Phocus 2.0 Tips!

[David Grover]

I have been rightly reprimanded by Nick for not posting some Phocus 2.0 tips as I have done on 'another' forum. 

So This thread will be devoted to Phocus related goodies....

[David Grover]

First off is the layout functionality. If you want to make your own workspace, do the following.

1. Setup Phocus how you would like (Tools open, thumbnail sizing, Toolbar contents, windows etc etc)

2. Select Edit from the 'Layouts' pull down menu on the toolbar.

3. Click on the '+' button in the bottom left of the window. A new layout called 'Untitled' will be shown. Name it!

4. On the right hand side choose what elements you want to include by ticking the box(es).

5. Done. Your layout will now appear in the Layout pull down menu as used before.

Note...

1. The order of layouts can be changed in the Edit window simply by dragging them. Useful for making use of the shortcut keys.

2. You can apply a set of adjustments, to a layout. Useful if you want to set up a Layout Trigger. ie, Connect a camera and Phocus will change to your chosen layout and apply some settings. Good for starting a tethered shoot!

Layout Triggers can be set in the preferences.

3. You can import/export layouts by clicking on the cog icon next to + and -

They are saved as .layp files and can be shared by email, file transfer etc etc.

David.

[David Grover]

Hold down Cmd (Apple Key), while clicking on a folder in the file browser of 3F images.

It will open as a Tab, instead of replacing the existing folder. Bit like tab browsing in Safari / Firefox.

Note, you can do this with the Quick Collection as well.

[David Grover]

Here's a handy PDF on the new Scene Calibration function.

(Previously Custom White)

David

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2849451/scenecalibration.pdf

[David Grover]

Crop Tool...

Whilst dragging a crop around an image, press any of the numerical keys (1,2,3,4 etc.) to change the number of grid lines.

[David Grover]

Tools...

Flick between the tabs with Cmd-1,2,3 and 4.

Expand and collapse all tools with an Opt-Click

[David Grover]

Histogram...

Check the 'Endpoints' Box for setting max and min RGB values...

[David Grover]

Quick Modify...


Need to modify a group of images but just with one tool?  ie Sharpness,

1)  Select all the images you want to adjust

2)  Make the adjustment

3)  Click on the small arrow to the right of the particular tool's header bar.

4)  Choose, 'Modify [Tool] of selected Files'

[David Grover]

Layout Triggers...

Look in the Preferences.

Layouts (See earlier) can be pre-programmed to trigger on certain events.

i.e. Plug in a Compact Flash and switch to your Import Layout

or

Plug in a camera and switch to your Capture Layout.

In this case, when I connect a CF card, Phocus will automatically switch to my Import layout. (Toolbar reduced to Layout and Import Icon Only, Thumbnails resized larger, main Viewer closed, Image Info open... for example!)

Also note at the bottom of Prefs, Layouts can also be quickly accessed with an Opt-Click on the selected tool tab.

[David Grover]

The Underused Job Info Tool!

Remember, you can set up EVERYTHING here before you shoot, saves time, saves mistakes...

Work through the tool from top to bottom, and don't forget the ability to make lots of Meta Data templates.  Different Jobs, Different Clients.  Full IPTC support...

Also under Name Preset, explore the options here to create your own file naming conventions.

Lastly before shooting, remember to reset the Adjustments to STANDARD, or your own standard so you are not shooting with a set of adjustments from yesterday etc etc....

[David Grover]

Colour Correction

1) Use the picker in the tool to select the colour you wish to adjust

2) Adjust the size of the 'wedge' by dragging on the outside edge.  Small wedge - specific colour change.  Large Wedge - broader colour change

3) Use the HSL sliders to adjust the colour.  Arrow head shows Before and After.  You can also click drag the arrow head.  Changes happen in real time.

4) Use the TAB key to change between corrections (if you have more than one) and Backspace / Del to remove them.

NB - Saturation and Vibrancy sliders at the bottom of the tool (Like Lightroom) sliders work over the WHOLE image.

[David Grover]

Show Captures in Viewer

With Phocus 2.0 it is now possible to turn the loading of new tethered captures to the Viewer off.  Perhaps you want to keep a nosy AD out the way, allow somebody free hand to click on the images they want to see as you shoot, or would just prefer to see thumbnails pop up at the size of your choosing.

Goto the View menu and check / uncheck the last option.

Incidentally if you are working with a digital assistant, they can interrupt your capture by clicking on an image as they are loaded.  You will still be able to capture but new captures will not show in the viewer and be temporally disabled.  When the assistant is 'hands off' Phocus for 8 seconds, new images will automatically start to appear.

[David Grover]

Adjustment Browser...

Have you made some adjustments in Phocus you want to save and use at a later date?

1)  In the Adjustment Browser tool, goto user and Click on the '+' button.

2)  Name your set of Adjustments and hit enter

3)  The Adjustments can be loaded anytime by choosing it from the pull down 'Adjustments' menu in the Toolbar.

NB - This adjustment set can also be

a) Applied on Import
b) Set before commencing a tethered capture session

Final Tip...!

Right click on any adjustment set in the 'Embedded' tab of the adjustment browser to quickly copy this to the User section.

[sns7000]

Thank you very much for all of these tips, keep them coming!

[Cyndi Long (robotgas)]

Most helpful- thanks!