I reccommend....

[Esoterra]

Kubota Actions for Photoshop. You can check them out here (http://www.kubotaworkshops.com/products.php). The cost was around $250 but very well worth the price from my limited use since it came in the mail yesterday. Here are a few pictures I was able to spice up with Kubota actions. There are about 200 different actions in the 3 different packages.

http://ChrisRoss.smugmug.com/photos/81236911-L.jpg

http://ChrisRoss.smugmug.com/photos/81237098-L.jpg

http://ChrisRoss.smugmug.com/photos/81237558-L.jpg

http://ChrisRoss.smugmug.com/photos/81238416-L.jpg

I wasnt quite sure where to post this... anyhow, I think you will like the results!

[D Thompson]

Good looking shots there. I'd like to compare to the original.

[Jason25]

Agreed, those are fantastic!

[cdifoto]

I agree. Nice stuff.

When I have extra cash laying around, I'll also fork over the money for the actions. I'm not gonna get the whole pack though. Just the $100 Artistic Tools Vol 2.

[Esoterra]

Good looking shots there. I'd like to compare to the original.
I should have thought about that...before and after! I am in a hurry now, but when I get a chance tomorrow I will edit this post and post the before shots...which I have to say were not all that impressive, but I will let you be the judge!

[Blob]

Those photos are certainly professional looking, nice job.

The product seems to simplify various Photoshop actions, is that correct? I went to his web site and the examples were impressive but the information on the different actions was sparse.

How easy is it to use the actions? How do you know which action you need to enhance each specific photograph? I like the end results of his examples as compared to the original shots but how did he get there? I personally don't know enough to look a photo and determine what has to be done to make it look like the final results on his web site. Does the software provide adequate instruction for non-professionals such as myself?

Your examples look very polished. Did you have an idea what you wanted to achieve in using the actions so that the end result matched your goal? Or did you try different actions until you found a combination you liked?

I'm interested in what these actions can do for my photography. I'd appreciate any input you can provide based on your experiences.

Thanks,

Bob

[cwphoto]

Eso, that last one looks dreamy.:)

[jamison55]

I love the Kubota actions - I have all three sets, and use them on just about everything I shoot. Love the Daily Multi Vitamin and Digital Fill Flash, Edge Burn, and Radient People...

You certainly used them to great effect here!

[Esoterra]

I love the Kubota actions - I have all three sets, and use them on just about everything I shoot. Love the Daily Multi Vitamin and Digital Fill Flash, Edge Burn, and Radient People...

You certainly used them to great effect here!

Thanks Jamison! You summed up my favorite actions! Money well spent!

[Esoterra]

Those photos are certainly professional looking, nice job.

The product seems to simplify various Photoshop actions, is that correct? I went to his web site and the examples were impressive but the information on the different actions was sparse.

How easy is it to use the actions? How do you know which action you need to enhance each specific photograph? I like the end results of his examples as compared to the original shots but how did he get there? I personally don't know enough to look a photo and determine what has to be done to make it look like the final results on his web site. Does the software provide adequate instruction for non-professionals such as myself?

Your examples look very polished. Did you have an idea what you wanted to achieve in using the actions so that the end result matched your goal? Or did you try different actions until you found a combination you liked?

I'm interested in what these actions can do for my photography. I'd appreciate any input you can provide based on your experiences.

Thanks,

Bob

Bob,

- Yes it does simplfy keystrokes within Photoshop

- The actions are very easy to use. Just install, load into CS2, and then click play on the action!

- The software has adequate information in a PDF file that shows you end results. At first I just used the same actions (more than one) on a picture to replicate the same effect as shown by example in the tutorial PDF, but after I became more affluent with what each action did, I started mixing my own cocktail of actions to get different results. I just randomly tried things until I found the end results that pleased my customer!

- Oh... I almost forgot.... I used a UV filter too! :cool:

[Blob]

Thanks Chris for the information. I'm excited to try this software. I know my wife won't go for the $250 package, if you could only get one disc which one would it be? I'm thinking of ArtPix volume 1 for $69.00.

Thanks Again,

Bob

[aparmley]

Nice Eso . . . I'd like to buy the set of three as well. . . throw in thier sloppy borders too but . . . damn. . . thats lens money we're talking about! :p

[Vich]

Thinking about boring market perspective .. to follow such beautiful photos sorry.

With Photoshop being soooo popular and powerful, is it the flagship of photo editing? If so; and if Adobe decides to start providing this sort of automation and guidance built in, I wonder if Kubota would bring an anti-trust suit? Hope not. It seems so obvious that Adobe could buy out Kubota and bundle it.

Don't know if such a move seems so obvious as a business move, but the customer would win (in the short haul).

.
.
Nice photos Essoterra! Thanks for sharing!

Aparmley, I agree. Would sure be nice, but $600 for the lot, yikes!

[cdifoto]

I think I'm gonna concentrate on clean, well exposed images and good compositions for now. Maybe after I have a year of weddings booked and a couple 1D's in my bag I'll start looking at the Kubota actions to polish my work....

[Esoterra]

Remember that the Kubota actions are all just recorded keystrokes in Photoshop. Albeit harder to learn and more tedious than clicking on an action, if you learn Photoshop well enough you can replicate the same effects (or close enough ) of the Kubota actions. Remember, your not paying $600 for the results as much as you are paying for the time you save not having to manipulate Photoshop yourself. Learn Photoshop, and even subscribe to Photoshop Users for some great how to tutorials, and you can save yourself the $600 and possibly add to your creative zing within your photo workflow!

[dallas75287]

I'm considering it. Which is better, artistic tools vol 1 or artistic tools vol 2? Is production tools vol 1 useful? Thanks.