My newest Montage - DPChallenge Forums

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/20/2004 09:58:46 PM · #1

I played some more with combining sharp and out of focus images with the same composition. This latest one is a combination of two different raw conversions of the same image.

W.R.Miller

Canon EOS-50D

06/20/2004 10:02:27 PM · #2

Really nice! I will try this technique myself. I would put this up as an available print. Very pretty and I like the soft focus effect. Thanks for sharing!

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

06/21/2004 12:53:59 AM · #3

Thanks for the comment. Printable image is up for review.

Canon EOS-60D

06/21/2004 01:02:54 AM · #4

Oh, that is so pretty! Love the soft, dreamy quality. Nice work! :o)

06/21/2004 07:10:44 AM · #5

I've had a question about how this was done step-by-step so I will try and explain here.

For this particular image I took only one image though it can be achieved by taking two, however I didn't have a tripod with me.

1. Take a picture at the exposure you feel is the correct exposure using the aperture/shutterspeed that will give you the area of sharpness that you want. Take the picture in RAW so you can change the exposure in steps 2 and 3.

2. Open the RAW image in Photoshop CS (or other software that will allow you to read the file and change the exposure)

3. Change the exposure slide bar so it reads +2.1 (I was lazy and didn't feel like setting it manually to +2)

4. Save the image.

5. Open the RAW image again and change the exposure slide bar so it reads +1.1 and same this image under a different name. The save step is not necessary if you are using Photoshop CS, just click ok from the RAW conversion screen.

6. With the +1.1 image open in Photoshop (or any other software that allows layers), duplicate the background.

7. Apply a Gaussian Blur filter to the new layer, applying just enough to loose detail but not shape.

8. Create and empty new layer.

9. Open the +2.1 image and select all and copy

10. On the new layer in the +1.1 image paste the image you just copied.

11. Change the blending mode of this layer to multiply

12. Save the composite image

PS. It doesn't matter which layer is first, just that the image with the least amount of overexposure is blurred. I haven't tried blurring the other one so that could be something to try as well.

Not all images will work with this technique, however, it's fun to try.

To do this with two images instead of one you need a tripod.

1. Take the picture as in 1 above but overexpose by 2 stops.

2. Take a second picture with the aperture wide open and blur to the extent to remove detail but not shape. Overexpose this image by one stop.

3. Use the method described above to blend the two images.

Message edited by author 2004-06-21 07:15:48.