Photoshop logfile

[Triglav]

Ok, everybody is entitled to one weird question. Here goes mine..

This is what happens to me often, far too often: I am in the process of making my photo better by adjusting levels, playing with curves, a bit sharpening, getting saturation a bit up etc etc. You know what I am talking about. Then when I am happy with the result I save it.

A day later I show it to a friend and he says: wow, that is nice, what did you do in PS to get it like that. And then I am like "..erm..*blush*..*think*..erm..I don't know."

Is there something out there that will log the actions I took in PS so I can track back what I have been doing?

Thanks for replying

[Saralonde]

Post processing is not my strong point, so I'm not sure about anything that logs my actions. I just generally follow the same workflow each time, so if anyone asks, I can give them generalities if not specifics.

[wulf]

Notebook and pencil? I'm not sure if there is a logging tool in Photoshop, beyond the fact that you can do a lot with non-destructive adjustment layers (so, just peel back the layers to retrace your steps).

However, you'll generally want to fine tune techniques according to the photo rather than just punching in numbers, so keeping some kind of manual log might be best - an automatic one would probably either be too basic or would go into way too much detail.

Wulf

[googlit]

or you say 'a magician never reveals his secrets,' look enigmatic, and walk away. :)

there's nothing (as far as I know) in Photoshop that logs what you've done to an image. The way I tend to do it, if I'm doing something pretty complicated, is to use adjustment layers instead of editing directly on the image, and rename layers. For example, in my antiquing tutorial, I had layers named noise, DoF, sepia, vignette, saturation, etc.

There may be a plug-in that does what you're looking for... I don't use many plug-ins, so I really don't know. Might be work looking for.

Also, the more you work in Photoshop, the more you can recognize effects and techniques when you see them... For example, whenever I'm out eating, I can look at the menu or the display cards on the table and rattle off what they did in Photoshop. But that's mostly because I'm a dork. :p

[Triglav]

Ok thanks all. I always use adjustment layers, but I never save images with layers..they are a bit too big for me..

maybe the suggested notebook and pencil are a good thought (but how the h** do you write with a pencil on a notebook? Won't that make scratches on the monitor?)

[googlit]

not if you've got a touch-screen! though you'd probably want to use a stylus rather than a pencil... ;)

[Merlyn]

Ok, everybody is entitled to one weird question. Here goes mine..

This is what happens to me often, far too often: I am in the process of making my photo better by adjusting levels, playing with curves, a bit sharpening, getting saturation a bit up etc etc. You know what I am talking about. Then when I am happy with the result I save it.

A day later I show it to a friend and he says: wow, that is nice, what did you do in PS to get it like that. And then I am like "..erm..*blush*..*think*..erm..I don't know."

Is there something out there that will log the actions I took in PS so I can track back what I have been doing?

Thanks for replying



There is one way, save the photo as a Photoshop file, a .psd file.
Whenever I edit a photo, I always save a copy as a .psd so if for some reason I want or need to make a change later, I can. When you open the file up, you can see all the changes that have been made. This has been very useful in the past. Save the photo to a folder and call it your Photo Log File.

[Triglav]

Maybe I should do that and keep them on DVD instead of on my pc..

Mmmm..have to think my workflow over again..

Thanks all for helping out!

[Triglav]

I found a helpfull log thing. It is in photoshop itself. Just go to Edit and preferences. Then just tic "History log" ..too easy lol

[googlit]

what version? I'm using CS2 and don't see the option you're talking about...

[jiminyClickit]

Triglav,

Weird answer for weird question: eBay, less than $30, digital voice recorder w/file system, voice-activated mode, find a transcriber (or fill a rainy day doing it yourself), or download to CD after a few hundred recordings. Hands-free solution.

Unless you play music really loud while posting . . . Olympus is really good for this.

[Triglav]

Never thought about that jimmyClickit..:D But hearing my own voice is so weird..

I have CS2 too. It is under "Edit" -> "Preferences" -> "General" On that tab about halfway down, you can mark "History Log" There are also setting of what to log and where to put the logfile. I see if i can make a screen shot tonight.

Oh I found a description on the internet:
History log PSCS2 (http://www.informit.com/guides/content.asp?g=photoshop&seqNum=186&rl=1)

[googlit]

sweet... that's pretty cool (history logging). I might play around with that. thanks!