SEim Effects LIghtroom PResets, Photoshop Actions, Effects

I’m super excited to announce the release on Creative Essentials. This is an action set you’ll use all the time. I’m using them like crazy on Seim Studios shoots and loving them. Even if you have no other actions, this set will keep you more creative, and more efficient.

C.E does not replace the popular Hollywood Effects Action set. It’s more like the missing link between my Lightroom presets and Hollywood Actions. It’s a set of workflow enhancing effects and tools that include sharpening. There’s a Video on the page that will show you all the power of Creative Essentials.

Check Em Out

I just finished the version 1.7 update for Hollywood Effects. There’s were no new effects added, but some good improvements were made. Here the version details.

If you already own Hollywood effects you’ll be getting a free update so check your inbox. If you don’t yet have Hollywood Effects check them out… Gav

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Hollywood Fashion and Sexy Soft were improved to be more universal. Glow control remains in the layers, but images will look better out of the box than before and require less (if any) adjustments.

The Reset Actions button has been added. This is really useful when running action in button mode (the easiest method of controlling actions) If an action is stopped in mid process however it will turn red to show and error. Hitting the reset actions button will return the entire set to normal without having to leave button mode.

Action order. I’ve changed the order of the actions and sorted them more to the intensity of the effect. You can of course re arrange them, but this seemed more natural to the workflow process.

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I‘ve been writing Photoshop actions for the up coming release of the Photographer Essentials collection (title subject to change)

I‘m pretty stoked about the progress. While the Hollywood effects action have a wide range of killer effects, I felt Seim Effects needed a collection that offered clean everyday effects and production tools. This set will not be replacing Hollywood Effects at all, but rather adding to the possibilities.

One example is the new Simple Soft. I wanted a softening effects that was not over the top. Just straightforward and cool looking. Simply soft is smooth and effective, without being complex. Heres a sample of Simply Soft II. It a subtle look that makes images amazing!

I‘ve also been working with a method to make Burn and Dodging easy and non destructive, yet have it apply to all layers. I’m really happy with the effects that are going to be in this set. It’;s not a repeat of our Hollywood Effects, but a whole new addition to the Seim workflow. There’s not an official release date yet, but these actions should be out in the next couple months. Stay tunes for news, or drop me an email to be notified… Gavin

If you follow my photography blog, you probably saw my latest digital art work, that I call Road to the past. As promised here is the details of how I made it.

I recently saw the movie Speed Racer, and liked the smooth saturated Anime like feel. Not that it would work for every image, but it had a good feel. So I started to work an some actions. I frequently get visual ideas from movies, and movie posters, and though I’m sure this does not meet the official standard for Anime, it was inspired by that look.

I‘ve finally found a sweet spot with a few adjustable actions that give a saturated, Anime type look, without looking fake and foolish. Here’s a bit of what I did to get this image.

This is my original image. This was taken on a side road of HWY 12 in Washington. A cool shot, but not yet spectacular…

My first job in making this into digital art, was to clone out the things I didn’t want. The goal here was not to make an exact representation of this scene, but use it as the model for the piece I really wanted. I also added some clouds in place of the blank sky that was in the corner. Below is the cloned version.

So when all the cloning was done the rest was easy now that I had the action I needed. I ran the effect I’ve titled Anime II, and then spent some time doing final adjustments on the layers & masks. Lastly I added subtle beams of light (look far up the road) to add some dimension do the image. Basically this was dome by painting white lines on a new layer, blurring them, adding a little outer glow, and then setting that layer to overlay mode.

I‘m happy with the finished product, and it looks great in print. I feel the effect is not too over the top, and yet still has a good feel to it that offer something more than just a plain photo. It’s close to that line between painted, and photograph, yet without looking automated. I’m defiantly loving these actions

If you want to hurry me along making these actions available, or want to be added to the notification list just drop me a note… Gavin Seim

Seim Effects now has it’s own page on Facebook. I’m finding FB a good way to network, and stay involved. What’s really cool is anyone can become a fan of the Seim Effects page. It’s a great way to stay up to date. It also helps spread the word, and show your friends that you use my Lightroom presets and effects, which I really appreciate. Speaking of staying up to date, I know I don’t post here nearly every day, but if you want more tips, articles and news theres a lot happening over at prophotoshow.net, and even a forum where me and lots of other great photographers hang out. It’s a fun community Also you can find me on Twitter where I try to post useful things at a moments notice. Gav

I love my Hollywood Effects actions and use them all the time, but I’m working on a brand new set, not to replace Hollywood, but to accent it.

With all the amazing glows and fantasy effects in H.E. I’ve ben thinking it’s time for some cool effects that are basic and down to earth. The new Photographer Essentials actions won’t be a huge set, but it’s going to have some really cool effects that you can use everyday.

The development of the set is in progress. Stay tuned for updates, and if you have something you’ll like to see in this set throw me a comment… Gav

Personally as a photographer I get pretty into creative post processing. I make lightroom presets, actions etc to super speed that workflow a lot, and I still find myself in front of the computer even though I don’t really need to be. Do you deal with this?

What’s on my mind today is how much playing with post can take away from our creative photography if we allow it to. I literally have so many images that I could spend months behind the computer trying to make art out of them.

I can get to a point where I’m in the studio just playing with the web, emails, photo’s etc. I can browse endlessly thru tech and photo blogs, and get all the great tips in the world but if I don’t go out and shoot I become only an observer.

This sounds crazy since I love photography, but sometimes I get in a mode where I tend not to pick up the camera unless it’s a paid job! I have to force myself to go out shooting somewhere. It can be a country drive, or just a walk down the street. Great images are everywhere , so if I am not finding a shot, I figure I need to spend more time learning to see the see the beauty in the things around me.

We don’t have to be on a roadtrip, or a brand new place to find great stuff to shoot. I know I get in this rut at times and maybe you do to. Though all this online content is great, there’s nothing like picking up a camera and getting out hands dirty. Getting a speedy workflow is always something I’m looking for, and it works great. I just need to remember to use that extra time to get creative behind the lens.

NOW STOP READING THIS AND GO SHOOTING!

Gavin Seim