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08/15/2005 08:21:40 AM · #26			 | 
		
		here is my try...
 
 //personal.inet.fi/surf/andy/217742copy1.jpg
 
 Copy of pic 217742:
 Copy of layer (ctrl+j)
 New layer blending mode: darken
 Invert (ctrl+i)
 Magic wanda to select all black, tolerance 30
 Copy of selected area from BACKGROUND layer
 Adjust brightness and contrast
 Defringe layer 1 pixel to remove black border.
 Flatten image.
  Message edited by Manic - please post thumbs or links, not large images. |  
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08/15/2005 08:24:01 AM · #27			 | 
		
		| Next time if the sky has bright clouds use what people said about the graduated ND filter. If unavailable, expose for the sky, and then use shadows/highlights to brighten up the shadows if necessary. It's much easier to enhance the shadows than to fix a blown out sky. Or try this, if you have a tripod you can take one shot exposed for the sky and one of the landscape, then make a composite of the two parts that are exposed right. Nice shot btw. |  
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08/15/2005 08:46:51 AM · #28			 | 
		
		Thanks, and curses on your Photoshopping skills, everyone!
 :-P
 
 I've got a lot of learning curve to go up!
 :-O
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08/15/2005 10:21:53 AM · #29			 | 
		
		If you have PS CS2 you can use the "highlights/shadows" adjustment. That might help you to get where you want to go. I know, its really tough for me to and it looks REALLY noisey and grainey when I get it like i want it. Keep trying and we will get it.
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08/15/2005 10:40:31 AM · #30			 | 
		
		I checked the name of the technique I used again and you will be happy to know that there are several web sites that tell you how to implement it.
 Its called a "shadow mask" and as I forgot to describeit earlier here goes.
 
 Duplicate your background
 Desat the new layer
 Set opacity to 80%
 Set layer type to overlay
 Invert the layer (color)
 Use a Gaussian blur of radius 20-100 depending on what you like
 
 You can record the above as an action - I have and can see about posting it to a web site if anyone wants a copy.
 
 To make further adjustments:--
 Increase mask effect = Change the opacity or duplicate the mask layer
 Lighten or Darken image = use curves/ levels or use a duplicate layer set to either screen or multiply.
 
 Hope this helps all who don't own PS CS. |  
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08/15/2005 11:48:12 AM · #31			 | 
		
		Hope you don't mind, but I played with this a bit too.  Here is my result:
 
  
 
 What I did (and I use MS Digital Image Pro, but the commands are very similar to PS):
 
 Used Magic Wand to grab sky (tolerance=25)
 Copied, pasted, & saved it to a new project
 Went back to original and selected Invert on Magic Wand (to grab everything but sky)
 Copied, pasted, & saved it to a new project
 In this "not sky" project, used edge finder to grab castle only
 Copied, pasted, & saved it to a new project
 Returned to "not sky" project and deleted castle
 Saved this as a separate project
 So, now I have the original, a "sky" project, a "not sky" project, a "not sky without castle" project, and a "castle" project.
 
 Sky Project
 Reduced Backlighting
 Bumped up color sat
 Increased cyan and magenta curves
 Applied Neat Image
 Set Transparency to 20%
 Copied and pasted it back onto the original x2
 Applied Gaussian Blur 8.9%
 Copied and pasted it back onto the original
 Moved GB layer to back
 
 Not Sky Project
 Increased color sat
 Applied Flood filter to improve reflection
 Set Transparency to 40%
 Copied and pasted it back onto the original x2
 Applied Gaussian Blur 8.9%
 Copied and pasted it back onto the original
 Moved GB layer to back
 
 Not Sky Without Castle Project
 Increased color sat
 Added flash
 Increased sharpness
 Applied Neat Image
 Set Transparency to 40%
 Copied and pasted it back onto the original x2
 Applied Gaussian Blur 8.9%
 Copied and pasted it back onto the original
 Moved GB layer to back
 
 Castle Project
 Increased color sat
 Reduced Backlighting
 Increased sharpness
 Set Transparency to 60%
 Copied and pasted it back onto the original x2
 
 Saved for web
 
 (I know this was lengthy, but wanted to outline each step I took specifically and in the order I performed them.  I hope it didn't seem condescending to anyone - I'm still learning every day!  This took me longer to write up than it did to complete.  Probably 10-15 minutes worth of work.)
 
 Hope this helps...
 
 Jimmy
 
 EDIT: adjusted transparency percentages.
  Message edited by author 2005-08-15 11:51:18.
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