Most of the books I have acquired about digital photography have only one or two sections, which I find useful in processing my images. This means that I had to acquire a huge and expensive library of books, each of which has what I need from time to time, but not a single book is comprehensive enough to serve as a reference for the first choice. This means that when I need information about some aspect of the digital workflow, I have to remember which book it is in, put my hands on the book, and then find the page I want. Sounds familiar?
Would it be great to have a comprehensive link and quickly and easily find the right information?
123di, “123 Interactive Digital Image Training Package” aims to meet this need of photographers at all levels of skill.
Almost all my digital images need some processing after image capture. Taking these great shots can be fun, but the resulting images can be frustrating. When I need information on how to fix image problems and convert casts in stores, I want to find it quickly.
As a photographer, the ability to find the information I need quickly * is very important. I found that 123di offers several ways to do this. In addition to reading a manual, such as a printed book, you can quickly find the information you need.
- Photoshop interactive graphical user interfaces,
- digital image processing workflow diagrams,
- custom bookmarks
- interactive slideshow
- index,
- before and after images and
- frequently asked questions digital image processing.
Common problems with images that often need to be corrected with subsequent processing include
- posterization,
- loss of detail shadow,
- white, overexposed areas,
- dust spots
- curved horizon
- wide-angle lens distortion
- and distracting flashes.
Why do these problems appear in the images? If you are like me, sometimes you just want to point and shoot. I do not always worry about the camera settings, or sometimes I just forget about the critical setting of the camera.
For example, over-exposure can usually be avoided by setting the camera to underexpose images from -1/3 to -1: if this is done, the details in bright highlights are unlikely to be lost. The camera's exposure compensation is adjusted for this. Do I always do this? Nope This is one of the reasons why I need a tool such as Photoshop to correct such image defects - and why I need a complete reference guide, for example 123di, to tell me how * to use this tool.
123di makes it easy to find solutions to problems with images, as shown above. For example, I had an overexposed image that I wanted to use for a slideshow. The image required a correction for posterization. A quick search for the 123di manual for posterization using the search function in the enhanced version of 123di showed 48 links! Compare this result with what you find in the index of your favorite book on photography!
It should be noted that some problems can be corrected in any given image. Sometimes it takes a lot of methods to bring out the best in the image. I admit, I have not yet taken the * perfect * image; but since I am not a photo journalist, I don’t need to deliver my digital images not affected by the processing. I can use any of the methods described in 123di to either make my images closer to the stage, as I saw it, or just make a beautiful picture.
Helping a photographer to find information of interest was the main goal of 123di from the very beginning. In fact, the 123di manual contains a special section on how to quickly find topics of interest. This section is contained in Appendix B "How to quickly find what you want in 123di." One of the methods uses the “Keyword Index”, which allowed me to quickly find the relevant sections containing solutions to problems that I often have to correct.
I got access to the index and easily found a posterization poster with links to relevant sections for more information. Solutions to other problems listed above are also easy to find through an index, including how to remove alarm flashes.
Access to the index is great, especially if you have the standard version 123di. With the enhanced version, you can search for a single word guide and have all the links visible as links in the search results window. This single feature makes the big version a major issue to buy, even without the other features included in the enhanced version. The standard version can be upgraded to the enhanced version at any time.
The only real complaint I had about the standard version was that it did not have a similar search function. I initially bought and installed the standard version. When I tried to investigate the "posterization" problem, I spent a little time trying to find a search box in which to enter a search query. I ended up using the index to find the information I needed. I have come to find a searchable search form on the web pages that I visit, and the best websites have this feature as an improvement in usability. I would certainly welcome such an improvement on the standard version of 123di. In addition, although the enhanced version has a search icon in the navigation bar, the search allows you to search for only one word. Many times I browse phrases like brightness disguises on the Internet. In 123di I have to look for “brightness” and “disguise”, which complicates the search for the information I need. More efficient search function in all versions will be very useful.
123di did a great job helping users learn how to use the guide most effectively. My advice is to spend time and carefully read the first five introductory pages of the manual. These pages contain important information about the best way to use the guide, and provide an overview of the guide. For example, on page 2 of the “Introduction” there is a section “Practical methods of image editing”. By clicking the link to the “image editing tutorials” in this section, you will see a list of drop-down blocks of choice for problem tutorials. Drop down windows
- Overcoming scene limitations
- Overcoming camera limitations
- Overcoming the limitations of lenses,
- Improved detail
- Improved composition
- Improved color and contrast
- Add effects and
- Create.
In the drop-down list for improving color and contrast there is a choice for using levels and curves, as well as for white balance. These are important topics for image processing using Photoshop and are well lit.
If I hadn’t spent a bit of time on the intro pages, I might have missed this useful 123di drop-down function.
123di offers practical coverage of several software packages for organizing, editing and presenting images.
Although I use Photoshop CS2 for my processing, it's nice to know that it is not necessary * to purchase such expensive software to use 123di. Image editing tutorials in the main sections are based on Adobe Photoshop Elements 2-3-4-5-6, a much more affordable software package that is often provided free of charge with today's digital cameras. Other software packages, including Adobe, have similar methods of troubleshooting image problems: 123di tutorials may point you in the right direction.
Image editing tutorials in advanced sections are based on Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Photoshop CS3, CS2, CS, and 7, including Photoshop CS3 advanced features that are related to digital photography.
After the images have been made and processed, they can be optimized for presentation or display. Since most photographers will want to share their images on the Internet, on a slideshow, in screen savers, or with prints, it is important to know how to do this. 123di shows how to do it all.
Perhaps the most valuable content in the 123di manual - for photographers of all levels - is materials that show how to avoid problems with images in the first place. This content begins with what concerns digital cameras and their sensors, and then carefully presents processing technologies that not only prevent or overload problems, but also take "pop."
123di is a digital guide, available either through a download or as a set in a box, and periodic updates keep the material up to date. 123 has versions for PC and MAC users. There is also a special version for Nikon Camera users with coverage of the software supplied by Nikon with their cameras.
123di allows you to install on multiple computers. I especially like this advantage because I use the desktop in the office and the laptop in the field. It's nice to know that I do not need to purchase an additional license or unlock the key for this. 123di allows you to install on three personal computers and, if necessary, can supply additional unlock keys.
123di contains much more than simple image processing tutorials. It has comprehensive theoretical coverage of the technical aspects of digital photography. These sections are great for understanding technical areas and can even help you choose your photographic equipment and use it effectively. 123di explains how * why * and * how * digital photos.
