Orton Effect Tutorial: Action Details

Action Details

This section describes the Actions provided by the Orton_Effect.atn file. If you don't want to download my file, you can recreate the Actions from these instructions. If you don't have Photoshop CS2 or better, you may be able to use these instructions to create similar actions in your favorite image editor.

	Make Groups This action creates the basic layer structure common to all of my Methods. All of the "Setup" Actions described below start from this set of layers. The actions are: Duplicate current layer, name the new layer "Sharp". Duplicate the Sharp layer, name the new layer "Sharp copy". Duplicate the Sharp copy layer, name the new layer "Blur". With the Blur layer selected, click on "Add Vector Mask" to create a blank mask. Select the Sharp Layer, press Ctrl-G to make Group 1. Set the blend mode on Group 1 to "Normal". Select the Sharp copy and Blur layers, press Ctrl-G to make Group 2. Set the blend mode on Group 2 to "Multiply". Select the image portion (not the mask) of the Blur layer. Leave this selection at the end of the action.
	Setup - Expcurves This method uses Curves to lighten the images before they are recombined. The curves are similar to the effect of a simple exposure adjustment, but with some of the highlight information preserved. The actions are: Start with the Make Groups action completed. Select the Sharp layer. Make a new curves adjustment layer (Menu: Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Curves...) Name the new layer "Expcurve 2.0" Set the points: (0,0), (51,96), (102,191), (255,255). OK the new curve. Select the Blur layer. Make a new curves adjustment layer (Menu: Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Curves...) Name the new layer "Expcurve 1.0" Set the points: (0,0), (70,96), (139,191), (255,255). OK the new curve. Select the image portion (not the mask) of the Blur layer. Leave this selection at the end of the action.
	Setup - Exposure This method uses Exposure adjustment layers to lighten the images before they are recombined. This adjustment is setup to mimic the original film procedure. The actions are: Start with the Make Groups action completed. Select the Sharp layer. Make a new exposure adjustment layer (Menu: Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Exposure...) Name the new layer "Exposure 2.0". Set the exposure to +2.00. OK the new layer. Select the Blur layer. Make a new exposure adjustment layer (Menu: Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Exposure...) Name the new layer "Exposure 1.0". Set the exposure to +1.00. OK the new layer. Select the image portion (not the mask) of the Blur layer. Leave this selection at the end of the action.
	Setup - RawExpose This method uses curves to approximate the lightening effect of a RAW exposure adjustment with 100% Recovery of the highlights. This adjustment is setup to mimic the original film procedure. The actions are: Start with the Make Groups action completed. Select the Sharp layer. Make a new exposure adjustment layer (Menu: Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Curves...) Name the new layer "Raw Exp 2.0". Set the points: (0,0), (11,35), (153,222), (217,246), (255,255). OK the new layer. Select the Blur layer. Make a new exposure adjustment layer (Menu: Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Curves...) Name the new layer "Raw Exp 1.0". Set the points: (0,0), (112,164), (192,222), (221,240), (255,255). OK the new layer. Select the image portion (not the mask) of the Blur layer. Leave this selection at the end of the action.
	Setup - Gamma This method uses Gamma to lighten the images before they are recombined. The Levels adjustment tool provides the gamma, which cannot be accurately approximated with Curves. The two gamma values are selected to give a gamma = 1.0 (no change) result in the final image. The actions are: Start with the Make Groups action completed. Select the Sharp layer. Make a new levels adjustment layer (Menu: Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Levels...) Name the new layer "Gamma 3.0". Set the middle slider (the gamma value) to 3.00. OK the new layer. Select the Blur layer. Make a new levels adjustment layer (Menu: Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Levels...) Name the new layer "Gamma 1.5". Set the middle slider (the gamma value) to 1.50. OK the new layer. Select the image portion (not the mask) of the Blur layer. Leave this selection at the end of the action.
	Setup - Screen This method uses Curves to lighten the images before they are recombined. The curves are selected to approximate the effect of screening the original image with a copy of itself. The actions are: Start with the Make Groups action completed. Select the Sharp layer. Make a new curves adjustment layer (Menu: Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Curves...) Name the new layer "Screen 1/2" Set the points: (0,0), (64,112), (127,191), (191,239), (255,255). OK the new curve. Select the Blur layer. Make a new curves adjustment layer (Menu: Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Curves...) Name the new layer "Screen 1/2" Set the points: (0,0), (64,112), (127,191), (191,239), (255,255). OK the new curve. Select the image portion (not the mask) of the Blur layer. Leave this selection at the end of the action.
	Add Screen 1/2 This action creates a curve adjustment layer that approximates the lightening effect of combining a image with itself using Screen. The actions are: Make a new curves adjustment layer (Menu: Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Curves...) Name the new layer "Screen 1/2" Set the points: (0,0), (64,112), (127,191), (191,239), (255,255). OK the new curve.
	Add Screen 1/3 This lightening curve is meant to be used in a pair with Screen 2/3 listed below. The actions are: Make a new curves adjustment layer (Menu: Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Curves...) Name the new layer "Screen 1/3" Set the points: (0,0), (64,85), (127,173), (191,234), (255,255). OK the new curve.
	Add Screen 2/3 This lightening curve is meant to be used in a pair with Screen 1/3 listed above. The actions are: Make a new curves adjustment layer (Menu: Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Curves...) Name the new layer "Screen 2/3" Set the points: (0,0), (64,147), (127,210), (191,244), (255,255). OK the new curve.
	Add Expcurve 1.0 This action creates a curve adjustment layer that approximates the linear exposure +1.00 correction, with some curvature to preserve the highlights. The actions are: Make a new curves adjustment layer (Menu: Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Curves...) Name the new layer "Expcurve 1.0" Set the points: (0,0), (70,96), (139,191), (255,255). OK the new curve.
	Add Expcurve 2.0 This action creates a curve adjustment layer that approximates the linear exposure +2.00 correction, with some curvature to preserve the highlights. The actions are: Make a new curves adjustment layer (Menu: Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Curves...) Name the new layer "Expcurve 2.0" Set the points: (0,0), (51,96), (102,191), (255,255). OK the new curve.
	Add Raw Exp 1.0 This action creates a curve adjustment layer that approximates the Camera Raw exposure +1.00 correction, with 100% Recovery of the highlights. The actions are: Make a new curves adjustment layer (Menu: Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Curves...) Name the new layer "Raw Exp 1.0" Set the points: (0,0), (112,164), (192,222), (221,240), (255,255). OK the new curve.
	Add Raw Exp 2.0 This action creates a curve adjustment layer that approximates the Camera Raw exposure +2.00 correction, with 100% Recovery of the highlights. The actions are: Make a new curves adjustment layer (Menu: Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Curves...) Name the new layer "Raw Exp 2.0" Set the points: (0,0), (11,35), (153,222), (217,246), (255,255). OK the new curve.