How to fix crushed black areas? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

07/16/2010 12:49:11 PM · #1

Hey all,

I know that part of the solution is to shoot at as low an ISO as possible. However in this instance, an ISO of 320 didn't seem too high, moving subject and all with variable sun/cloud for lighting. F5.6 and shutter speed 1/320, shot with the 18-200, wb set for cloudy.

I probably exposed off of the horse's face or an area of sunburned black on her body. She looks fine in colour

albeit a bit washy, but once I began doing basic PS and desaturated her, the hollows of her all-black ears began to cause problems.

Any helpful suggestions greatly appreciated!

mycelium

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

07/16/2010 12:54:37 PM · #2

Look at your color channels to see if there's more info in one of them. If so, you can use that channel for b/w on the ears. Copying the image layer, setting to Screen, and masking can help. Also topaz does a great job of pulling detail out of dark areas.

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

07/16/2010 01:04:00 PM · #3

Originally posted by mycelium:

Sounds like it might work...oops forgot to mention my PS skills (PS CS2) are pretty minimal...where do I find color channels? Generally I don't use masks or layers.

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

07/16/2010 01:06:00 PM · #4

Might want to try shadows/highlights and see if that will work to lighten the shadow area.

mycelium

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

07/16/2010 01:08:58 PM · #5

Um... color channels... one of the tabs off the layer palette. Or click the background layer and hit ctrl + 1, 2, or 3.

Don't be afraid of layers and masks! They are absolutely the key to making Photoshop really work, and although some of it is complex, basic masking is as simple as using the brush tool in black and white.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/16/2010 01:12:51 PM · #6

Originally posted by mycelium:

Ok, thanks! Guess I'll be needing to borrow that PS CS2 book I gave someone! :-)

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

07/16/2010 01:38:38 PM · #7

There are at least two or three tutorials on using masks in the Tutorials section ... layers and masks are indeed a key to using PS effectively and non-destructively; without them, you may as well be using Photoshop 2.0 ...