The Grain Panel

Exposure’s Grain panel is located in the lower section of the right dock. By default, it’s found between the Focus and the IR panels. You can easily hide and relocate panels according to your workflow preferences. Learn more about configuring Exposure’s UI in this user guide.

Grain Controls

Grain presets are great starting points when applying grain effects. Hover over the looks in the dropdown menu to preview their effects on the selected image. Click to apply a preset, and then customize the grain with the sliders.

When applying grain effects, zoom the view to 1:1 or 100% magnification. This gives you the clearest view to evaluate the shape and amount of grain in each range of tones in your image.

Emulating Real Film Grain

When simulating grain effects from real film, consider the following criteria: where the grain is present in the image (such as in a specific tone or hue), how much of it is visible, and what it looks like. Exposure has controls for each of these aspects of the effect. Additionally, Exposure will adjust the grain placement if edits are made to contrast or exposure.

Clumpiness

Individual film grains can only be seen with a microscope. The little fractal lumps you see in film are clusters of many overlapping grains. We use the term “grains” when referring to the visible lumps, since that is what most people mean.

Distribution

One secret to the great-looking grain in Exposure is the irregular clumpiness. Real film grains clump together beautifully, but not in a rigid structure like digital noise. Grain lumps that are distributed randomly will look most natural to the human eye. Some film stocks will show more grain in highlights, while others show them in midtones, or shadows. Control the distribution of the grain with the Amount sliders.

Roughness

One of the basic rules for grain is the faster the film speed, the greater the tendency towards graininess. Developer and developing temperature can also affect the visible graininess in film. To simulate a grainy film, use higher values of Roughness and introduce Color Variation.

Push Processing

One film photographer technique for getting the most out of shooting is to adjust the film speed with chemical processes. Pushing and pulling film (increasing/decreasing light sensitivity) is a darkroom technique that enhances the film’s tonal range. Take a 400 speed film, for example: if it were pushed to 1600 speed, the film grain would be more pronounced and the image would have increased contrast. Use the Push Processing slider to increase the appearance of grain and add dramatic contrast.

Blur

The sharpness of film is the perception of good edge distinction (acutance) between details in a photo. With real film, if you make a huge enlargement, you won’t see any detail smaller than the grain size. It’s the grain itself that makes the details. One of the easiest ways to see if film grain is fake is if image detail is smaller than the grain. Real film will be blurry beneath the grain.

As you can see, Exposure offers a wide selection of tools for creating beautiful, realistic-looking grain effects to your images. Thanks for reading our guide. If you ever need help applying grain to your images in Exposure, save a link to this article.

The post Grain Panel User Guide appeared first on Exposure Software.

The Metadata Panel

The Metadata panel is located at the bottom right dock. It contains information about the image that is used for documentation and organization. You can hide and relocate panels in Exposure to streamline the workspace for your particular needs. Learn more about rearranging the UI in this user guide.

Metadata Controls

Related information is grouped together in this panel. These fields display embedded data written from the camera system, in addition to information stored in sidecar files, such as keywords and collections.

Exposure enables you to filter images using metadata for quick navigation. On the bottom dock, use the Filter by Metadata field. Watch our Tagging, Filtering, Sorting, and Searching video for more information about the filtering tools.

To protect your work with copyright, caption and other information, Exposure can include metadata in automatically-generated watermarks. Check out the watermarks user guide to learn more.

Keyword Library

Keywords are a great way to categorize photos efficiently. Once applied, they can be used to sort and filter images, and are often required for selling stock photography.

For additional speed when applying keywords, use keyword sets to apply the same group of keywords to multiple images. Keyword sets can be applied all at once, which helps keep them consistent.

When making Keyword sets, the quickest way is to add the all at once. On the Sets tab, change the search filter to “Add,” then type in all the keywords you like. Another way to make a keywords set quickly is to select one representative image from a shoot, and then apply your keywords to it. Once complete, multi-select all the keywords you want in the set, right-click and choose ‘Add to Set,’ and then ‘New Set.’ It’s faster to create keywords directly in the set, rather than moving them around after you make them.

Hierarchical Keywords

Creating a hierarchy makes navigating through keywords simple. Parent/Child keywords add an extra level of sophistication to organizing.
 They work great for taxonomic needs, like a family and its members, animals, or geographic locations.

A simple example is travel keywords, where images would use keywords for locations visited. Searching using the travel keyword will display all images taken while on the road.

The tools on the Metadata panel are a great way to organize, manage, and protect your photos. Thanks for reading our guide. We hope you enjoyed it! Save a link to this page if you need a reference for using Metadata.

The post Metadata Panel User Guide appeared first on Exposure Software.

Vignettes can be produced by camera lenses in certain situations. If lens vignetting isn’t desired, it can be removed with the tools on Exposure’s Lens Correction panel. Check out our Lens Distortion and Vignetting video for details on removing unwanted vignettes.

The Vignette Panel

The Vignette panel is located in the bottom section of the right dock. By default, it’s placed between the LUT and the Overlays panels in Exposure. You can hide and relocate panels in Exposure to streamline the workspace for your particular needs. Learn more about configuring the UI in this user guide.

Vignette Controls

Create, and modify vignette effects with the tools in the panel. The presets are great starting points when creating a vignette. Browse the presets in the dropdown to display their effects on the selected image. Click to apply, and then customize the vignette with the sliders.

Applying Vignettes

It can be helpful to turn the Amount slider all the way up or down when creating a vignette. A low softness value is another way to emphasize the effects. Both of these techniques make the effects of the vignette easy to see. After the vignette characteristics are set, lower the Amount slider and raise the Softness slider to make the effect more subtle.

Edge irregularities in the look can give the photo an organic, hand-made feel. Introduce ripples in the vignette edge with Distortion. Control their appearance with the Lump Size slider. The effect these controls make can be randomized to fit better with each photo or to avoid repetition. The placement of the vignette center can be crucial for visual impact of the image. Note the vignette in the above example, which is centered on the subject’s face.

As you can see, Exposure offers robust tools for creating beautiful vignettes for your images. Thanks for reading our guide. We hope you learned something new. If you ever need help adding watermarks to your images in Exposure, save a link to this article.

The post Vignette User Guide appeared first on Exposure Software.

The Tone Curve panel is located in the lower quadrant on the right side of the screen. Exposure’s default UI layout has it placed between the Color and LUT panels.

Tone

In the top section of the panel are the Tone tools. These include the Curve Editor and a set of sliders. The tone curve represents all of the values in the photo. Apply adjustments to the curve for control over the lightness and darkness of various parts of your photos. Use the sliders to make refinements to the curve values.

These tools are great for adding punchy contrast and vibrancy to photos. The opposite effect can also be achieved to even out exposure by darkening the highlights and bringing up the shadows. The sliders on this panel control the curve independently of control points in the curve editor. Adjustments appear as dotted lines in the tone curve.

Curve Editor

Add control points to the curve to manipulate lightness and darkness of various areas in photos.  The bottom axis of the graph is the tone, with shadows on the left and highlights on the right. The vertical axis represents the lightness of given tones, with dark values on the bottom and bright values at the top.

Click on the tone curve to add a new control point. Move control points to make changes, including the black and white points at the ends of the curve. Drag upward to brighten the value and downward to darken it. Move laterally to select different tone ranges. Drag unwanted control points outside of the editor to remove them from the curve.

Split Toning

Toning in photography is the addition of a color to a photograph without changing the image brightness. Split toning is a variation of toning where separate colors are added to specific values in the photo, such as the highlights and shadows. This adds a level of perceived sophistication to the image, and can enhance a cinematic mood. For example, Sepia toned black and white photos have a recognizable vintage brown look. 

Applying Split Toning Effects

There are lots of fully customizable split toning presets in the dropdown list. Select one of the preset options and then make adjustments to customize the effect.

Adjusting Toning Parameters

Control the appearance of split toning effects with these simple controls. Select each color stop and adjust its strength, color, and the tones that it affects. To only apply a single tone, set the strength of one stop to zero.

As you can see, Exposure offers robust tools for tone curve adjustments, and split toning effects. Thanks for reading our guide. We hope you learned something new about using the Tone Curve panel.

Save a link to this page if you need a reference for making adjustments with the tools on the Tone Curve panel.

The post Tone Curve Panel User Guide appeared first on Exposure Software.

Collections

Collections are special folders used for grouping images. Click the Plus button on the Folders panel to create a new collection. Drag and drop to add images to the collection. Placing photos in a collection does not cause them to be duplicated. You can add as many images as you want, create as many collections as you want, and even add the same photo to multiple collections.

Set any of the collections to be the quick collection to add photos quickly. Right click on the collection name in the Folders panel and select Quick Collection. With the quick collection set, you can add images to it with the shortcut key L.

Use subcollections to build organization hierarchy. In the example image, the Landscapes collection has subcollections for specific types of landscape shots. The subcollections contain images for summer and winter seasons, and a subcollection featuring water. Within the water subcollection are subcollections based on the type of water featured in the image.

Within the Collections area you can move, rename, duplicate, and delete photo collections. Right click on the collection to access the operation commands. Additionally, you can convert collections into subcollections or subcollections into collections with drag and drop. Dropping a subcollection on the Collections header to convert it into a collection.

Smart Collections

Smart collections group photos automatically. Set image selection criteria, and Exposure will populate the smart collection with files that match. You can create smart collections based on metadata keywords, ratings, color labels, flags, and more.

Limit the number of images included in smart collections by adding more confining criteria. At any time, the collection criteria can be edited. Modifications made to the criteria will update the images included in the collection automatically.

Designating a file path will restrict where Exposure searches for images. This speeds up the process of populating the smart collection. With a file path set, Exposure will ignore backup drives or shared folders on a network.

Creating Collections From A File List

Smart collections can also be generated using a list of image filenames. This is useful when clients make their top image choices in a gallery or contact sheet, or when selecting images for album spreads. Click the Plus button in the Folders panel to create a new collection. Copy and paste a list of the photo names in the file list field. Exposure will create a collection which only includes those files. The file list can be edited from the right click menu on the collection name in the Folders panel.

As you can see, Exposure offers several powerful options for organizing your images in collections. The quick, easy-to-follow organizing of images into collections is another way Exposure saves you time. Thanks for reading this user guide. If you ever have questions about managing image collections in Exposure, save a link to this article.

The post Collections User Guide appeared first on Exposure Software.

What is a watermark?

Watermarks take the form of semi-opaque images placed over the original photo. They may include your name, studio information, technical details, or your logo. Watermarks are a great way to establish your brand and connect with people that appreciate the work you do.

Adding watermarks to images is usually one of the last steps of the photo editing process, when exporting finished files. In Exposure, open the Export dialog with the menu or with ⌘+E or Ctrl+E. Watermarks can be assigned in the Metadata section.

Applying Watermarks

To apply a watermark to your images, select a preset from the dropdown in the Metadata section. When selected you can then preview the watermark on your image for sizing, placement, or other considerations.

Watermark presets can be placed into categories to stay organized. The insignificant amount of effort it takes to keep them tidy is a great way to keep your workflow quick and efficient.

Designing Watermarks

Control the appearance of watermarks with the tools in the Edit Watermarks panel. Add separate items to develop watermarks with your own style. There are three watermark items available. Any designs can incorporate any number of text, images, and metadata items in various arrangements.

Save watermark presets for different uses, such as simply placing the studio name, or copyright to image. Another suggestion is to create a watermark that includes the image filename for use when printing contact sheets. Integrate watermark presets into your export process and save lots of time.

Text Type

Text items are simple to use and control. You can place several lines of text on your photos. Each text item will have its own set of controls for font, style, size, and color. Set parameters for each item to create sophisticated arrangements. Once created, save the watermark as a preset and use it for exporting.

Image Type

Image watermark items are useful for branded studios. Use this type of item to import and place logo files. Access previously imported image files from the menu, or select one from a new location. Set parameters to place and blend the image file. Flexibly combine various items together to design and create watermarks.

Metadata Type

Metadata watermark items automatically place data on the photo. Metadata information is usually written to images before editing begins. See our Opening Images video for more details on writing metadata to photos.

Metadata watermark items can include information such as copyright, studio name, or website url automatically. These items can also include technical information about the photo, such as the f-Stop and ISO, or the camera, lens, and serial number.

As you can see, Exposure offers robust tools for creating beautiful watermarks for your images. And when exporting photos, you can have Exposure apply them to images for you automatically. This is another great way Exposure’s design saves you time.

Thanks for reading our guide. We hope you learned something new. If you ever need help adding watermarks to your images in Exposure, save a link to this article.

The post Watermarks User Guide appeared first on Exposure Software.

Opening Images

There’s no importing steps in Exposure. In the Folders panel, navigate to folders containing images and begin working. The edits in Exposure are recorded in small sidecar files within each folder, so backups are easy.

Copy From Card

Accessing images on camera cards in Exposure is the same no-import process. There is an extra step as Exposure copies files from your photo card onto your hard drive and then adds the folder bookmark in Exposure’s folders panel.

When a card is inserted into a card reader, Exposure will recognize the card and open the Copy Photos From Card dialog. If you’ve turned off the automatic detection of camera cards, this process can be manually initiated from the File menu.

1. Select Source

Begin the process by selecting the location of the images you wish to copy. Exposure enables you to copy images from multiple sources simultaneously to make this process quick. The copied files can be automatically organized, eliminating headaches from shooting with multiple cards, multiple cameras, or when working with other photographers.

2. Review Images

Browse, identify, and select images to copy from the source locations. Quickly select all images without creating duplicates when only new files on that card are displayed.

3. Destination and Options

Set options for how copied files are handled in the third section. Include details for where the files are saved, how they are named, and what metadata information to include with the images you transfer.

Destination

Specify the location where photos will be copied to. Include subfolders to automatically organize with image metadata. You can have Exposure separate photos into folders by shoot date, camera model, or camera serial number.

File Naming

Apply your favorite naming convention. Include the original file name, add custom text, or number files in sequence.

Metadata

Apply metadata to embed information into your image files as they are copied.

Exposure offers simple access to browse and edit images. And when copying images from cards, you can have Exposure organize them for you.

Thanks for reading our guide. We hope you enjoyed it. If you need a reference accessing images on your computer, save a link to this article.

The post Opening Images User Guide appeared first on Exposure Software.

Creative Presets

A creative preset is a set of adjustments that apply a specific look to a photo. An example is one of Exposure’s film emulation presets. Each preset includes adjustments to a number of parameters, such as saturation, color balance, sharpening, grain, and more. Some presets include several layers for more advanced techniques. Tour the many presets available in Exposure in our Applying Film Looks video.

The creative effect presets in Exposure are located in the Presets panel. Selecting a preset from the presets panel applies it to your current photo. Any editing adjustments made after the preset is applied will only affect the current image and not the preset in the library.

Creating Presets

Customizing presets enables you to design a creative style that you can reuse. They are a great way to achieve a consistent look across multiple photos. Get started creating a custom look by selecting a built-in preset and making modifications, including adding multiple adjustment layers. When your edits are complete, define a new preset with the plus button on the Presets panel or with ⌘+S on Mac or Ctrl+S on Windows.

Adding a descriptive name is a good practice when creating presets. Organizing presets in categories, and adding informative descriptions are also helpful. Any details you include to describe the preset can be searched for later.

Selective Presets

Presets can be designed to only affect certain editing panels, enabling new workflow options. When a selective preset is applied to an image, only the parameters chosen when it was created will affect it. Underlined text in the Settings section at the bottom of the Edit Preset window indicates modified values. Panels without underlines do not contain adjustments. 

If an empty option is selected, the default values on that panel will be recorded in the preset. When using multiple layers in a preset, the Choose Per Layer option provides detailed control over selecting the effects from each layer and panel individually. The same selection options are available when copy and pasting edits between photos. For more information and a demonstration, watch our Working with Presets video.

Managing Presets

Building a custom preset library is a powerful tool for developing creative looks. Your entire library can be shared between computers with a synchronized folder like Dropbox. This ensures you always have access to your favorite creative effects.

Open the Preferences to set the User Folder location. That is where Exposure stores its presets. Selecting a shared folder, like Dropbox, ensures your presets library is always up to date between computers.

Preset details can be modified from the right click menu. Changing the name, category, description, or deleting presets only applies to those generated by users. To make modifications to factory presets, save a copy of it and then make customizations.

Exporting Presets

Presets can be shared with others using the same or a newer version of Exposure. Select Export from the right click menu. Exporting a preset will create a file with a F1s extension. You can send them directly in email or text, or post them online. Presets can include custom texture overlays, however any overlay images will need to be copied separately to have them accompany the exported preset.

Importing Presets

If you download a preset made with the same version of Exposure, simply double-click the file to bring it into Exposure. The settings router tool will open to confirm when the setting was installed. Once it is installed, restart Exposure to access the new preset.

User presets from older versions may not work this way. Check out this support article to learn about how to update presets from older software.

Workflow Presets

Workflow presets store settings for non-editing operations. For example, exporting images use workflow presets for Destination, File Naming, File Settings, Metadata, and Image Size. The presets determine how the exported files are created and organized. Access the preset management options from the gear icon or open Preferences and choose the Export panel. Watch our Exporting video to learn more about creating and modifying export presets.

Camera presets are another example of workflow presets. They are used to assign DCP profiles for color correction to images from a specific camera model, lens, and ISO setting. When camera presets are set, and an image from a particular camera is encountered, Exposure will automatically apply the DCP specified. We demonstrate how to create and assign them in our Camera Profiles video.

The presets in Exposure play a huge role in keeping your photos consistent. And Exposure makes them simple to keep them organized.

Thanks for reading this guide. We hope you enjoyed it. Save a link to this article if you need a reference the next time you are working with presets.

The post Managing Presets User Guide appeared first on Exposure Software.

Applying adjustments to colors is a powerful way photographers control the mood and feel of their photos. Exposure provides a broad spectrum of tools for manipulating image colors. Many of these features are found within the Color panel. The article below is a guide for working with the Color panel tools in Exposure.

The Color Panel

The Color panel is located in the lower quadrant on the right side of the screen. The default interface configuration of Exposure has it placed between the Detail and Tone Curve panels. Learn more about configuring the arrangement of the workspace in this user guide.

A – Color Filter

The tools in the top section apply color adjustments to the entire image.

B – Detailed Adjustments

In the lower section are controls are for making targeted adjustments to areas with a selected color hue, saturation, and luminance.

---

Color Filter

This group of tools simulate the effects of shooting through a colored filter mounted on the end of the lens. Color filters like these are frequently used in black and white photography, where they enhance brightness or contrast in a selection of tones.

1 – Preset Dropdown

Click to browse and apply customizable color filter presets that only use the Color Filter controls.

2 – Menu Button

Save, Delete, and Rename presets.

3 – Density

Control the intensity of the color filter settings applied to the image. The density amount must be set greater than zero to enable the Color slider.

4 – Color

Control the hue of the applied filter. Click the color chip on the right to access advanced controls for selecting the filter color.

5 – Cool/Warm

Add a creative warming or cooling effect to the entire image.

6 – Preserve Brightness

Prevent the applied color filter settings from lowering the overall image brightness as an analog filter would.

---

Detailed Adjustments

The Detailed Adjustments tools provide fine control over eight different color ranges in the image. They enable you to manipulate aspects such as the hue, saturation amount, and brightness of each color.

1 – Preset Dropdown

Click to browse and apply customizable color filter presets that only use the Detailed Adjustment controls.

2 – Group By

Arrange the color controls in groups by type or by color. HSL option selected in the image above.

3 – Hue

Adjust the color balance of each hue. For example reds can be made to appear more orange or more magenta.

4 – Saturation

Control the strength of each color tone.

5 – Luminance

Set brightness of each color.

6 – Menu Button

Save, Delete, and Rename presets.

7 – Compact

Enables a more compact layout for the detailed adjustments. Controls may be grouped by either HSL or Color.

8 – Targeted Adjustment

Select, then click a color sample in the image to apply adjustments. Exposure adjusts matching colors over the entire image as the mouse moves up or down.

---

Hue

The Hue sliders shift the tones in your photo. This provides detailed control over each of the eight tones available individually. For in-between color hues, use the Targeted Adjustment tool to tweak several sliders simultaneously.

1 – Hue disclosure

Close or open this set of controls.

2 – Hue Color sliders

Adjust balance of each color hue to the adjacent one on the color wheel.

3 – Targeted Hue Adjustment

Click this and select a color sample in the image to apply adjustments. Drag the mouse up and down to adjust the tones selected in the sample. This may adjust numerous sliders at once.

Saturation

The Saturation controls apply in increase or decrease to boost or subdue specific colors.

1 – Saturation disclosure

Close or open this set of controls.

2 – Saturation Color sliders

Adjust saturation value of individual colors. Note the color of each slider displays a visual hint for the saturation value at that range.

3 – Saturation Tone sliders

Edit the saturation of the shadows, midtones, or highlight values of the image regardless of color.

4 – Targeted Saturation Adjustment

Use this to select a color sample in the image to apply saturation adjustments. Drag the mouse up and down to adjust all the color tone sliders selected in the sample.

Luminance

Luminance determines the bright or dark quality of each color.

1 – Luminance disclosure

Close or open this set of controls.

2 – Color Luminance sliders

Adjust brightness of individual colors. Note the color of each slider displays a visual of the luminance value at that range.

3 – Targeted Luminance Adjustment

Use this to select a color sample in the image to apply saturation adjustments. Drag the mouse up and down to adjust all the color tone sliders selected in the sample.

---

Group By configurations

Group by: HSL

This arranges controls in a condensed format. This is a great option for smaller monitors or to streamline your workspace. It takes up less vertical space to minimize scrolling.

Group by: Color

---

Compact View

Enabling compact view is a great option for smaller monitors or to streamline your workspace. This arranges controls in a condensed format. It takes up less vertical space to minimize scrolling.

Compact Group by: HSL

Compact Group by: Color

---

The tools on the Color panel, and the other color manipulation tools in Exposure, offer fine control over all aspects of the colors in your photos. Thanks for reading our guide. We hope you enjoyed it. Save a link to this page if you need a reference for using the Color panel.

The post Color Panel User Guide appeared first on Exposure Software.

Customizing your photo editing workspace puts the controls you need at your fingertips, which speeds up your workflow. You can remove panels for controls you don’t use or relocate them to reduce distractions. There are lots of customizable aspects of the Exposure interface, which we discuss in this article.

Personalizing the Interface

Resizable docks appear along all four edges of the application window. Contained on the side docks are panels such as Folders, Presets, Basic, Color, and Tone Curve. The left and right docks are divided into upper and lower quadrants. Provide more room on the top or bottom quadrants by dragging the splitter. Moving the splitter to the edge of the dock will hide the quadrant.

1 – Dock

Docks group all of Exposures panels.

2 – Dock Visibility Toggle

Clickable dock visibility icon for toggling auto-hide for the dock.

3 – Panel

Contains sets of related controls for a specific purpose. For example, access Exposure’s library of film simulation presets from the Presets panel, or adjust white balance, exposure, and contrast on the Basic panel.

4 – Quadrant

Resizable upper or lower section of the left and right docks.

5 – Splitter

Movable divider for resizing docks or quadrants. Click and drag anywhere in the divider to move it.

---

Customizing Panels

There are several specific tools for configuring the order and placement of the panels. Right click within a quadrant and choose the Customize Panels… option to access them in the Preferences pane.

The quadrants in this view show the placement of panels in Exposure’s left and right docks. The panels within each quadrant can be moved to another quadrant, reordered, or hidden for your workflow needs. Click a panel name to toggle its visibility off or on. Hidden panel names will have a strikethrough. Drag and drop to change the order of the panels in a quadrant, or move them between quadrants.

Quadrant Controls

1 – Panels

Select the panel name from this list to toggle its visibility off and on. The check marks indicate if the panel is hidden.

2 – Show all / Hide all

Make all panels in the selected quadrant visible or hidden.

3 – Expand all / Collapse all

Close all panels in the quadrant or disclose all panels.

4 – Solo Mode

Only allow one panel to be open at a time within the quadrant. A great option for smaller monitors.

5 – Customize Panels…

Opens the Preferences pane for rearranging panels control options.

---

Managing Docks

There are docks attached to each side of the Exposure application window. Docks are where you can find all of the controls for organizing and editing images. Each dock can be hidden from view to eliminate distractions and give more room for your image. When hidden, the docks can still be accessed by moving the cursor near the window edge. When you move the cursor off of the dock, it will hide again. Lock them open with the dock visibility icon at the edge of the screen.

Keyboard shortcuts make operating the docks seamless. Press TAB to toggle the visibility of all docks locked open. Toggle individual docks closed and open by holding down ⌘+Shift, then pressing the corresponding arrow. For example, to hide the right dock, use ⌘+Shift+→.

Multiple monitors

Adding a second monitor provides more area to work on images. Photos can be viewed at full size on one screen with the grid and the docks on the other. Open the secondary display window with ⌘+F11 or Ctrl+F11.

Each display window has a keyboard shortcut for full-screen mode. Press ⌘+F to make the primary display window full screen, and ⌘+Shift+F for the secondary display. The primary and secondary display windows can be moved between each monitor when they are not in full screen mode.

The docks can be relocated to the secondary display. To move docks between display windows, access the controls from the application menu. Select Window > Customize Windows. This opens the Window preference pane. Selecting the dock checkboxes will relocate the corresponding dock to the secondary display.

---

As you can see, customizing the user interface is easy to do, and it’s a great way to make your editing in Exposure more efficient. We hope you learned something in this article. Save a link to this page for future reference.

The post Workspace User Guide appeared first on Exposure Software.

The histogram is a powerful tool for analyzing and adjusting tones in your photos. We put together this article to help you understand the histogram, including how to interpret its behavior, and how to use the tools in the panel.

What is the Histogram?

The histogram is a display of the distribution of tones captured in a photo. It graphs the tone values at each level of brightness found in the photograph. The graph ranges from black (0% brightness) on the left, to white (100% brightness) on the right. This visual depiction of the tone values enable you to instantly understand the exposure of an image. You can see whether any details are being lost to under or overexposure.

---

 

Histogram Tools

 

 

 

1 – Channel Selector

Select to display individual color channels Red, Green, or Blue, or display all colors on a combined histogram.

2 – Menu Button

Click the menu to customize the shadow or highlight clipping thresholds, or set the color sample size.

3 – Shadow Clipping

When active, displays a bright blue highlight on pixels in the image that are close to the set shadow clipping value.

 

4 – Highlight Clipping

When active, displays a bright red highlight on pixels that are close to the highlight clipping threshold. Highlight clipping is active in the example image.

5 – Color Sample

Hover over the preview image to display the color channel values for the selected pixel.

6 – Reset Button

Resets all tone adjustments applied to the selected image(s).

---

 

Interpreting the Histogram

The histogram values are grouped into zones that correspond to the controls on the Basic panel. Edits can be applied to the image and the effects will be reflected in the histogram in real-time.

 

 

 

A – Blacks

Darkest pixels in the image that we cannot differentiate or see detail. Controlled by the Blacks slider in the Basic panel.

B – Shadows

Dark areas, but we can see details and differentiate between colors. Controlled by the Shadows slider in the Basic panel.

C – Midtones

The largest zone in the histogram. Controls where we can see clear details and colors. The Exposure slider controls the tones in the middle of the histogram, the largest selection of tones in the image.

 

D – Highlights

Bright color pixels with less contrast. Controlled by the Highlights slider in the Basic panel.

E – Whites

The brightest pixels in the image. These are so bright that our eyes can’t differentiate between details or color. The Whites slider controls this section of tones.

---

 

Histogram Examples

The histogram provides a lot of detail about the image. The shape of the histogram tells you the range of tones captured in the photo. At a glance, it identifies whether any details are lost due to over or under exposure. Below are common histogram graph shapes and descriptions of what each one means for the photo.

Low Contrast

 

High Contrast

 

Underexposed

 

Overexposed

 

Controlling the Histogram

The histogram can be directly modified by clicking and dragging in each zone. Applying edits this way is exactly the same as using the sliders in the Basic panel.

Clipping Warnings

 

Exposure will warn you if the tones in the photo are dark or bright enough that detail is clipped and lost. Clipping is where the intensity in the image falls outside the minimum or maximum intensity that can be represented. When pixels meet the threshold for clipping, triangle icons appear at the top corners to indicate whether the clipped pixels are in the shadows or highlights.

The color of the icon will change depending on what colors are being clipped. Black indicates no colors are being clipped. White indicates multiple colors are being clipped.

Click the arrow icon to activate the clipping warning on the large preview image. Toggle highlight clipping with the arrow on the right or press F8. Toggle shadow clipping with the left arrow, or F7.

The clipping thresholds can be adjusted to your preference. Access the controls via the menu at the top of the panel.

The sample size can be adjusted. Use a single pixel or a 5×5 weighted average. In most cases, the weighted average is the better option.

---

 

As you can see, the histogram is a powerful feature with easy-to-use tools that make your photo editing workflow smooth. Save a link to this article for your reference. Thanks for reading.

The post Histogram User Guide appeared first on Exposure Software.

What is Infrared photography?

Infrared photography captures a different part of the light spectrum than traditional photography. The different wavelengths captured in this way create false-color or black and white images with dreamlike, psychedelic characteristics. Other attributes of IR photos include very dark skies, penetration of atmospheric haze, and portraits with a milky glow to the skin.

Infrared Controls

Apply simulated infrared photography characteristics with the tools in the panel.

Infrared Presets

The infrared spectrum of light is closer to that of thermal imaging than the visible wavelengths captured by traditional film or camera sensor. Infrared wavelengths penetrate atmospheric haze better than visible light, making Infrared film popular for landscapes.

The presets in Exposure can be used creatively for any subject. Especially the color infrared selections, which can give photos a psychedelic aesthetic. To make the effects more subtle, fine tune the strength of the look with the layer Opacity and the Overall Intensity sliders.

Black and White Infrared

The Wood Effect in black and white infrared photography will noticeably darken skies and oceans and brighten greens like foliage. The behavior is mainly caused by greenery strongly reflecting light, causing the distinctive glow. Analog Infrared film records radiant heat from objects, so the sky and ocean usually appear dark because they absorb light. Green from foliage, on the other hand, glows brightly because of the reflected wavelengths.

The Wood Effect can create more extreme contrast between the dark field of empty sky and bold, bright clouds. Similarly, bright highlights on crashing waves can benefit from the same treatment. In analog film, the darkening effects of IR films were enhanced by the use of color filters.

A – Kodak HIE

One of the most popular high-speed analog Infrared films. This family of presets have very strong Wood Effect attributes. Notice blooming around bright tones, bright glowing foliage, and intensified contrast in the sky.

B – Konica 750

The visible spectrum is more broad for this film, so the whitening of foliage and darkening of the sky is not as strong as Kodak HIE. These presets are a balanced middle ground.

C – Ilford SFX 200

This emulates a medium speed black and white film with extended red sensitivity. This preset is not as contrasty as the other black and white infrared presets.

Color Infrared

The Wood Effect in color infrared photography makes green foliage appear bright red. With infrared film, the shade of red or pink could be used to determine the health of plants.

Kodak Ektachrome EIR

Infrared-sensitive transparency film with fine grain and medium sharpness. Color filters were used in conjunction with color infrared film. This blocks out visible light in specific spectrums. The presets in Exposure simulate the use of the common color filters green, orange, and yellow.

Infrared photography effects are another one of the ways Exposure makes advanced editing simple. Thanks for reading our guide. We welcome you to save a link to this article as a reference if you ever have questions about using the Infrared tools.

The post Infrared Photography Guide appeared first on Exposure Software.

What are gradients?

Gradients create a layer mask and a fade transition for the effects on that layer.

When the Brush tool is open, the gradient controls appear on the large image in the middle of the screen. Close the Brush tool to hide the gradient tools from your view. When closed, the effects are still applied to your image. Press F5 on the keyboard to toggle the Brush tool open or closed.

Gradient Tools

Create and modify gradients with the tools in the panel. The Brush tool must be open to access these controls.

Creating Gradients

Gradient shapes define a mask with a smooth transition between effects. To create a new gradient, select a gradient shape. Move the cursor to the preview area to display the gradient controls.

Gradient shapes can be seamlessly integrated with other forms of masking. The Brush tool, for example, can be used to paint areas of the mask by hand. Additionally, the color constraints controls can be used to generate detailed masks based on the colors in your photo. Learn more about using those masking features in our 3D Color Masking Deep Dive video.

Note the On New Layer checkbox in the Add Gradient section. When this option is active, selecting any of the gradient shapes will create a new layer with that shape rather than apply multiple gradients in the same layer. When using multiple shapes on the same layer, press collapse to shrink the region controls. Expand collapsed regions by clicking the center handle.

Toggle Show Mask at any time to visualize the mask on the large preview image in the middle of the screen.

Controlling Gradients

Use the center handle to relocate the shape. For radial shapes, use the handles to stretch and rotate. For linear shapes, use the solid line to rotate. Adjust the transition of the effect with the dotted line.

Control the opacity of each individual gradient shape with the Opacity slider. Any adjustments made to gradient opacity will display in the mask. Shapes with lower opacity will appear grey rather than black or white in the mask thumbnail.

Check the Erase box, or press Invert to reverse the mask.

Remove unwanted gradient shapes with Delete.

This is just one of the ways Exposure makes advanced editing, simple. Thanks for reading our guide. You’re welcome to save a link to this post as a reference if you ever have questions about the gradient tools.

The post Gradient Tools Guide appeared first on Exposure Software.

What is Preset Audition?

Auditioning presets streamlines finding the perfect look for your photos. It’s easy to recognize even the most subtle differences between the presets when they are shown side-by-side.

Enter Audition mode by clicking the spotlight button on the top dock. Audition mode displays a single image and an arrangement of empty cells for comparing presets.

Audition Mode Tools

Auditioning Presets

With Audition mode activated, selecting a preset will audition it in an open cell. If one is not available, the oldest auditioned preset will be replaced. Presets can also be auditioned by dragging them to a cell. Learn more about Exposure’s extensive library of gorgeous film emulation presets and other creative effects in our applying film looks video.

When Apply is clicked, the preset in the selected cell is applied to the photo and Audition mode is closed. Doing so discards the other selected presets. When a preset is applied from Audition mode, it is placed in a new layer. Learn more about the layers controls in Exposure in this helpful user guide.

Select Discard to remove the preset from the cell. Alternately use drag-and-drop to replace the auditioned preset in that cell.

Pressing Esc will cancel, close Audition mode, and return to the grid view.

Photo Editing

Images can be edited when Audition mode is enabled. Any edits made to the image will be applied to all auditioned cells along with the auditioned presets. Editing tweaks are not part of preset auditioning. They are applied to the currently selected layer and will remain after Audition mode is closed, either by applying a preset or by canceling.

It’s easy to see how auditioning presets in Exposure streamlines finding the perfect look for your photos. Thanks for reading this guide. Save a link to this post for your reference.

The post Preset Audition Guide appeared first on Exposure Software.

The Layers Panel

The Layers panel is located in the top quadrant on the right of the screen. The default configuration of Exposure’s user interface has it placed between the Overall Intensity and the toolbar for the Crop, Spot Heal, and Brush tools.

Layer Controls

Layer Order

Edits on each layer are rendered in ascending order. The bottom layer’s adjustments are applied to the photo first, then the effects in the next layer are applied to the result of that. Click and drag to reorder layers. Access the layer operations rename, delete, erase, and copy from the right-click menu.

Layer Masks

Every layer has a mask associated with it, which controls where the effects from that layer are applied to the image. Masks are displayed in greyscale. When the mask is white, the effects from that layer are applied to the image. When the mask is black, the effects from that layer are hidden.

Use the brush tool to paint the mask by hand or use the gradients for seamless, natural fades. Learn more about creating masks with the brush and gradient tools in our Local Adjustments video.

Exposure’s 3D Color Masking features create sophisticated masks, easily. The color constraints controls use values in your image to target specific tonal ranges for the mask. Learn about Exposure’s 3D Color Masking features in our Deep Dive video.

Layer Visibility

The layer effects can be turned off or on with the toggle on the left of the Layers panel. When off, the layer will have no effect on the image.

Panel Tools

Layer Controls

There are several layer commands available from the right-click menu. These operations will affect the layer, editing adjustments, and layer mask. Adjustments to the Overall Intensity slider, spot healing, cloning, crop and rotate, lens correction, and transform effects are not included in layers.

Adjustment Controls

Copying editing adjustments between layers is a fast and useful editing technique. For more precise control over the settings copied from each layer, use the Copy Settings option from the Edit menu. Learn more about the adjustment selection options in our Working with Presets video.

Mask Controls

Masks can be copied, pasted, inverted, or reset from the options in the right-click menu. This includes color constraints, which automatically recalculate mask boundaries for the content of the image they are applied to. See a demonstration of this in our 3D Color Masking video.

As you can see, the Layers panel in Exposure is loaded with powerful, easy-to-use tools. Thanks for reading this guide. Bookmark this post for your reference in the future.

The post Layers Panel User Guide appeared first on Exposure Software.