Technique challenge#3-Ready for some fun, creativity and perhaps to learn something new? So what is a technique challenge? The host challenger selects a specific “technique” to try. It may be brand new for some, or just a challenge to be creative for others. we have Kathy Burzynski @myhrhelper to thank for instigating this as a way to learn new things.
In technique challenge #3 we will learn and experiment with
the processing technique of split-toning
In film photography this is the process of colouring a black and white photo so that the highlights are tones of one colour and the shadows another. These days all the main photo processing software has a split-toning feature built-in and you can apply it to both black and white or colour photos. Colour theory plays a part in the colours chosen as it enhances a particular mood, it can also give retro or abstract results.
to get you started this link explains a bit about what split-toning is. Further down on the page it has links to tutorials for lightroon, aperture, gimp and photoshop to tell you how to do it. and there are some examples there also. Other software probably has a way to do split-toning too, all I can say is google it for your software, there is a ton of stuff online, or ask below and hopefully someone will be able to help.
I am just learning about this technique myself so can't offer much in the way of expert tips so anyone is welcome to add to the discussion below what they know and/or put up their split-toned photographs for comment. Make sure you add notes in your description about what you did and how you feel about the results.Constructive & kind feedback is encouraged.
To post a photo on this thread:
1) Go to your page that has the photo you would like to post.
2) Find the code located toward the bottom right side of your page. The code is on the right side of the word "share". Copy that code and paste it in this thread.
This theme will run for 10 days from today ( Thursday 18th to Sunday 28th April ) To qualify for the challenge photos must be taken within the challenge dates. Enter as many as you like. Voting will last about 3 days. The winner will host a new challenge (or gets someone else to host it).
@spirrowshoot lol glad you are so enthused Spirrow, I look forward to seeing your entries, do you use this technique ? a lot of your work appears to be split toned.
This is a great idea! Instantly fascinated.
I've done something like it in GraphicConverter, but with a much more extreme result.
Check the tag 'black hole sun': http://365project.org/tags/black%20hole%20sun
@humphreyhippo@brav@cameronknowlton@srahman
As people post photos on Split Toning please also feel free to add suggestions and comments as well. These technique challenges are meant to be ways to learn these techniques so suggestions are always welcome. kali66@ I am really looking forward to learn more about split toning. I am really excited about this one since it is so new for me.
one not-so-obvious step in Lightroom is to click B&W to convert to Black and White first, then do your split toning. otherwise, you'll end up with other colours in your photo as well.
I like to sample 2 colours from the photo itself to use as the split tones.
@cameronknowlton plenty of time to come up with another or two, so many possibilities with this technique, your shot above looks very accomplished. and good point about b&w as first step
I'm posting this because I want feedback - no hurt feelings. What tones would you do in this type of shot - is there something you would do different to take the most advantage of this technique? It sure looks different on here than it did in Lightroom though, I liked it better in LR.
@myhrhelper really depends what feeling you were going for, these colours have a cool, quiet feel, I like the mistyness in the middle. Do you know what colour space you are saving your files in, I wonder if that could be affecting how it appears on here?
@kali66 thanks for your comments regarding my rose picture. I will have another crack at the processing and see if I can get a hint of colour into it. I did follow a PSE tutorial as until I saw the challenge I had no idea about split toning!
@tigerdreamer my first impression of this is that there are a lot of mid-tones, and i copied it into photoshop on my computer to look at the histogram in levels and there was a big peak around the middle, not much toward black and not much near white. when I did the toadstools I noticed the only parts that took the highlight colour was the stalk and the spots on the caps, because they were closest to white, the rest was all from mid to dark so took the background colour. I guess what I am trying to say is that you need to start with an image that has a broad range of tones to get the full benefit of the two colours. You could try boosting the contrast, that makes a difference and brings out the purple.
Here is another attempt of mine. I tried to look for something that has darks & lights to bring out the colors. This really is fun @kali66 and opened a whole new world for me.
PLEASE - feel free to critique, suggest ways to improve it, what you like/don't like etc. No hard feelings on my part.
@myhrhelper kathy this has come up wonderful, you have great separation in the two colours with this image. the different colour choices from your first image have produced a totally different feeling, this time cold and unwelcoming. such potential in this technique
@grammyn this certainly has toning, amazing that you can get this effect in-camera. the first film ones were a black and white photo with sepia colouring added to the highlights so I think this qualifies ;)
This was fun! I was trying to capture the brisk below-freezing temp as I tried for a morning sunrise shot over Lake Michigan. I focused on the surf and hoped to accentuate the spray.
I used an app called PhotoForge2
First I used Channel mixer to convert my full color photo into a custom black and white photo, and then Color Balance to add the colors to the highlights and shadows. From what I read about split toning, this is the easiest technique. I think it turned out ok.
My third attemp... ;-p
I use GraphicConverter, and manually split the picture into a b&w version and a colour tone version, and then combine them in a HDR tool.
@kali66@cameronknowlton Cameron Kali asked me to continue hosting this challenge for a few days since she will be unavailable. I agreed but since split toning is brand new to me and you seem to have a much better understanding of it I am wondering if you could continue hosting this challenge while Kali is gone? I don't think I would be able to add any valuable comments.
If Cameron can't is there anyone willing to host this while Kali is unavailable??? I'm hoping for someone who is experienced in this technique who can offer suggestions to those who post.
@myhrhelper just saw your message... I'm swamped at work, I'm afraid I couldn't afford the time this week. I'll be more relaxed after month's end. thank you for thinking of me, though!
@myhrhelper don't sweat it Kathy, I just thought you might be able to comment on people's photos and give them a pat on the back for me lol, I'm back now :)
The bulk of the lighting is this shot was provided by harsh yellow street lamps, which robbed the square of its normal range of colours. So, I opted to process yesterday's POTD as a split tone, using hues that I sampled from the original photo:
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Love at first sight.
Thank you.
I've done something like it in GraphicConverter, but with a much more extreme result.
Check the tag 'black hole sun': http://365project.org/tags/black%20hole%20sun
this shot is out of the time range, but I liked the split toning that I chose:
. @nadaa @abhijit @tctime @kasselphotography @wenbow @david68 @julie @ruthmouch @emmy555 @nikkic @vickisfotos @peterdegraaff @kph129 @ruthmouch @soboy5 @lfrans @nyusha @northy @jenniferruge @hudamor @kerristephens @ljm @ozziehoffy @boatpainter @michaelelliott @eniaral @abhijit @cottoncandy @ajes @sitha @artseyanne @aprilmilani @humphreyhippo @todimf @marilyn @kdimagery @archaeofrog @grizzlysghost @tigerdreamer @welcometocarolworld @tthompsonca @aromatic @salza @wenbow @lstasel @tctime @tryeveryday @myhrhelper @mikehamm @aleksandra
@traeumerlein @debrac @bernicrumb @geocacheking @northy @hehe1308 @rosiekind @tulipgirl @ferry_tjan @chapjohn @polarvrtx @_amyd_ @lstasel @wenbow @la_photographic @mikehamm @hehe1308 @saranna @pocketmouse @saranna @losthorizon @losthorizon @janmaki @debrac @debrac @losthorizon @petaqui @pschtyckque @pschtyckque @abhijit @swilde @spiralgrooves @spiralgrooves @onie @myhrhelper @mikehamm @tigerdreamer @jsw0109
@geertje @tigerdreamer @djepie @lyno @newbie @newbie @mikegifford @aurorajane @humphreyhippo @andycoleborn @mortisa @bentcherry @5unflow3r @traeumerlein87 @newbie @pocketmouse @rockinrobyn @ajes @johntimothy
@judithg @espyetta @smithak @jannkc @cheribug @hjbenson @mikehamm @rosiekind @tishpics @brumbe @roachling @ca_dev @tanja_1211 @cjdkc555 @snipsnap @sugarmuser @lynnb @doorknee71 @buttercup @groovygirlrn @rockinrobyn @ladykassy46 @tishpics @boogie @mgirard @httpgeffed @sianipops @paulaag @traeumerlein87 @hown @mantha @lorraineb @danig @harley84 @salza @mantha @monika64 @shannew @wenbow @steefsje @nicolecampbell @bdb3471 @iqscotland @jannkc @northy @sailingmusic @la_photographic @lleucullwyd @summerfield @mikehamm @bardejov @mikegifford @jjefferies @httpgeffed @tryeveryday @aromatic @tigerdreamer @lyoungs1023 @beba8162 @abhijit @lstasel @melee09 @rockinrobyn @vase @lynnb @hopess13 @luckypennydreamer @snipsnap @copperheadglass @rmkgreene @synke @marshmallows @marshmallows @traeumerlein @chapjohn @debrac @sobefree @tulipgirl @tthompsonca @tthompsonca @dhostick @bonniebouman @harley84 @sassyinma
@webfoot @brav @mikegifford @automaticslim @tthompsonca @terryvet92 @daisy
As people post photos on Split Toning please also feel free to add suggestions and comments as well. These technique challenges are meant to be ways to learn these techniques so suggestions are always welcome. kali66@ I am really looking forward to learn more about split toning. I am really excited about this one since it is so new for me.
I like to sample 2 colours from the photo itself to use as the split tones.
toxic looking toadstools
PLEASE - feel free to critique, suggest ways to improve it, what you like/don't like etc. No hard feelings on my part.
I used an app called PhotoForge2
First I used Channel mixer to convert my full color photo into a custom black and white photo, and then Color Balance to add the colors to the highlights and shadows. From what I read about split toning, this is the easiest technique. I think it turned out ok.
I use GraphicConverter, and manually split the picture into a b&w version and a colour tone version, and then combine them in a HDR tool.
If Cameron can't is there anyone willing to host this while Kali is unavailable??? I'm hoping for someone who is experienced in this technique who can offer suggestions to those who post.
a long exposure shot using welding glass as an ND filter
http://365project.org/jackie8/flowers/2013-04-24">
I followed the lightroom tutorial on lightstalking.