Reef Raft SPS rant... Let's see real pics of your Reef Raft Pieces....

albert_dao · #1 10-12-2014, 08:57 PM

I'm just going to step in here for a sec. This topic really irks me, having seen several of my friends throw out thousands of $$$ over false advertising.

Just to use Bill's examples:

Here I've placed the two images side by side. Let's first hype the contrast and vibrancy by making modeling the levels after the source material. After a ton of tweaking, I end up with this:

At this point, we have an over saturation of white levels, so let's tone that down using the curves adjustments and some other tools. We'll also adjust the blues a little to compensate for the dominance of the reds:

Which gets us to here:

Average color sample for referrence:

For the record - getting from points A to B too no less than 15 adjustments using Levels, Color balance, Saturation, Hue, and multiple channel effects. There were a few instances where I dragged the slider from one end of the bar to the damn near the other end. IMO, I wouldn't be saying anything if I had gotten within 90% accuracy with just the white balance step.

Anyway, that's how I feel about this.

Edit: And the Wolverine (!!!!), don't even get me started on that one.

Edit #2: I'm just going to leave this here in case anyone is still under the illusion that the contextual surroundings of a featured corals are a reliable indicator of photo tampering:

albert_dao · #2 10-12-2014, 09:14 PM

Edit #3: I just noticed I was a bit sloppy with some of the edges on the above sample. I submit, before anyone points that out, that if I was in line to make $250/1" frag, that this would not have been the case. I would have invested more than 5 minutes into this and you would have been none the wiser.

albert_dao · #3 10-12-2014, 09:20 PM

F-it. I'm just going to throw all of my credibility out the window by putting out there that if any vendor is interested in hiring someone to assist in the mass deluding and debasing of their clientele, LMK and we'll work something out. i

I WANT IN ON THE $$$ ACTION.

Just make sure you message me here in this thread

<3

Aquattro · #4 10-12-2014, 09:28 PM

Thanks for posting that Albert!

Tn23 · #5 10-12-2014, 09:40 PM

Albert, nice post.
We are going to have to have a talk next week

albert_dao · #6 10-12-2014, 09:48 PM

BTW guys, I'm highly motivated here:

Rice Reef · #7 10-13-2014, 12:03 AM

Thanks, Albert. I thought I was losin it... i am certain that I am done with all the RR boutique corals. They can use all the make up and lip gloss to make the sps stand-out but they won't be seeing anymore of my money.

Funny... Just crickets here now...

Bill@IA · #8 10-13-2014, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rice Reef

Funny... Just crickets here now...

Wayne, were you expecting a response from me?? If so, then PM me what you are up to because I have 3 messages here, 2 from Adam and 1 from you, telling me you were happy with the group order, looked forward to the Blue Efflo replacements, and thanking me for my professionalism. There are no messages from you since then and nothing with the tone or with what you are insinuating here.