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

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