Mikes Photography

creators

A hot tip from this months Digital Camera Magazine. A quick way to beef up an image is to add a copy of the original image as a new layer, set it to 'Multiply' blend mode at around 15% opacity, which beefs up the colours, and a further copy layer set to 'Soft Light' at around 20% to beef up the contrast. Worth a go if you aren't happy with dodging and burning or complex selections and so on.

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hil26 · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 5:29 pm Post subject:

Another tip from a photo comp judge at the local camera club

Blown highlights so lack of detail on portraits

new layer
make it light grey
add some noise
change blend mode of layer to darken
adjust opacity to suit

haven't tried it, but am told it works.
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Always in search of that magic moment

creators · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 6:10 pm Post subject:

I've just had a go Dave and it did help reduce the glare, I also added a Gaussian blur to the noise layer. What it doesn't do is replace lost texture and definition, but as a starting point for a bit of rebuilding it looks very helpful.

The image I put up above really didn't show off what the layering and blending can do, but I think this picture of Leah shows it better.

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hil26 · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 8:37 pm Post subject:

certainly agree that the image of Leah shows the technique much better.
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Always in search of that magic moment

jonH · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:03 am Post subject:

working in LAB can produce similar results, and can be done very quickly

Photoshop Lab Color: The Canyon Conundrum and Other Adventures in the Most Powerful Colorspace by Dan Margulis is a great read on the technique, I really must find which box it's packed in and finish it. Well worth a mention to anyone looking to spend £20 on you for christmas, assuming you're interested in expanding your post-processing ;)
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There is nothing in life that cannot be improved with either monkeys, pirates or ninjas
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creators · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:32 am Post subject:

Thanks Jon, straight on the Christmas list.
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jonH · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:19 am Post subject:

You'll enjoy it ;)

Forgot to mention, LAB colour mode is available in photoshop, but not elements.
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There is nothing in life that cannot be improved with either monkeys, pirates or ninjas
NPU Member

creators · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 12:01 pm Post subject: