Photo adjustment in Photos.app

[rayps]

I just getting started to using Photos.app because i bought a new camera Ricoh GR.
Photos.app is really powerful and strong! after playing with it i got a few questions:

1. The "Levels" section seems so strange to me, it's interface is so different to the other image editing app, for example i want to make a VSCO like film style, how should i start with?

2. Is there a quick way to view the original look so i can compare the adjustments? just like in iOS i can tap&hold the photo to see the original.

3. Can i export the raw file from Photos.app? There are only 3 formats (jpg/tif/png) i can select.

Want to hear your thoughts! Thanks!

 

[tomnavratil]

I just getting started to using Photos.app because i bought a new camera Ricoh GR.
Photos.app is really powerful and strong! after playing with it i got a few questions:

1. The "Levels" section seems so strange to me, it's interface is so different to the other image editing app, for example i want to make a VSCO like film style, how should i start with?

2. Is there a quick way to view the original look so i can compare the adjustments? just like in iOS i can tap&hold the photo to see the original.

3. Can i export the raw file from Photos.app? There are only 3 formats (jpg/tif/png) i can select.

Want to hear your thoughts! Thanks!

I wouldn't really say it's powerful and strong at the moment but it will get better through third party extension in El Capitan.

1. What do you find strange about editing levels? Through levels you can edit the image in shadows / mid-tones / highlights and the Photos.app also allows you to edit points between shadows / mid-tones and mid-tones / highlights. To get a VSCO film look there's a few things that you should do - play for curves / contrast / cross-processing / contrast etc. As I haven't used Photos.app myself, I cannot tell you exact steps to do as I use LR / PS to edit my work but some users might be able to help.

2. Not sure as I haven't used it

3. Not exactly sure what you mean by export the RAW file. Do you mean to get an original RAW file and some sort of XML file alongside so it can be opened / edited by another app?

 

[ricosuave]

Hold the M key to see original

 

[MCAsan]

Photos.app is really powerful and strong!

Many of us would disagree. Aperture was powerful, strong, and way ahead of its time. But alas, Apple has dropped that app to focus on their huge cash cow of IOS devices. Photos is far more an updated iPhoto than an Aperture.

If you want to get into photography as a serious hobby, I suggest you consider the purchase of Adobe's Lightroom. Lightroom is much closer to Aperture in what it can do. And Adobe is actively supporting it. One good thing about Lightroom is that there are lots of plugin apps you can use with Lightroom such as: Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, the Nik Collection, Perfecto Photo Suite, Topaz Labs apps, and may more. The apps can provide you with editing capabilities that can not be done in basic apps like Photos. But start with Lightroom and later add plugins if and when you find you need them.

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html

 

[rayps]

Hold the M key to see original

Works like a charm! Thanks!

 

[rayps]

I wouldn't really say it's powerful and strong at the moment but it will get better through third party extension in El Capitan.

1. What do you find strange about editing levels? Through levels you can edit the image in shadows / mid-tones / highlights and the Photos.app also allows you to edit points between shadows / mid-tones and mid-tones / highlights. To get a VSCO film look there's a few things that you should do - play for curves / contrast / cross-processing / contrast etc. As I haven't used Photos.app myself, I cannot tell you exact steps to do as I use LR / PS to edit my work but some users might be able to help.

2. Not sure as I haven't used it

3. Not exactly sure what you mean by export the RAW file. Do you mean to get an original RAW file and some sort of XML file alongside so it can be opened / edited by another app?

Saw that on the news, can't wait for the third part plugins!
The Levels is really different! So many tabs, not easy to understand

 

[rayps]

Many of us would disagree. Aperture was powerful, strong, and way ahead of its time. But alas, Apple has dropped that app to focus on their huge cash cow of IOS devices. Photos is far more an updated iPhoto than an Aperture.

If you want to get into photography as a serious hobby, I suggest you consider the purchase of Adobe's Lightroom. Lightroom is much closer to Aperture in what it can do. And Adobe is actively supporting it. One good thing about Lightroom is that there are lots of plugin apps you can use with Lightroom such as: Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, the Nik Collection, Perfecto Photo Suite, Topaz Labs apps, and may more. The apps can provide you with editing capabilities that can not be done in basic apps like Photos. But start with Lightroom and later add plugins if and when you find you need them.

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html

Well, as a beginner, Photos is good enough and it's totally free.
I agree with you, i will purchase LR if one day i can do business with my camera

 

[r.harris1]

Well, as a beginner, Photos is good enough and it's totally free.
I agree with you, i will purchase LR if one day i can do business with my camera

I think you'll enjoy Photos. It surprisingly sophisticated and very, very fast. If the app ecosystem is fostered well, App Extensions will be very nice indeed, with Pixelmater being first to the gate being my guess. Obviously, this remains to be seen. The landscape is changing a lot too, you may not ever need an Adobe product for anything, given strong offerings not only from Pixelmator, but Affinity Photo, Emulsion and others. Don't get me wrong, Adobe does decent stuff and Photoshop is amazing and I still use it a lot. But they are far from the only game in town. And don't let anyone tell you that to be a serious photographer or hobbyist you need to use Tool X, as that is simply not true any longer . Figure out what helps you get the best image for you and go for it!

 

[tomnavratil]

Saw that on the news, can't wait for the third part plugins!
The Levels is really different! So many tabs, not easy to understand

View attachment 563924

View attachment 563923

I assume the bottom 5 points are for adjusting black points / mid-point / white point and two points between them. You can either do this for all-three RGB channels or R/G/B separately. Not sure what the difference between RGB / Luminance is to be completely honest though, it definitely seems more confusing than using Lightroom.

Actually, aren't the top points to adjust the curve of the image? I'm just thinking they might have put it together if it's not complete non-sense but someone can correct me .

 

[rayps]

Actually, aren't the top points to adjust the curve of the image? I'm just thinking they might have put it together if it's not complete non-sense but someone can correct me .

It might be a clue. Can you try it on your Mac?

 

[tomnavratil]

It might be a clue. Can you try it on your Mac?

I've checked out a few videos and also played with an image in Photos and it's definitely not a curve adjustment as Photos is missing that.

I assume the top points and their adjustments tweak the image based on the bottom points you've selected - those, where you set your black point / mid point / white point - pushing the image towards a certain point.

 

[Razeus]

I've been playing with it too for my "all in" campaign.

It's certainly more powerful than iPhoto. But not as powerful as Aperture.

I think it'll get much better with OS X El Capitan.

Personally, I don't think Apple should be waiting for next OS versions to add features to this product (or any of their products) and just constantly update the software with new features. But this seems the way that Apple goes in order to talk about something at their annual events. I wish they'd take a more Google like approach to their software making.