Adjusting Images in Spectra and myStratus

The Workflow hub includes some powerful tools for adjusting your images. Use these tools to adjust levels, curves, brightness, contrast, tone, and more. You can save a set of adjustments and apply it to multiple images with just a click! All adjustments are non-destructive and can be applied to your hi-res images before retouching or rendering.

Adjustment Panel Overview #

Highlight a session (with images) on the Workflow hub and click Adjustments on the ribbon to open the Image Adjustments panel.

Presets #

Use presets to save adjustments that are typical for your workflow and will potentially be used in all your sessions. You can create, modify, and delete presets as needed. A No Adjustment preset is included in your software and is used to strip all adjustments from an image.

Creating a Preset #

1. Select an image and make adjustments as needed.

2. Click Save to a New Preset in the Presets panel.

3. Give the preset a name and click OK to save.

4. The software will automatically assign a hot-key combination to the first 10 presets in your list. Right-click in the image viewer and hover over Adjustments on the menu to see the assigned hot-keys.

Applying a Preset #

There are several ways to apply a preset to an image (or set of images) on the Workflow hub.

• Adjustments Panel – Select an image (or set of images) and choose the preset from the drop-down list in the Presets panel.

• Right-Click Options – Select the image(s), right-click and choose the preset from the Adjustments menu.

• Hot-Key – Select the image(s) and use the hot-key combination.

• Ribbon – Select the image(s), click the Adjustments down arrow on the ribbon, go to Apply Preset and choose the preset.

Adjustment Tools #

The following is a brief description of the tools available on the Adjustments Panel.

• Histogram – Displays the histogram of the selected image. The histogram will change as image adjustments are made. Note: If multiple images are selected, the histogram will be blank.

• Perfectly Clear – [optional] The Perfectly Clear plug-in delivers several patented automatic correction tools, including:

  • Exposure
  • Depth/Contrast
  • Skin & Depth Bias
  • Fidelity
  • Vibrancy
  • Skin Smoothing
  • Sharpening
  • Skin Tone
  • Teeth Whitening
  • Face Contouring
  • Blemish Removal
  • Shine Removal
  • Light Diffusion
  • Eye Enhance
  • Eye Enlarge
  • Dark Circles
  • Catchlights

  
  Several presets are also included with this plug-in, such as “Vivid,” “Newborn,” “Fix Dark,” and more. See the Perfectly Clear Plug-In topic for more information.

• Adjustments – Use the slider, arrows, or entry box to adjust the following:

  • Brightness
  • Contrast
  • Hue
  • Saturation
  • Lightness
  • Red
  • Green
  • Blue
  • Color Temp
  • Exposure

• Levels – Adjust the input and output levels for the image (or each channel) with the sliders and/or entry boxes.

• Curves – Fine tune the overall image (or each channel) using the sliders, entry boxes, or by manipulating the curve.

Tips for Adjusting Images #

• View Original – Check and uncheck View Original to toggle between the original and the adjusted image.

  

• Copy and Paste Adjustments – You don’t need to create a preset to apply adjustments to multiple images within a session. Just make the adjustments on one image and click Copy the Current Adjustments to the Clipboard (or Ctrl+C). Then select another image (or images) and click Apply the Adjustments from the Clipboard (or Ctrl+V).

  

• Undo – Click Undo (or Ctrl+Z) to undo the most recent adjustment for single selected image.

  

• Right-Click Options – Right-click in the Image Viewer to quickly access many editing tools, such as crop, rotate, and more. Choose a preset from the Adjustments section of the menu to apply to selected image(s).

  

• Multi-Select – Use Ctrl-Click or Shift-Click to select multiple images. Any adjustments you make will be applied to all selected images.

• Adjust a Composite – Adjustments can be made to an entire composite or to an individual node.

• Reset an Image – You can always return to the original image by using the No Adjustment preset.

  

Applying Adjustments #

Image adjustments made in Spectra/Stratus Desktop can be automatically applied to the hi-res image(s) before retouch or rendering.

• Before Retouch – Go to the Digital tab in Company (Studio) Preferences and check the Auto-Apply Image Adjustments Before Retouching option. Image adjustments will be applied to hi-res images before they are opened in Photoshop (or your image editing software). See also: Company (Studio) Preferences – Digital

  

• Before Rendering – When creating a render profile, check Apply image adjustments. Image adjustments will be applied to the hi-res image(s) during the rendering process. See also: Rendering Images