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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> A simple photoshop technique
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Showing posts 1 - 7 of 7, (reverse)
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 08/25/2004 10:16:08 PM · #1
I want to share a discover I made. It's a technique in order to improve shadow vs highlight in a photograph. I mainly use it for flash-shot. Like we all know, a photography taken with the built in flash often results in a dull image with dull colors. I don't know if you guys are going to find this usefull and i'm not "THE" photoshop expert but i'd like to have some feedback on this if you find it usefull.

1st the results
this is before:
dull enough!

this is after:
much more natural looking and appealing to me.

Here's how:

1. open the file in photoshop
2. duplicate the background layer
3. desaturate the copy and apply the negative effect
4. change the blending mode to soft light
5. flatten your image
6. duplicate your image again
7. change the blending mode to soft light.
8. flatten you image and you're done.

At this point you may need to desaturate a bit.

I'd like comment if you find it usefull or not and why in order for me to improve it.

Thanks
 08/25/2004 11:42:53 PM · #2
I really like how the colors shine in the floor of the processed one. The dog seems a little washed out, and the red toy over saturated though. Maybe a selection of the areas that need to be fixed might work better. Just my thought, overall the processed one does look much better.
 08/25/2004 11:54:23 PM · #3
mmmm, to be honest...I believe your 'before' shot looks better.

edit: for details to explain why...well again you have lost some contrast in your second copy...it does looked washed out and lost crispness...However, if you like these effects and is what you have been looking for...cool...This is just me, I like darker images with contrast and warmer feel to the whole shot..and crisp edges....it depends of what the shot is really...However, with this shot of yours the floors in 'before' shot and the reflections are alwsome...very nice and appealing and inviteing too...with those qualities I feel that I would like to be there and drink coffee on a rainy day and think about the next challenge ahead of me....:)

Message edited by author 2004-08-26 00:38:57.
 08/26/2004 12:08:21 AM · #4
Originally posted by dustin03:
mmmm, to be honest...I believe your 'before' shot looks better.


I have to agree with dustin... whilst the second one has 'sweeter' colors it loses too much contrast imo.
08/26/2004 12:20:00 AM · #5
Did a couple of tests using this technique and on some shots, it works great, on others, it trully doesn't.
It's worth giving it a shot once in a while though.

Thanks nicklevy
08/26/2004 01:39:01 AM · #6
Interesting, it produces nearly the same result as the Shadow/Highlight with the default settings.
 08/26/2004 08:19:52 AM · #7
i've found, when using the onboard flash, setting a custom white balance to an overexposed light grey or white surface tends to produce pretty good color recreation out of camera.

i'll take the custom white balance photo w/o the flash, and not worry wheter it is in focus or not. i'll overexpose it 2-3 stops according to the meter.

technically i dunno why it seesm to work - and i don't use the flash too much - but where i have it seems to work well.


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