This issue draws from the latest July edition of Focus magazine (available on Tmall). As the new season of HBO's epic fantasy series "Game of Thrones" is just around the corner next month, fans are eagerly anticipating what’s coming up. Over the first six seasons, viewers have been captivated by the unfolding storylines set in Westeros and the eastern mainland, mesmerized by the breathtaking visuals. Many enthusiasts have even pinpointed locations used for iconic scenes, such as Iceland standing in for the North Mirror, the Ward Castle manor in Winterfell, and Morocco’s Aït Ben Haddou serving as the backdrop for Yunkai. While CGI plays a huge role in creating the magical and surreal landscapes, how do the filmmakers transform sunny, picturesque settings into the moody, heavy, and oppressive environments we see onscreen?
In this issue, we’ll explore two real-world examples to demonstrate how aerial photos can be transformed into Westeros and the Eastern Continent using post-production techniques.
**I. The Northern Wilderness: Icelandic Style**
Our first case involves restoring an aerial photo of the Irish coastline to resemble the northern regions of Westeros.
To begin, we analyze the original footage and compare it with stills from the show for reference. The initial footage was filmed under bright conditions with strong sunlight, resulting in high contrast and overexposure on the right side of the frame. The coastal areas have a warm yellow tone, whereas the sea appears more greenish-blue—quite different from the scenes depicted in the series. Our goal is to darken the overall brightness, reduce contrast, and shift the color palette toward cooler tones dominated by blues and greens.
*Step 1: Converting Smart Objects*
Open the original image in Photoshop. Despite being in JPEG format, you can still utilize Camera Raw as a filter. Use the "Filter > Convert to Smart Filter" menu to convert the artwork into a smart object, then select "Filter > Camera Raw Filter."
*Step 2: Basic Camera Raw Adjustments*
In the basic adjustments, we first tweak the white balance and exposure. Lower the temperature value to decrease the exposure. Given the strong lighting, we'll soften the highlights and reduce contrast. Enhancing sharpness brings out finer details, and lowering the natural saturation helps achieve a back-toned effect.
*Step 3: Split Tone Coloring*
Navigate to the Split Tone page. Since the original footage has warm tones, we adjust the highlights’ hue toward blue, boosting saturation to minimize the warmth in the bright areas.
*Step 4: Camera Calibration*
Switch to the Camera Calibration page. Diminish the red and green primaries while boosting the blue ones. It's important not to eliminate the khaki tones on the coast and the turquoise hues of the sea entirely; doing so would render the image colorless, resembling a black-and-white photo turned blue.
*Step 5: Processing Sky Shadows*
After finishing the Camera Raw adjustments, the image starts taking shape. Next, we add a Curves adjustment layer to slightly boost contrast while darkening the image. Then, use a layer mask to apply these changes solely to the sky.
*Step 6: Color Balance Adjustment*
Apply a Color Balance adjustment layer to refine the overall tone, making it even colder.
*Step 7: Darkening the Entire Scene*
Use another Curves adjustment layer to darken the entire image, adding depth and an oppressive atmosphere.
*Step 8: Saturation Adjustment*
Employ a Natural Saturation adjustment layer to first increase the saturation, then sharply reduce it. This keeps some detail intact in the monochromatic environment.
*Step 9: Sharpening*
Finally, use a High Pass layer with a blending mode set to Soft Light for sharpening. The process is now complete.
Upon comparison, the final product looks nothing like the original—now exuding a cold, gloomy aesthetic.
**II. Imperial City Style**
While most of Westeros' landscapes are characterized by their cold, heavy, and oppressive feel, there are exceptions. For instance, the southern region known as Dorne features a desert-like, tropical scenery closer to that of the Eastern Continent. Another notable exception is King’s Landing, where despite being surrounded by chaos and political intrigue, the city’s setting remains sunny and warm. Dubrovnik, Croatia, serves as the filming location for King’s Landing. While the area is stunning, capturing its essence during regular shoots proves challenging. Through post-processing, however, we can recreate the show’s aesthetic.
The original footage was captured at dawn with the sun beginning to rise, casting a warm glow over the bay while the surroundings remained in cool tones. Our task is to adjust the image to a warmer overall tone while enhancing the light perception. We also aim to slightly reduce atmospheric perspective to create a more magical ambiance.
*Step 1: Converting Smart Objects*
Open the original image in Photoshop. Despite being in JPEG format, you can still access Camera Raw as a filter. Use the "Filter > Convert to Smart Filter" menu to turn the artwork into a smart object, then select "Filter > Camera Raw Filter."
*Step 2: Basic Camera Raw Adjustments*
In the basic adjustments, we slightly raise the color temperature, reduce contrast, and dim the highlights.
*Step 3: Color Processing*
Go to the HSL/Grayscale page. Since the original footage is too cold, we intensify the warm tones and weaken the cool ones.
*Step 4: Camera Calibration Color Correction*
Switch to the Camera Calibration page. Boost the red and green primaries while reducing the blue ones.
*Step 5: Adding Fog*
After completing the Camera Raw processing, duplicate the layer and reapply the Camera Raw filter to the duplicate. On the Effects tab, set "Remove Fog" to -30. Use a layer mask to ensure this change affects only distant scenes.
*Step 6: Reducing Contrast*
Use a Curves adjustment layer to lighten shadows, darken highlights, and apply a layer mask to focus these changes on distant scenery and nearby water surfaces.
*Step 7: Color Balance Adjustment*
Apply a Color Balance adjustment layer to further enhance the overall warm tone of the image.
*Step 8: Processing Tone*
Use two Curves adjustment layers—one to brighten highlights across the board and another to reduce brightness but only affect the sky and water.
*Step 9: Saturation Processing*
Use a Natural Saturation adjustment layer to slightly increase saturation before drastically reducing it. Sharpen the image after all adjustments are made.
Ultimately, your “King’s Landing†is complete.
The above exclusive content is from Focus magazine’s July 2017 issue, written by Li Nan. Unauthorized reprints are strictly prohibited. If you’re interested, follow us for more.
The author of this article can be reached via WeChat Magazine’s public account – “Focus Magazine,†search for “jiaodianzz.â€
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