One of the my favorite tools to use when post processing is the Radial Tool which can be found in either Adobe Camera Raw 7.0 and higher or Adobe Lightroom 6. The purpose of the Radial tool is direct attention to a certain focal point or subject by using a vignette effect. To be more specific I use it to really add drama and impact to my images by way of mood. The Radial filter allows you to make changes to a part of the image called a localized adjustment. This localized adjustment can be used to really draw your audience into a part of the image you want them to focus on. For most of my images this is where the main subject can be found. I can use the radial filter to do almost anything to this area of the image.
Where to Find The Radial Filter In Camera RAW
The Radial Filter Dialog Box In Camera RAW and Its Tools
In this article I will describe a few of my favorite techniques when using the radial filter.
How you chose to apply the filter depends on you and your vision for the image. Once the filter is open you are given several options when applying the filter.
Here are some of my favorite options when using the radial filter to create impact in images.
The first option is to either choose to have the effect on the inside or the outside of the radial filter. I like to apply the effect to the inside of the radial filter.
Once that is chosen you are then presented several different options to apply to that area of the image. When I am looking to add drama and mood to my image the first thing I do is decide on a mood for the image by choosing a warm or cool temperature for the area I am looking to have the viewer focus on. I am very fond of using a warm color temperature inside the radius of the radial took to create a strong tension. This is especially important when the rest of the image has a cooler overall tone. In general, studies have shown that people are more attracted to warmer colors. Applying a warm color temperature inside the radial filter is great way to draw the viewer into the part of the image you want them to look at.
Secondly, the next option is exposure and whether to increase or decrease it. As a general rule for maximum impact I like to do the opposite in the radial filter of what the rest of the image looks like. Thus, I have found that I like to increase the exposure inside the radial filter while overall globally decreasing the overall exposure outside the filter. This gives the image the added drama through light and tones. This all gives a certain mood to the image that I would describe as ethereal. I use the contrast, highlight, shadow, white, and blacks in conjunction with the exposure to achieve the desired effect. While exposure is the main tool, I use the other tools just mentioned help to accentuate the exposure to get it looking just right.
Thirdly, I like to use the combination of the clarity, dehaze, and saturation tools together to achieve a soft, surreal, and painterly look just inside the radial filter area. You can also combine these three tools with the sharpness and noise reduction options to really fine-tune your results. The subject inside the radial filter will determine whether you increase or decrease it. For example, if I am working with the sun or another source of light coming into the image; I will decrease the clarity and dehaze tools. I generally always increase the saturation a small amount within the radial filter to really maximize the impact.
The last important tool when applying the radial filter is the feather effect. By my experience I have always had good results with the feather at a high amount. Thus, the gradient is smooth and not as noticeable. It’s important for your changes in the radial filter to look natural even though the results are adding more drama.
Applying the radial filter is a great way to add a substantial impact and mood to your image overall. My choosing where to use it you can accentuate light and mood together to achieve excellent
The following is how to get to the radial filter within Photoshop:
***Important You Can Get To The Radial Filter In Camera RAW with the Shortcut Letter”J”
Or In Lightroom Shift + M
(The following instructions are direct from the Adobe Help Page on the Radial Filter)
you can also visit: https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/help/lightroom-radial-filter.html
The Radial Tool In Camera RAW
Before The Radial Tool In Camera RAW
While Applying The Radial Tool In Camera RAW
After Using The Radial Tool In Camera RAW
How To Get To The Radial Tool In Photoshop
- ) Open one of the following:
- Open a camera raw file.
- With an image open in Photoshop, choose Filter > Camera Raw Filter.
- ) Select the Radial Filter tool from the toolbar. Press J to toggle the Radial Filter tool.
- ) Use the New and Edit radio button options to choose whether you want to create a filter or edit an existing filter.
- ) Do one of the following:
- To create a Radial filter, click and drag across the region, and draw a circular or elliptical shape. This shape determines the area affected or excluded from the alterations you are about to perform.
- To edit a Radial filter, click any of the gray handles on the photo. When selected, the handle turns red.
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To determine what area of the photo is modified, choose an Effect option (located below the sliders).
- OutsideAll modifications are applied outside the selected area.
- InsideAll modifications are applied to the selected area.
- ) Adjust the size (width and height) and orientation of the Radial filter added. Select a filter and:
- Click and drag the center of the filter to move and reposition it.
- Hover the pointer over any of the four filter handles, and when the pointer icon changes, click and drag to change the size of the filter.
Hover the pointer close to the edge of the filter, and when the pointer icon changes, click and drag the edge of the filter to change the orientation.
Where To Find The Radial Tool In Lightroom
In the Develop module, select the Radial Filter tool from the too lstrip
- The Radial Filter tool (Shift + M) is available in the Develop module.
2) Do one of the following:
- To create a Radial Filter, click and drag the mouse across the region of interest. This will draw an elliptical shape, which determines the area that is either affected or excluded from the adjustments you perform.
- To edit an existing Radial Filter, click any of the gray handles on the photo
While drawing, press Shift to constrain the Radial Filter to a circle.
3) To determine what area of the photo is modified, select or clear the Invert Mask checkbox. The checkbox, by default, is not selected.
- Invert Mask not selected (default): Changing any setting affects the image region outside the marquee area.
- Invert Mask selected: Changing any setting affects the image region inside the marquee area.
4) Adjust the size (width and height) and orientation of the Radial Filter added. Select a filter, and:
- Click and drag the center of the filter to move and reposition it.
- Hover the pointer over any of the four filter handles, and when the pointer icon changes, click and drag to change the size of the filter.
- Hover the pointer close to the edge of the filter, and when the pointer icon changes, click and drag the edge of the filter to change the orientation.
The filter area is represented by an elliptical marquee area.
5) Use the adjustment sliders (shown in step 1) to create the desired visual changes. Use the Feather slider to adjust the visual falloff of the applied adjustment.
6) Repeat steps 2 through 5 to continue adding or editing filters.
7) Click Reset, to remove all the Radial Filters applied to your image.
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Kevin McNeal is a landscape photographer who resides in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. He focuses on grand colorful landscapes that reflect the most unique places on earth. Capturing moments of magic light and transferring this on print, images behold a combination of perseverance, patience, and dedication to capture the images in ways unseen before. The stories of how these images are rendered come across in the feelings the images convey.
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