Photo Retouching

Retouching is our last step in image creation, a step that can be more complicated then you may think and is paramount for a working backdrop.

Panoramic Blending

As noted in a prior section, our backdrops are usually a hybrid of a few panorama, especially when multiple camera angles need to be used for large sweeping views. For example, the backdrop of Portland (see below) is a blend of five different panoramas created from two camera angle and the Cape Cod backdrop is a blend of seven panoramas from three camera angles. Here retouching is used to ensure a continuous and smooth transition throughout the image without any evidence of the seams.

Translight Editing

In order for a translight to work properly on set, there needs to be a perfect pixel for pixel registration between the day and night image. Although much of this battle happens on location while photographing the scene, it would be impossible to ensure all leaves or branches in the two images would align. Not to mention skies and shadows would change throughout the day and some objects, like cars, could be in one but not the other. To solve this, we often will need to blend cut outs from the day version to drop into the night version to ensure perfect registration.

“Photoshopping,” Sky Replacements & The Weather

As nice as it would be to be able to control the weather and all other aspects of site preparation, often we need to settle on correcting this in post. The most common task performed in post is sky replacements, which, thankfully, Photoshop is making easier and easier. This not only ensure matching day and night skies, but can go a long way to making a dreary day look more vivid. To this effect, we have a library of skies we have captured over the years to drop in when need be. Likewise, “Photoshopping” out cars, electrical wires, trademarks and political posters, and even trees are often part of post processing.

De-Winterizing

Technically a type of weather post processing, de-winterizing is a specialty all its own and can encompass a variety actions. These could be snow and ice removal, asphalt and pavement replacements, shortening of building shadows, and/or adding leaves to trees and shrubs. Although a more intensive retouching effort, we have refined our de-winterization over the past year with new software packages allowing for a much more efficient operation. With that said, plan on adding an additional week to production for de-winterization.