Calling Gilligan

[Wantonmien]

Hi Gilligan,

Last year you gave me a link to a tutorial you'd prepared on using G11.

Could you be so kind as to repost the links, or post new links to tutorials you have on using G12

There's a couple of us here in Taiwan now using G12 (me with Canon housing, friend with Patima) - and trying to replicate some of the excellence you achieve !!

Thanks.

 

[VooDooGasMan]

Gilligan and the skipper are making dinner for Thurston Howell III and Lovey!



Happy diving

 

[Gilligan]

Hi Gilligan,

Last year you gave me a link to a tutorial you'd prepared on using G11.

Could you be so kind as to repost the links, or post new links to tutorials you have on using G12

There's a couple of us here in Taiwan now using G12 (me with Canon housing, friend with Patima) - and trying to replicate some of the excellence you achieve !!

Thanks.

I hope one of these is what you are referring to:

THIS LINK is for the white balance processing with the Canon DPP software.

THIS LINK is about the Canon housing mold release marks.

THIS LINK is about using the Canon housing rear buttons to compensate for not having the rear and front dials that are on the G12 camera.

THIS LINK is a flooding caution when mounting housings to trays.

 

[Wantonmien]

Thanks Gilligan, appreciated.

I also remember reading somewhere the settings you generally use, and have pre programmed for macro and 'distance' shooting - where I can re read ?

Cheers

 

[Gilligan]

Thanks Gilligan, appreciated.

I also remember reading somewhere the settings you generally use, and have pre programmed for macro and 'distance' shooting - where I can re read ?

Cheers

At the bottom of the Canon DPP white balance page. LINK

 

[Wantonmien]

Thanks again, appreciated.

 

[Wantonmien]

Hi Gilligan,

What's the secret or how do you get Back Scatter out of your photos - is there a quick easy way, without reverting to Paint or anything ? So far as I can see, there doesn't seem to be anything in the Canon software - or is there ?

Example - On a night dive (shot in AV but not in RAW, with strobe) - Yuk, water full of bits, and kind of destroys the photo !!

Example - On a day dive (shot in AV & RAW with strobe) - not so bad at all, but a few flecks toward upper end floating around ?

Thanks in advance for advise.

 

[Gilligan]

I am no expert on Photoshop so hopefully someone else here will give you better info. This is what I do with photos like yours, especially the first one:

Paint the dark background area with the paintbrush. Time consuming and not so realistic.

or

1. Open the image in PS.
2. Make your brightness, contrast and any other adjustments.
3. Create a duplicate layer.
4. On the duplicate layer use the lasso tool and trace around the part of the photo that is NOT the dark background area. Make a complete loop start to finish.
5. Delete the lasso portion then deselect the lasso tool. What should be left is the dark area with the backscatter if you hide the main layer by deselecting it in the layer window (the eyeball).
6. In the duplicate layer (the dark background area) go to filter > noise > dust and scratches. When the window opens try Radius 5 Threshold 0 and check the results in that small window. Play with the Radius setting until you get rid of the backscatter then click OK.
7. Go to Layer>Flatten Image. Be sure both layers are active (the eyeball is visible on both layers in the 'layers' window). This merges the black layer you adjusted with the layer with the nudi (or whatever).
8. Use the clone tool to eliminate imperfections to any part of the photo that need it.

The reason for creating a separate layer to adjust the "dust and scratches" is that the adjustment somewhat blurs the photo so by creating a separate layer you don't alter the subject. You would be blurring the dark area which you probably won't see or doesn't matter. This process will also leave more realistic coloring in the dark area versus painting it black.

Let me know.

 

[Gilligan]

Wantonmien I put a tutorial on my website HERE

 

[Wantonmien]

Gilligan,

Thank you, one fine day if we meet up I'll be picking up your dinner and bar bill - your advise much appreciated !

I downloaded a trial copy of Photoshop a couple of weeks back, and whoh ... think I'll need to quit work and study it full time, but will have a play around with it at the weekend. Think what I need is cystal clear water, no dust in the water, and more time to take more dives so I can keep taking the same photo until I get the perfect one !!

Actually took a day & night dive last weekend at a new site last Saturday, Viz about 5 m and about 75 % of pics full of backscatter, so a lengthy job to edit !

Cheers & safe diving.