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Whilst going through some old images for a printed portfolio I was trying to save an image to see if it was worth it (it wasn't). I decided to pull it into CS3 as a RAW (it was taken as a JPEG) as this allowed me to play with the settings through ACR. I came up with two distinctly different results and am not sure which processing I like best. I was going for the hand drawn and then water coloured / coloured pencil look without resorting to a filter, they are both de-saturated quite a bit, one slightly more than the other.

Sample 1. More contrast and edge definition on the darks makes a moody image.


Sample 2. Less contrast, makes a more whimsical image.


I'm almost wondering if something through the middle would achieve the look I want. I'm thinking this may make a nice style to print on canvas. Would really appreciate your opinions, does it work, or should I go back to bed and not get up for a week before touching Photoshop again

Thanks for looking

Brett

Brett, I am not really a motor racing fan (although I will watch a bit on TV from time to time), so my comments should be discounted accordingly.

I don't think the desaturation works. Motor racing is loud, fast, in your face and colourful. The cars are (initially at least) beautifully finished
and brightly painted. Reduce the colours and - to me anyway - you lose an important aspect of the way it looks.

Otherwise, the shot looks pretty good to me!

i'd have to agree with Greg...
they need more colour not less IMHO

Hmm not quite what I was going for, but here is more saturation for a concept.



What I was originally thinking was something similar to a b&w print I have, perhaps I should have taken the colour out and turned it into a B&W to get the effect I was aiming for...

Brett,

I prefer the 3rd image, although I think the colour needs to be toned back a tad.

ATJ wrote:Brett,

I prefer the 3rd image, although I think the colour needs to be toned back a tad.

I'm going extremes here Andrew, not trying to make it look like a normal shot, that bit is easy But I'll tone it back a little when I get back on my laptop later this evening...

probably a bit much as the shadows look painted on .

picky lot aren't we

Big Red wrote:picky lot aren't we

No doubt about that!

Having said that, I prefer #3 but think it's a bit much as well

Sorry been busy with other projects

But finally got back to it last night.

Brett,

I like the last one.

Yeah, love it. Guess I'm a traditionalist when it comes to some subjects

If you changed the angle, so that the car/image appeared to face downhill (from right to left) would the car be traveling faster?