Tesla Post Production Retouching
Retouching isn’t about changing reality, it’s about refining it.
These before and after examples show my approach to retouching
& careful control of color.
Sky Replacement
Perspective Matching
High-Pass Sharpening
Highlight Recovery
Light Leaks
Vanishing Point
Non-Destructive Techniques Used:
Color Grading
Tone Mapping
Frequency Separation
Healing / Cloning
Compositing
Motion Blur
Motion Physics: Simulated realistic speed by applying heavier blur to the foreground road compared to the distant mountains.
Wheel & Reflection Dynamics: Applied rotational motion to the wheels and directional blur to the body reflections to "sell" the movement of a static car.
Body Sculpting: Reshaped and smoothed the vehicle's body lines for a cleaner, commercial aesthetic.
Atmosphere: Replaced the static sky with wispy clouds that visually support the direction of travel.
Lighting Enhancement: Integrated a sun source with layered lens flares to guide the eye while matching existing shadows.
Color Grading: Tuned color adjustments to specifically evoke the deep, rich tone of the red paint.
Stylized Toning: Applied a global color grade inspired by previous campaigns to evoke a "Martian-like" futuristic aesthetic.
Environmental Lighting: Added background shaping and integrated a primary light source emanating from the building on the left background.Interior Detail: Added subtle lighting details to the building's interior windows to create a lived-in feel.
Atmospheric Effects: Introduced raining and misty elements across the clouds and headlights to add depth and texture.
Vehicle Integration: Matched the door color, brightness, and window tint of the vehicle to the surrounding environment.
Scene Clean-up: Removed distracting elements including the crane, foreground debris, and people to focus on the subject.
Atmospheric Realism: Crafted a "morning dew" aesthetic by adding heavy fog, misty elements, and realistic light streaking through the trees and clouds.
Body Sculpting: Reshaped and smoothed all vehicle body lines to eliminate jagged edges and unattractive shapes for a finished commercial look.
Subject Separation: Enhanced both vehicles with targeted lighting and contrast adjustments to pull them forward from the dense forest background.
Detail Refinement: Re-rendered specific vehicle elements, including the taillights, logos, window transparency, and panel highlights.
Scene Clean-up: Removed all parking lot lines and pavement markings to create a more natural, isolated environment.
*Images Courtesy of Tesla Motors