Alain Briot Fine Art Photography

Alain Briot Photoshop Twelve Master Files CD-4

1 - Why Master Files are important
As a professional fine art photographer I work very hard at optimizing my photographs so that the resulting prints are as close to my original vision as possible.

This optimization can take hours, or days and even sometimes weeks. Because of the work involved it is important to preserve all the changes I make to the original file, be it the raw conversion or the film scan.

I save these changes in adjustment layers in Photoshop. Each layer represent a single change to the image. Each image, after the adjustments are completed, contains 10 layers or more, depending on the exact changes made to that image.

No matter how carefully the photograph was composed and captured, and regardless of what equipment was used, including the finest cameras, lenses, filters, films, etc., all photographs require adjustments. This was true in the darkroom (neither the transparency nor the negative was the final image. The prints made from these were always adjusted) and it is still true today in the digital darkroom. In fact, we can do much more today to improve the final appearance of a photograph, making adjustments that much more important.

However, seeing which adjustments a specific photographer made is not easy. Photographers do not share their Master files any more than they listed each modification they made in the Darkroom. To help you learn and visualize which adjustments I made to my images, I am making my Master files available on this CD. What you see on the various layers included with each Master File is the exact process I followed to go from the Raw file, or the film scan, to the final print file. Nothing is hidden. You see exactly what I did to each image, and you learn how you can do the same with your images.

Complete list of contents for the Master Files CD-4

A - Twelve Master Files, as follows:

1-Sandstone Waves BW		7-Colorado Plateau Sunset
2-Antelope Sky Dance		8-Sunset near Page, Arizona
3-Horseshoe Bend collage		9-Bryce Canyon Fog
4-Horseshoe Bend panorama		10-Capitol Reef panorama
5-Bryce Canyon Sunrise		11-Hoodoo
6-The Watchman at Sunset, Zion NP		12-Virgin River and Watchman, Zion NP

Each master file contains, on average, about 10 layers or more. If you are not familiar with the concept of Adjustment Layers and Master File click on this link to read my essay titled "The Master File".

B - A new, practical interface to access the contents of the CD easily:

Click here to see the Photoshop 12 Master Files CD-4 table on contents and interface

C - Three video tutorials showing my image processing workflow in Lightroom and my optimization workflow in Photoshop:

D - A quickstep showing you how to create a collage of several image captures.
Collage is another word for stitching. A stitched image is an image created by stitching, or collaging, several captures together in Photoshop. This quickstep is a step by step description of all the steps required to complete a perfect stitch. It is called quickstep becuase it makes leaning this step by step process quick and efficient. Plus you can refer to it as often as you want if you forget one of the steps, and you can also print it and refer to it later on.

E - A unique opportunity
Until now my Master Files were only available with some of the Prints of the Months and with the Printing or Adjustment Layers Mastery Workshops on DVD. This is the first time that I make the master files available by themselves, on a dedicated CD.

Each Master File is valued at $50 (see my print of the month with Master File pricing). The Master File CD, which features 12 master files, is therefore priced at $600 (12x50). This CD comes with two HDR tutorial video at no extra cost. The movie tutorial shows you exactly how I created Garden HDR and Sandstone Arch HDR, explaining how and why I used HDR software to create the final images you see here. These two tutorials would be priced at $200 if sold separately.

Shipping costs are free. You do not pay extra for shipping no matter where you live in the world. Each order is carefully packed. Shipping is via US air mail and is insured and trackable. If you live overseas please know that we declare a low value so you do not pay import tax.

12 Master Files CD-4

12 Master files from my most popular images. Plus 2 hrs of video tutorials.

$600

You can also order by phone at 1-800-949-7983 in the US and 928-252-2466 internationally,
You can also order by email at alain@beautiful-landscape.com

Not sure if this CD is for you?
Click here to read testimonial from previous DVD customers

I have found with the 'Printing Mastery Workshop on DVD and my two prints from you, Zabriske Point and Sabino Trees, that the included Master Files with all your adjustment layers have been the single most valuable learning tool I have used. So, when you announced the 12 Master Files CD I was very excited. Thanks for sharing as much as you do about the art of photography.

Leo Dejan, Santa Fe, New Mexico