Clair’s Colour Pop #1
This is a one step (or as close as you can get to one with a preset) colour enhancement preset created in ACR in CS3 (also available for Lightroom) so it should work in CS3 and higher (maybe even CS2 as well). It is for RAW images only. If you would like more information on editing with RAW images and using Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) please have a look at my information page.
I find this preset is best suited to images that fit one or more of the following criteria:
- slightly under exposed or “cool” in appearance
- images taken outdoors with natural light.
- images with no obvious colour cast
- 3/4 or full length shots (not just mug shot/close up portraits)
- images without too much grain or digital noise.
- back-lit images and images with visible artistic sun flare.
Like all presets it will not necessarily work on all images, you will have the best results if you use it on an image that fits the above criteria. And that criteria is based on how i personally prefer my images to appear before i begin to edit.
This preset is designed to create a simple clean colour enhancement. It will create a saturated colour effect and will generally enhance and brighten an under exposed flat image. It is aimed at hobbiest photographers who would like to create that “modern highly saturated commercial look” that many professionals achieve, without having to fluff around with the image too much.
Included with the Colour preset is a basic Saturation Boost action that will run in Photoshop. This action can be used over the top of the preset once, twice or even three times to subtly increase the “poppi-ness” of the colours and add that extra bit of oompf to the image if you think it needs it.
