STOP Using SLIDERS to EDIT Your Landscape Photos!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

What’s your most used local adjustment? Grad, Radial or Adjustment Brush?

[@MFP_Photography]

I think the radial gets used the most. I find I use it many times on objects/areas which have different light on them. Using the luminance masking lets you bring out those differences easier than trying the brush. Great video. Thanks for your time on this subject.

[@wanderingdevonian]

I use both, more towards local for further tweaks.

[@guru82master]

For me it's Grad and Radial.

[@kaiolsen6963]

I use them all, but I probably use radal the most.

[@cynderelliee]

Radial gets used the most

[@kai64]

Here is the issue that I have when I edit landscape. When I keep looking at the same pic and editing it over period of time, I lose the track of over editing or under editing. Sometimes I thought “wow I nailed it” then later on when I come back and look at it. I would be like “omg this is bad!” It seems like your eyes get too dull and lose the sense of good and bad. Doesn’t this happen to you?

[@TimvanderLeeuw]

I know what you mean! What helps is just coming back to the image a bit later before considering it your "final" version, and also what helps, I think, is frequently comparing it to the original.

[@kai64]

@@TimvanderLeeuw thanks! probably comparing to the original frequently would help me the most since once i get into editing i have this eager to finish it and post on social media 😂 Wish I had this side by side comparison during editing

[@jasonserkowski7194]

90% of my edits get changed on day 2 or 3. If you stare at a picture too long you’ll lose focus on something and it’ll slip past you

[@jasonmach6548]

I experience that as well! When I come back a few days later to pick the best ones from wherever I shot, the number of times I say to myself, “what were you even thinking?” on an image that I spent quite a bit of time on is borderline embarrassing! But adding that step of letting things sit for a few days and revisiting has improved the quality of my edits.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Oh yeah! Best thing to do is just walk away for awhile and let your eyes reset and then revisit your edit at a later point.

[@erwanndaniel7880]

Thanks Mark! Now my girlfriend is going to hate me even more because instead of editing our holidays pictures in 3 months (procrastination, procrastination...) it's going to take me a year 😂😂

[@aloromot4110]

Wow 3 months, you are so fast. The bulk of my photos take a year to edit, unless it is a special one.

[@brunmedia]

Misleading title I think, because you're still using sliders, just not globally. And also I think a combination of both is the best way to achieve your goal. I always start with a few global adjustments getting the image to a good starting point and then continue with local adjustment like you describe it. Although your adjustments were hardly visible in the image in the video, perhaps due to YT compression and the screen I watched it on, I think most people got the idea. And it is an extremely powerful method of tuning an image. :-) Thanks for a good show!!

[@luxurycardetailingthehamptons]

Holding down shift while pulling out the graduated filter. Mind blown. Thank you!

[@ItMakesSpence]

I didn't realize there was a range mask feature. Absolute game changer!

[@seseikkailija5373]

When I clicked this video i thought that it would be about moving over your editing process to Photoshop. But instead it was about local vs global adjustments, which was pretty cool in the end. You always use sliders to do adjustments, local or/and global when editing in LR.

[@bluejay3945]

Thanks Mark. The thing I love about you is you leave your ego at the door and never act like a know it all. I have learned so much from you. Although I have major issues with Luminar AI, I now hit the masking tool hard and do everything you did in this video by painting the effects in with the brush. It truly gives you the ultimate control and saves tons of time. For example, your vignettes. If you go back you will see that you created the area, made the effects adjustments, then had to erase. You could have done the same thing with a brush and saved time. One more suggestion. Try pushing a tiny bit of blue and cyan into the shadows and a tiny bit of yellow and orange into the midtones and highlights. I think it gives a lot of natural contrast. Finally on that clarity slider. I have issues with that sometimes and I now go with the high pass filter tool to help define edge details and I love the filter. Have you tried it?

[@TheOnlyGuess]

I personally sometimes rush to edit my photos and I think it's a mistake not taking enough time to edit one's photos carefully and precisely. Though some photos just necessitate quick edit. Thanks a lot

[@richiepool8930]

Spot on I do the exact same then a week later my edit is completely different Looking back at my original edit I’ve got blown out highlights etc etc Definitely need to spend a few days editing anything special you capture 👍🏻

[@MNiessenPhoto]

While it is tempting to pit one method against the other, my 12 years Lightroom experience tells me that they are (most of the time) complementary. It's like getting a new toy and completely stop playing with your old ones for a while. I'm not criticizing the technique as a whole, mind you. Your editing is really nice and I like the result. That said, you spent with the sliders just a fraction of the time that you did with the local adjustments. A few more seconds making curve and HSL adjustments could have improved it further, though. There's no doubt local adjustments are a final touch that can make a huge difference (sometimes for the worst, in the the wrong hands) and allow you to do some things that are impossible with general adjustments, but it doesn't mean general sliders should be avoided completely. Everything is a question of considering the pros and cons of each tool, then using the one you consider the most adequate for a specific picture, taking into account time constraints and how polished you need it to be. In the same way, sliders are not set either at 0 or 100, but almost always some value in between, depending on the picture. And it's not radial filter OR adjustment brush... I love the radial filters and they are indeed better because they can easily be adjusted, but that's just *most of the time*. In some cases, it makes no sense to use them and the adjustment brush is definitely the best choice. Anyway... just saying, as some beginner users might be tempted to ditch sliders altogether and go all-in in local adjustments, and maybe in the end stop editing altogether because it takes forever to get decent results on a large quantity of pictures. Kind regards, Michael

[@alexi2904]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I’m pretty new to editing so I had no idea I could even do this! YOU DA MAN!!! This will take my editing skills to a whole other level now!!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Glad to do it - appreciate you checking it out!

[@samr_-zi6zm]

@@MarkDenneyPhoto Plez reaction trailer the lady of heaven 2M views Cinematiography and photos and colors so nice . Plez make review for this movie

[@Michael_Robinson]

He edits seascapes by the sea stacks

[@andrewkeating8952]

Wow - some difference between the two images - really great demonstration of the benefits of local editing! Separately it was super to hear you on the Irish Photography Podcast with Darren Spoonley earlier in the week - enjoyed it very much - many thanks and continued success in all you are doing !!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks so much for watching and tuning into the podcast - means a lot!

[@musicmania8883]

Before was better than retouched, edited one is over exposed for sunset view, specially foreground ...

[@ThaOrangeBlues]

I think giving the image a base edit with global adjustments and then editing the local adjustments in photoshop would also make sense. That's why using luminosity masks gives the image an extra pop.

[@lisarobertson7011]

thanks Mark - using local adjustments is a game changer.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Indeed!

[@Chris_2023_]

It certainly looks like a game changer. There is a huge difference! More work in editing but the results are worth it!

[@filipedelgado7738]

Do you have Prince of Persia for Gameboy? 😁

[@bkc1965]

ok....VHS tape....Gameboy......hmmmmm.......😎 edit: Now I got it....you have been watching your old pre-KZbin Gameboy tips that were only available on VHS and Betamax...and maybe LaserDisc for the real nerds.

[@gregjakubowski938]

I've been scouting the coast, covered bridges, and rivers, and easy access waterfalls in Oregon for this coming fall. 10 days will not be enough to get all the photography and fishing in that I dream of doing.

[@pm1Chh]

Im now in the phase 50% of my editing is slider based and another 50% is filters (depens on the photo of course). I realy like this kind of videos (i like all of your videos but this turtorial based just a little bit moore). Thank you for doing it for us. P.S. Man you just love that gameboy of yours. (its in most of your videos) ;)

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

This is great feedback Brano - very much appreciate it!

[@goodearthrecordings1989]

I'm watching this now, April, 2024 and Lightroom has updated masking features but I think I have figured out how to do the most of this with it. Thanks much! Very very helpful info!

[@FelixJorgenfelt]

This is the main reason why I do most of my editing in Photoshop, no other software matches the flexibility you get for selective editing in Photoshop. Any particular reason why you choose to work mostly in Lightroom?

[@michaeledwards1027]

Mark, could you show a comparison of 2 edits. One done with old adjustments and 1 with new mask adjustments.

[@estherdiskin3968]

Brilliant video Mark on the difference on local and global adjustments. Explained so simply. Thank you.

[@PeterWigenBjarnoe]

VERY helpful and inspiring. I have always used global adjustments and it is stopping right now. It was a very pedagogical and explanatory review.

[@69horatioh]

After this video I did the test and only used local filters. The result is impressive. First, I make all corrections and adjustments much more consciously. Second, I only make the adjustments where I want them. The result is an exciting, multi-dimensional picture. Thank you very much. I still have one problem. When I adjust the sky with a graduated filter, the adjustments also affect other things like trees and buildings. I don't know (anymore) how to limit the adjustments.

[@NakedInSeattle]

It's really global vs. local adjustments...not sliders vs. filters! You used sliders in the local adjustments, right? Did like it a lot, however.

[@LLClimited]

Great video, thank you. Clearly, there is a lot you can accomplish in Lightroom. How does Photoshop fit into your workflow, if at all? Are there things that you can do only in Photoshop, or can do better in Photoshop (and vice versa - are there things best done in Lightroom)?

[@keithnisbet]

Very informative thanks. I'm new to Lightroom/Photoshop and have had a difficult time using the various filters. I guess I need to watch more videos and practice. Second thought. You lost me a bit when you started using the Range Mask. I was still waiting to see what you did with the Grad Filter. So, if anyone else feels a little lost some slower detail on the Range Mask application and filters in general would be welcome. I realize there are other instructional sources but I really like your style and calm. Thanks again.

[@Mntnphotog]

Since I'm old and spent many years in darkrooms developing this thing called film and then making prints with enlargers, my chemical-soaked fingers tend to use the burn and dodge tools since Photoshop 1. This comparison is between quick/easy slider vs filters but that's not a fair comparison. Let's see filters vs manual dodging and burning, spending roughly the same amount of time.

[@echoauxgen]

Great demonstration of going local from global. I use the Radial filter on Milky Ways after some global it is better than D&B also the trick/use of Luminance mask on graduated and radial help to not involve say driftwood limbs to both filter effects so you do not have to carefully zoom and neg brush limbs and other objects. There are also on camera filters to brighten some stars BUT the radial (zoom and cover) over a star can be done say for the circle 8 below or the circle of stars to the under and left of a riseing MW. Another if you use an external "Edit In" program say Denoise or Gigapixel on return your image will be a new and can do more/less from the beginning again.

[@balazsbende4328]

Unpopular opinion: The global adjustment image looks better. No plastic overedited fakeness. Of course who am I to even critisize. Great video none the less!

[@philnolan7193]

Thanks Mark, very insightful video that really shows the benefits of local adjustments. I find the foreground distracting and wonder what the image would be like if it was cropped just below the ripple?

[@jameswestii454]

Great video. Is there a specific version of Lightroom and Photoshop that you recommend and where to buy/download? I have seen some that come with the mobile app included and some with storage. A bit confused. TY

[@villa_fan8882]

I may have missed something but what is with the old school GameBoy in Mark's videos? I have watched a couple of videos where I have seen it in the background! Takes me back to when I was about 9 and got it for Crimbo! Always makes me feel a bit nostalgic when I see it in on here, so I want it to stay! :)

[@HR-wd6cw]

I think rather than saying that you should do one over the other, think about it this way... global adjustments are great for when it applies to the entire image. For most people this is things like WB, exposure and possibly contrast. Then go back in and refine the details using local adjustments. Your range of editing is more limited with global adjustments, but they shouldn't be avoided all together, especially when they apply to the entire image as a whole (such as exposure and WB). I'd tend to think of it more as a two step process, overall image, and then working on the details.

[@BGTuyau]

Looks like Lightroom is another world. An enlightening introductory demonstration of different approaches.

[@kristenaudet2233]

Thanks so much! This was very helpful. Others jump right in and begin spewing jargon without actually showing how to do something on screen, so thank you for taking the time to make this video. It was clear and I learned a lot. :)

[@aloromot4110]

Great video. I use both when editing. For example do what you did in the first picture and then do the filters. (Maybe not as well) You think it is better to just use the filters? Am I wasting time? I just learned to use tr filters a year ago. I've been working on improving my editing skills while I am not going anywhere. I'll have to try only filters on my next edits. Cheers!

[@bryan67thomas]

Great video I think you just convinced me to approach my editing differently. But are you suggesting just localized edits , or are there some edits that you might still do globally? Also that little trick with erasing part of the circular filter, I’ve never seen that before and will absolutely be using it.

[@simonf6977]

Lightroom filters definitely improved the final image over just sliders. Would you use Photoshop to improve the Image over Lightroom filters? If so, how?

[@imagesbyjonevan3890]

Workflows are different for everyone. I use global adjustments then pop into PS for local adj.One should always do Macro and then Micro. Using filters etc or presets maybe a great way to edit for you but not everyone. Its also time to jump ship for Capture One. Much better control

[@wadekehler]

I would consider myself as quite experienced with my LR editing but I focus mainly on global adjustments with only a few local adjustments added at the end. This video will completely change how I do my editing. I really appreciate the comparison between global and local adjustments. It sure added a lot more interest to the image. Thanks.

[@MrRonRobertson]

Very good information like all of your videos but the title is very confusing. You still use SLIDERS on local or global adjustments.

[@marksmall8692]

I still use Lightroom 5, so looks like this version doesn't have a Range Mask. So any thoughts on how I can refine the settings when using the Graduation Filter, if I don't have the Range Mask?

[@HugeHeff]

Mark - Great video! I’ve been wanting to learn how this process works and has definitely changed the way I will edit moving forward. Thank you!

[@peytoncook4792]

Sometime in the future would you mind doing a video on camera maintenance? I live in coastal NC and that really means that I'm locked into photographing beach scenes if I don't want to drive too far. I worry about keeping my camera and gear clean for that reason. It may be a boring topic, but I would certainly like your advice!

[@renatobfa]

Really cool and informative. Personal preference, i prefer the global ajustment image better, just because it looks more natural. But the refined one looks very professional. 🔥

[@jordanking7711]

Great video Mark. Also I apologise if this is off topic, but is that an OG Nintendo GameBoy I see on your desk? If so, well done Mark.

[@ernesto1188]

Great video im new into landscape photography... im curious in what size your background photos are?

[@Manga-gu5nn]

Mark I've seen the light thank you friend. Now I'm off to use my new found education to find my style in photography.

[@danielschmaderer]

This is really cool. Definitely helped me out. I tend to use global adjustments and I know Local adjustments would help my shots when editing.

[@LukeZalvino]

Mark, is there rhyme and reason to the crop ratios you use? For me I use 16:9 whenever I can because I love how it fills the whole monitor. It seems like you just crop to what is right for the image and not worry about the end use. Thanks

[@barryluo2011]

Sorry, were there random black and green flickers shows up on the video? Or is that just me and my monitor is going to die??? Great video as always Mark!

[@kdj.imagery4317]

Which version of Lightroom are you using? I am using Lightroom 6 and whenever I use the grad filter, I never can find the range mask tool. Am I not clicking on the right thing or is it just not featured in version 6? Thanks!

[@rene.s.s]

Great video, I liked everything artistically except for the vignette. But even that was helpful to learn. I had to rewatch to catch the voodoo with the white vs black check that you did but everything else was flawlessly explained.

[@brandonmjohnsonphotography]

Fantastic video as always! I believe you have touched on this subject in several of your videos but I don't believe you have ever dedicated a video to it. Thank you so much! I will be trying this technique on the new photos I capture.

[@thomasjohn4262]

Thank you for this. I just started learning Lightroom and it’s been pretty good so far. Your techniques have opened up plenty of other options.

[@Scramalope]

Do you think it's better to only use local adjustments, or is there a place for using global? It seems like you can do everything global can do by using local, but with much more detail and accuracy.

[@kimberleyhutchinson4714]

Super video Mark. I have been using local adjustments but not nearly to the extent that I will now! The custom vignette was new to me. Very clear explanation. Cheers!

[@joelbarto1103]

I like your stuff. Please consider a local adjustment tutorial for dummies (like me). I’m still trying to figure out the masks and filters. Thanks

[@FrankPietersen]

Great pic and edit! Can you also make a comparison with photoshop. I think you can even do better edits with PS. I hate it that in Lightroom the preview on/off switch applies to all the radial filters and not the one you are busy with.

[@boatman222345]

Excellent, although you had me a bit confused in the beginning by using the term "filters" rather than "local adjustments."

[@rosawilphotograph]

Thank you so much for your insight. Fantastic information. Would also love to know how you took that image. Was it just with long exposure?

[@SwanSycorax]

Very good, however, I suggest taking a look at CAPTURE ONE. This encourages the use of filters in the way you have demonstrated but with the benefits of layers and much more flexible masks - not just through the graduated filters and radial filters included in Lightroom.

[@rj934]

I use both global and local adjustments on most photos. I usually use the global adjustments to make the overall macro adjustments and the finish up with local adjustments to bring out the areas I want to highlight or reduce.

[@jannieschluter9670]

This video made me sad. It reminded me of it that we are all so unhappy with the real world we live in and that we have to create a fantasy world with all our tools so that we can soothen our rotten egos. Once upon a time, photography was about reality. Now it is about fake and fantasy. Photoshopping should be forbidden.

[@vperalta]

I am always concerned with absolutes. I believe there is a value to using sliders in combination with using local adjustments. Just my 2 cents.

[@curtlewis3446]

What a great demonstration Mark. The difference between the two edits are striking. I have recently begun using filters for local adjustments based upon some of your earlier videos, and am liking the results. Thanks for all your help.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks a million Curt!

[@niftytwo]

Great ideas Mark. Just slowly, slowly seems to work. No rush. Care, not get it done. Thank you Mark.

[@AndreaBaggio]

Very nice video. The only thing is that with these kind of adjustments, the filters instead of the sliders, editing photos will take longer. Editing a bunch of photos from the same shooting won't be that easy and with the danger that you won't have continuity on the editing. But it would work well with a single photo and not a batch of photos from a photo shoot. What would you do in that case?

[@ggreaves2448]

Everybody should be editing in soft proof SRGB if they are going to post on the internet otherwise most people will tend to over saturate and lose colour detail. Next time you have processed a photo in the develop panel try switching into soft proofing and see how far out of the SRGB gamut all the colours are for the web

[@jmemac]

Thanks for making this video. Ive always been a little confused and you helped with that. I appreciate it 🤙

[@troporobo]

Great tips Mark, thanks a lot. I have a question though. I get the use of a grad filter for sky and foreground. But for areas like the sea stacks, what is the advantage of a radial filter over a brush? It seems to me that a brush is more customizable to the specific shape

[@btnhstillfire]

What I dont like about filters is that it doesnt feel like its my work. I like to use sliders to create subtle adjustments. It just feels more like its my work making the photo look the way it does. Popping filters on takes some of that accomplishment away from me. I like to create my own filters.

[@JohnSmith-nt5sx]

Great video! I have been using global, more than local - that will change immediately! Thank you for the aha moment!

[@mikni4069]

Agree fully on this, a nice demo of why we should use local adjustmeant. However tend to prefer Capture1

[@acolorado5735]

I do a combo of both techniques but will start to experiment with local adjustments only. Interesting!

[@nicholaswolle]

This is a great tutorial! I will definitely be trying this method on personal photos. My issue is that this method takes a lot longer so I probably can't use it for work as they need fast turnarounds.

[@omnirhythm]

range mask: luminance tip - don't bruteforce the Range slider, the Smoothness one goes a long way and avoids the possible ugly HDR/halo effect.

[@irabrucelevine]

Startling demonstration. Very helpful. Thank you.

[@jimwlouavl]

Great video. Thanks for the insight to view an image as regions. I often apply a radial filter to add clarity and exposure to bring attention to a reflection.

[@scothowe539]

Good demonstration Mark. Within LR I probably use the radial filter the most. I prefer doing dodging and burning with the help of the tools within PS or my Lumenzia plug in though. I just need to continue to get better at both capturing the image and the editing process. It’s all a blast though!

[@vladimirsaveliev4374]

Love the video. Very informative. I just need to find range mask in Luminar. Thanks for what you are doing.

[@ShaneCrouch]

Local vs global adjustments. They both use sliders. :p

[@electrocatalyst]

Why is it called liders vs filters? You still use sliders when you do local adjustments. And why do you call local adjustments "filters"? I thought you were going to use some filters from the Photoshop's Filters menu.

[@oneandonlyjaybee]

I've only been using lightroom for around 6 months but straight away I always preferred local over gloval adjustments. Global adjustments, unless maybe changing the white balance to correct a filter hue always seemed like such a blunt instrument

[@wileydoc]

I would be interested in how you calibrate your monitor when editing for brightness and color. I think my monitor is set too bright based on prints I have done but not sure what the brightness should be. Is the key the type of monitor you use or calibration with a Spyder or other device?

[@13hubi13]

Does only the Lightroom classic version has the option with the range mask with the filters? because I can't see it in my version

[@dretwav]

I tend to use both. Sometimes a global adjustment is appropriate but that just becomes the starting point. I also usually forget about using a range mask and brush out the area instead. Good point.

[@grazianism]

Regarding the local adjustments, is there any button (or even a keyboard shortcut) to bypass them all? Just to see before and after the local adjustments rather than bypassing the global adjustments too. A sort of dedicated bypass button. Thanks a lot :)

[@neild108]

Hugely helpful--great point, made very vividly, thanks!

[@wendynewing8834]

This is a brilliant tutorial full of great information! It is so helpful. Thank you very much.

[@dominiqueleblanc2193]

Great tutorial. Can you remind me how to when using the filter, put it in black and white. I never remember.

[@klaus_s]

It is a very interesting comparison between sliders and filters. Is it possible in some cases to use a mixture of both „tools“? 😎😉

[@SD_Alias]

i must confess that i like the first picture with global adjustments more than the other. The other looks not naturally anymore. i miss the mood of the sky in the water which is too bright for that sky and in comparison i see that there are separate areas with different filters. There is also a slight halo around the rock. And the lighten spot on the rocks left side is too much in my opinion. But as often, it is a matter of taste…

[@BelowZeroEntertainment]

Im sorry, but is that a original GameBoy!!! had to watch the video 2 times, it took the spotlight!

[@icogicog8287]

Yes. You are totally correct. Powerful enough to get to a final result in a lot of circumstances with only those local edits. Nice comparison

[@beachbumblog]

I learn more from these videos than I have almost anything else. So helpful, thank you for sharing!

[@gapwedge11]

Definitely local adjustments using masking techniques is the way to go. Any global adjustments I make are minor and usually come either at the beginning or the very end.