"Photoshop LAB Color

I was going to look for this book locally, today. I'll let you know my novice thoughts as I already do some work in LAB space now.

 

I ordered the book from amazon.ca and can't wait to receive it.

 

Iliah,

After checking few topics from Roman Johnston on DPR, I called local Barnes and Nobles and got myself a copy. Didn't look in the book yet but I have read nothing but excellent feedback about it.

Here are few topics

- http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=14874477
- http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=14866745
- http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=14869821

 

After looking at some of the examples using Lab space for processing I must admit some skepticism. They talk about having spent 30 to 45 min. to process their image in RGB only to get mediocre results. Spending 5 min. in Lab and they have fantastic results. Something doesn't compute for me. First of all it would be extremely rare for me to spend 30 minutes processing a landscape image and second of all I do not find it particularly difficult to make the colors pop using RGB color space. Either their original image was very poor or they are not too good at using PS CS.

I am not knocking the book as I haven't read it. Based on the comments and the fact that it is #1 on the best seller list at Amazon.com I would guess the book is excellent. Am I missing something.

 

I can somewhat relate to your skepticism; some of the feedback is so glowing that it makes you wonder. I too rarely spend anywhere near 30 minutes post-processing an image unless there is some complicated masking involved (which I really hate to do and will only resort to if absolutely necessary). I'm already familiar with things like sharpening the lightness channel, or using layers with a blend mode of "luminosity". What I haven't done is actually work with LAB for color correction, so I do think this will be an interesting book. That said I'm not really expecting it to change my life or anything.

 

Thanks for your responses Iliah and Jeff, you both make some valid points. I have even thought about buying the book but like you Jeff I don't expect it to change my life.

 

I purchased this book today and so far have read the first 4 chapters. So far I have understood everything but I'm sure that will change. Dan has a good writing style.

 

Iliah,

I am now many chapters into the LAB book and have a question for you. Since current RAW converters do not render an editable file in LAB profile what is the best profile to convert from? I assume you would want the largest possible but with so many conversions, RAW to BetaRGB to LAB to sRGB, wouldn't there be an increasing odds of rounding errors.

 

Thanks for the quick reply Iliah. I figured there was some use of LAB in RML but what about profile choice for NC? Does the same 16bit rule apply to it?

 

Thanks again.

I will leave you alone now. :wink:

 

Tell her Happy B-day from us! :biggrin:

Break out the single malt later. :wink: :wink:

 

Darn it!

I am REALLY disappointed.

I ordered the Margulis book a few days ago.....it should arrive on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Now I learn from this thread that it will NOT change my life after all?? Whatever must I try next?

Seriously though, it should at least be an interesting read, and by all accounts Lab space offers some interesting (and relatively nondestructive) opportunities for tweaking colors and tonality.

Best wishes,

David

 

I got it yesterday and am still on the first chapter. It looks good so far. Right away, though I noticed I can lift more weight on my bench press. It's also noticeably improving my....ahem...never mind!

:wink:

Rich