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Lumenzia: Other

The bottom of the panel includes PreBlend and visualization tools.

PreBlend

Manual exposure blending ("manual HDR"). The first video shows the PreBlend function to automatically stack, align, and sort exposures. The second video shows one approach to blend exposures once they are stacked. The third video shows how to use PreBlend with a single exposure (note that this function requires Photoshop CC or later).

Zone "Map"

See how the tones in your image are distributed to help edit or select the right zone mask.

“Split”: split-screen view

This video shows how you can see both your mask and final image, which is incredibly helpful when painting on a mask to refine it.

✓Sel (visualization tool)

See and edit any luminosity selection just like a layer mask. No more marching ants!

✓luminosity (visualization tool)

This video shows how to use the visualization tool to retouch subtle problems.

✓dust

This video shows how to use the visualization tool to remove sensor dust.

Converting to Linked PSB

Lightroom does not support files larger than 4GB TIFs, which can be a problem with layered luminosity mask files. Lumenzia includes an option to help save files of any size AND still view them in Lightroom (requires Photoshop CC 2015.2 or later) .

Shortcuts

Many Lumenzia buttons offer extra options by holding a modifier key (such as <alt/option>) while clicking the key. You can see what these options are by simply hovering over a button to see the “tooltips”, or by consulting the written materials included in te download ZIP file.

Additionally, there are many keyboard shortcuts for Photoshop that you may find handy while working with Lumenzia. Here’s a quick list of many helpful shortcuts:

Working with Masks:

  • <alt/option>-click a layer mask to view it. This is a helpful way to paint on a mask to refine it.<alt/option>
  • Drag-and-drop a mask to move it to another layer:
  • <alt/option>-drag-and-drop a mask to copy it to another layer
  • <shift>-click layer mask to disable/enable it. This is a great way to see hidden parts of the layer or a get a sense of what something would look like if you paint with more white on the mask.
  • To delete a layer mask (without deleting the layer), click the mask and then click the trashcan icon


Working with Selections:

  • To create a masked adjustment layer that isn’t part of Lumenzia (such as a Color Balance layer), just click the “Sel” button to load the mask as a selection, and then use Photoshops normal button to create a Color Balance layer. The selection will automatically be turned into a mask on the new layer. Alternatively, use the “remask” button to load a mask preview onto an existing layer.
  • <ctrl/cmd> <h> to hide/show marching ants
  • <ctrl/cmd> <d> to deselect (get rid of selection)
  • <ctrl/cmd>-click a mask or channel to load it as a new selection


Dodging and Burning on gray/transparent pixel layers:

  • <b> to enable the paintbrush. Paint with white to lighten, black to darken. You can also paint with color to enhance or shift colors (set the lightness value to 50% if you want to change color without lightening or darkening).
  • <d> to load the default black and white paint, <d> then <x> to switch which is the foreground color for painting
  • <e> to enable the eraser and removing dodging and burning.


Other common shortcuts:

  • <shift>-<alt/option>-<ctrl/cmd> <E> to “stamp visible” or create a new layer that is a merged copy of all the existing layers. (Lumenzia Basics includes a button for this).
  • <space> to temporarily use the hand tool to move around the image. This is very useful when working on a zoomed-in portion of the image.

Troubleshooting

If Lumenzia seems to run more slowly than your demo videos:

  • One additional step you can take to speed up Lumenzia is to close or hide the histogram and properties panels. Properties is what displays curves, BW mix, etc. If either of these are open, Photoshop will slow down as it tries to update this display while running Lumenzia’s scripts. I like to leave properties docked as an icon (that keeps it out of the way, but easily accessible).
  • Lumenzia’s speed is primarily determined by your computer hardware and Photoshop settings. Please see this article on optimizing Photoshop.