review: Apply image
A staple of the old school, one of the most used tools ever in color correction, let’s see together if it can still be useful today.
Worst mistake for a pro
In my opinion this is the worst misstep for a professional colorist, let’s see how to avoid this.
Becoming a Pro
A quick introduction to a new series of Codexes about how to become a professional.
Early 2020 Update
Some development news, and a new tool: Time Machine!
How do I get that style
I’ve been asked about how to replicate someone else’s style. Please note: my screencasting application failed to record audio from my mic, this is the backup, not as good, but usable.
Controlling Lightroom via hardware
Introduction and analysis to three different systems to control Lightroom via physical buttons and knobs. Upsides, shortcomings, and marvels for solutions we are forced to look for from third party developers.
Case Study: an impossible Range Mask?
How to approach, a real life example, the complex removal of a shadow from a black and white.
Tool Review: White balance
The easiest, and most common tool in any RAW workflow.
Black and White in Lightroom
Strategies and tools to correct a black and white in a RAW environment.
Problem solving in Photoshop
Guidelines to solve an issue, or an unpredictable behaviour, in Photoshop or Lightroom.
Tool Review: Selective Color
Another ancient tool in Photoshop, that was replaced by the new ones in Camera RAW and Lightroom. Deeply interconnected with Channel Mixer, but much easier to use and understand.
Tool Review: Channel Mixer
An almost forgotten tool, that may be still relevant for some professionals, that agree to invest time on channels.
The problem with a good original
One of the most common with good originals, what exactly should we improve?
Classify an original
A simple system that can help a professional in several stages, from defining a budget to set expectations for results.
Tool Review: Curves
A tool, and a philosophy, at the very core of Photoshop build and development. Plus a tiny adventure in CMYK.
Tool Review: Range Mask
An in depth analysis that focus on the best tool Adobe introduced for colorists in the last two decades.
Buying an Apple machine
My opinion on the most recommended systems for color correction professionals. Advices on how to face and plan the investment.
Understanding quality
An introduction to the problems, and solutions, to apply quality standards to our work.
Tool Review: Blend if
A complete analysis of one of the most important, and powerful, tools in Photoshop. From the basic usage t in-depth real world cases.
Roadmap: Photoshop
A quick introduction to the beginner’s video for Photoshop.
Roadmap: Lightroom
A quick introduction to the beginner’s video for Lightroom.
Roadmap: Color Correction
A quick introduction to the beginner’s video for Color Correction.
Update: November & December
A quick update about the direction Color Duels will take in the coming months.
Developing an eye for detail
Few rules to improve how we approach a project, from both a professional and creative side.
Photoshop 2020 news and Photoshop for iPad
Within Adobe MAX 2019 released a new major version of Photoshop (21.0.0), and introduced, for the first time Photoshop for iPad. “All that glitters is not gold”.
The problem with tools
Some necessary words of advice before we start listing all the numerous tools we have at our disposition, and the way they interact with each other.
Should my photos have a look?
We start talking about aesthetics and styles. When it is possible to label post-productions as “looks” and the role of photography.
Introduction to quality
A necessary introduction to set the foundations to learn image analysis.
Introduction to color correction
Where we start talking about the color correction discipline and the job of the colorist. Thoughts about the teaching, about the market and how these two interact with our job.
Working with severely underexposed images
There are common elements to all images that are excessively underexposed. But, noise is rarely the most important, or most challenging to solve. In this video we will evaluate different cases, tests, and we’ll work an image from start to end, comparing then the result with the versions from the Workshop.
Introduction to Softwares
It’s not easy to pick the first software to learn and use. In this video we’ll introduce Photoshop and Lightroom and we’ll define the differences.
Unpopular opinions on photography
My opinions and comments about the post “What Is Your Unpopular Photography Opinion? Here Are 29 From Industry Pros“
The digital photography transition
By analysing analogies and differences with two other medias, books and music, we’ll evaluate how the transition to the digital system affected the way we experience photography and why it made post-production an inevitable necessity.
My Workflow for video production
A complete and detailed walkthrough about how I designed the workflow to record videos like this. From design to recording all the thoughts behind improving and refining a production experience.
- Chapter 1: Designing – 3:27
- Chapter 2: Inventoring – 8:52
- Chapter 3: The Flow – 13:57
- Chapter 4: Improvements – 21:34
- Chapter 5: The Real Thing – 32:27
- Conclusions – 44:25
Workflow introduction
An introduction to the Workflow category. What, who, when, why and where to use one. Essential definitions, five rules, and five issues, to evaluate when designing or revisioning one.
Backup strategies
All the info you need to sketch, execute and deploy a simple, cost-effective and efficient backup strategy. In this video we will go back to digital photography’s beginnings to evaluate how devices, softwares and formats affected how we handle files.
The Contrast Luminosity relationship
The important link between luminosity and contrast in an image
Switch colors with LAB
LAB’s unmatched advantages when we need to intervene on the chromatic component
Shadow and Highlights
A good tool to fine tune the general contrast of an image
How a Digital Image is made
A digital image genesis, and why it is important to know this data flow
Digital Imaging Introduction
A quick introduction to digital imaging and all the related terms
Some Advices
What’s Codex purpose, and how it’s different from all other video courses?
The Color Codex is a complete videocourse in development about color correction. My goal is not to teach you about softwares basics and tools. I want to help you improving your images. Photoshop doesn’t makes you photos better, you do! This course is being developed, produced, and published by me.
This little (huge) difference allows me to update, extend and swap key videos anytime I will find a better solution to achieve something, or a new software, or hardware, will came up. Finally, managing all operations, from support to publishing, I can answer to your question with a video, if necessary, in quite a short time.
How do I know the topics are of my interest?
In this page you can see the nine main categories, plus the last codexes that were published, or are being produced.
I don’t really trust crowdfundings!
I totally understand, me neither! That’s why, in any day, at any time, you can see in real time how many videos, ho many hours, their topics, I already published. And then evaluate if this is worthy for you.
Are training videos the best way to learn color correction?
No. The most efficient way is practice. This is why many years ago I created the Color Correction online Workshop. If you agree that practice is more important for you, maybe you’re right. Maybe you’re not sure, this is why I built the free trial so that it is the same for both the Codex and the Workshop. Please note: for all Workshop members the Codex is free.
I still have doubts!
Inquisitive mind! Have a spin with the trial, it is free, no credit card, it last a month. And if it is still not enough you can always write me!
Register
If you’re interested in the Codex you have to choices, to apply for the free trial, or to subscribe. The free trial allows you to watch the last six Codexes published, and to check out the Workshop.
If you think you’re ready to join, you can subscribe here. This membership doesn’t have a specific length, it will give you access until the three projects will be completed plus an extra year. It will last, in any case, at least three years, and it will not renew. The price is 99$, one time.
Reserch & Development
Evaluation, classification, and indexing of all resources. Articles, papers, and books. Topics and fields blueprinting.
2013- Theory
- Practice
- Color
- Perception
- Workflow
Development
Categories separation. Tools selection, begin alpha code development, systems integration. Workflow selection and simulation.
2016Crowdfunding Stage
All tools, hardware, software and beta code ready. First three projects draft, and content production. First feedbacks evaluation.
2018Contenut Publishing
The first of three project is completed. Re-evaluation and course-correction of all systems.
2019Projects completion
Publishing and update of the first three projects. Definition and draft of the next three. The Codex is no complete and ready for its final stage.
2020Codex Is Live
The Color Codex is live and its last stage. Main work now it’s to extend and update.
2021