[Viviana cosplay] Arknights: Oath of Candle Flame and Sword, The Extreme Challenge of Handling Cosplay post-processing

After discussing with the photographer, I decided to take on the challenge of handling all Cosplay post-processing myself. Once the raw shots came out, I stayed up late almost every night working on lighting, shadows, and particle effects. Because the photographer's habit is simply pressing the shutter without doing edits, I had no choice but to push myself to become an all-around retoucher. The editing workflow for this entire set was quite intricate: first cutting out the subject and correcting perspective, then handling the floating candelabras and antlers, and finally compositing the Candle flame effects with dynamic particles.

The original indoor studio lighting was very cluttered. To create that epic atmosphere of 'taking the candle flame as an oath, using this sword to illuminate your path ahead,' I used post-processing to dim down ambient lighting while selectively highlighting the character's face, the specular highlights on the white Stockings, and the shadow details of the red dress to match a somber yet sacred aesthetic. During the shoot, to capture the flowing movement of the skirt hem, my partner and I repeatedly tried tossing the skirt, taking numerous low-angle takes before finally selecting this frame with the most balanced composition.

Putting on this costume was an ordeal in itself—the chest straps laced up very tightly, and the texture contrast between the white long-sleeved coat and black corset was stark. During editing, I had to carefully preserve both the stiffness of the leather and the fabric folds so that the image wouldn't look flattened. To manage the light reflection on the Stockings along the calves and ensure a natural texture, I used neutral gray layers to delicately tone down the specular sheen caused by ambient light. Additionally, for the floating candles, I deliberately adjusted them to warm tones during compositing to make edge blending look realistic while preserving motion blur on the Candle flame effects. Overall, handling all post-processing myself allowed complete control over the entire atmospheric mood. Though the editing process was exhausting, seeing the final images match the vision in my head brought a deeply fulfilling sense of achievement. I hope this set conveys the solemn and mysterious ambiance everyone expects.