For those that have both Kubota's actions and the Boutwells, which dodging/burning action do you prefer and why? I use digifill and smokeless burn ALL THE TIME and don't have TRAs yet although I'm thinking about buying them.

What are your thoughts?

And while we're at it, I have all but the latest Kubota actions... What TRA actions would you totally miss if all you had were Kubota's? Are they different enough to warrant another purchase? Or are they pretty similar in your opinion?

I prefer Kubotas Digital Fill to Totally Rad's Ying/Yang. I find if you apply alot of Ying or Yang (which ever is the lightening action)..it washes out the subject, it gets lighter and flatter, where as with Kubota's, you can apply alot of light and I find it still looks really good, even when you apply more than usual.

Just my 2 cents

+1 ... I agree with that

I LOVE "Oh Snap" (it's F5 on my keyboard). It adds just enough "snap" for my taste. Bowtwell's magic glasses is similar, but it's a bit much for my taste.
I used to use Radiant People a lot to give photos a little "oomph", but now I use digi fill to fill in shadows and "oh snap" for a little "oomph".
If I need a little more "oomph", I'll use the magic glasses, but that one tends to be too much for my taste, and I don't like the over-emphasized edges that happen with the magic glasses, so I stick with "oh snap"
"oh snap" does tend to lose detail in the shadows sometimes, and get close to washing out skin tones that are light, so I just add a layer mask to the whole "oh snap" group and brush back in those details, leaving the snappiness everywhere else. I love it!

i also have both,
but i'm on the Y/Y side of it; I use a keyboard shortcut to get there and it's F1 --
i guess what I like is that they're both within the same action; like noise-reduction, i'm finding myself using ever so slightly on most every image

i'm a big kubota fan but have been just super impressed with TRA

I have all of Kubota's and I have Totally Rad and I don't use any of those action sets to D & B...I use mine of course. The DODGE/BURN action I created, is so simple and I feel is better than Kubota's and Totally Rad. I think it is better, because it doesn't washout the parts you dodge (especially skin tones) like Yin/Yang does, and it gives you more lightening range than Digital Fill flash. Best of all (IMO) my action actually creates more dynamic range with dodging and leaves more when burning as well.

Naturally, what is talk without some pudding (proof)? Here is the same image with the same adjustments made with Kubota's, Totally Rad, and mine. Of course I will make this action available for free just like I did with my sharpening action set as well if anyone would like this very useful action. Just let me know!

These are just my thoughts and opinions, use whatever works best for you. If I had to rate them, I like mine best, then Yin/Yang, then Digital Fill Flash/Smokeless Burn.

Click to view attachment

Wow...very cool of you to post that. I would love to try yours. Funny, I was thinking the very same thing tonight...which one do I like better? I guess my answer is "it depends on the pic". My only complaint with Y/Y is that it does wash out a little of the details, but has worked brilliantly on many images.

I would love to try yours out too Dustin!!! How can I?

Ask and you shall receive! I just created a page really quick so that anyone interested can download it, but remember, you can't download it using Safari. Enjoy and please let me know if you have any questions or feedback!

Oh yeah, if you find it useful, thank Katie, she started this thread.

DODGE AND BURN

Thanks dustin, so simple but very effective, thank you for sharing and what a great blog!

Here is some info if you want to make some actions of your own to dodge and burn.

With "Dodge" and "Burn" layers there are a number of ways to make these non-destructively. I do not own either of their action sets so I am not sure which ways they do it. or maybe they do all of them since it sounds like there are a lot of actions you all are referring to.

But it is super simple to make a variety of these actions so that you can have choices.

One way is using the neutral gray fill layer set to Overlay or softlight. You paint on the gray box with low opacity white brush to dodge, black to burn, or neutral gray 128-128-128 to reset to default look.

Another way is to do curve "adjustment" layers. I have a free action on my BLOG that uses two curve layers. What you put behind the curve matters. So if you make one this way, play around with the curves and maybe even make a few. Make sure to invert the mask so your layers are concealed by default. I actually love to use this and then open back up the curve and adjust if needed. This time you paint on a mask - I use 20-30% opacity for the brush when painting. And go over areas to blend and add intensity.

Next way same as above with adjustment layers, but using "levels" - this is a great way for people who only have elements too. Though I like curves better this way works well too - pulling shadows in for burning and highlights in for dodging.

Another way is using blending modes. This method can actually be used solo or combined with curves or levels adjustments for even more intensity. For this way, I pull up any adjustment layer, it does not matter which one, but do not do an adjustment. Just click ok. Then set the "mode" to "multiple" for the burn and "screen" for the dodge.

Ok - that covers all the ways off the top of my head of dodging and burning without using the dodge and burn tools that are destructive to your photo.

I hope that this helps someone. If you need screen shots better explaining this, let me know and I can do that.

Jodi

I have actions that use all three methods you mentioned. The method I like best is simply using blending modes. I also like the neutral gray method, but don't use it much anymore. I don't care for the curves method, since you are changing the density and color if you are using a normal blending mode, but you can't argue that it does give you the most control with a little extra tweaking. I like fast and simple and effective, that's why I use the blending mode method, but once again...what ever works!

Thanks for the informative post, I think people will love knowing the options they have.

Dustin,

I totally agree with you. I actually find that I sometimes layer too. I may start with the curves adjustment style. And then will layer a multiple blending on a new adjustment layer so that I can add a deeper hand painted vignette. I much prefer the hand painted and blended to the oval style that you get from a quick action.

Anyway, you are a super helpful person and OSPers are lucky to have you around!

Jodi

You can download using Safari. You have to hold down the Option key, then click on the link, to DL the .atn file.

FYI

I love Kevin's actions. They are great. Totally Rad actions are just that, totally rad! Love them too.

Dustin, thanks for the action.