help with selection techniques - DPChallenge Forums

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

06/22/2006 02:19:59 AM · #1

Ok, I'm trying really hard to figure out how to do this...

I have this picture I really like that I took through a balloon at TGI Friday's a couple of months ago.... It's actually tack sharp in the original, with great definition on her eyelashes...

But contrast is a bit on the low side... I really would like to increase the contrast by darkening JUST the shadows around her eyes... However, the burn tool using 'shadows' is not specific enough...

I tried using selection with color range, but it's not good enough either.... I got a somewhat good selection, but it still didn't quite work out...

How can I do this?

I tried to make a layer from just lassoed eyes, and applied other corrections there, but I'm getting unpleasant effects...

a little help on the process please?

Thank you... I'm currently using PS 7.0... might upgrade to CS2 This weekend.

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

06/22/2006 02:28:52 AM · #2

Have you tried Selective Color? Try that and make the blacks, blacker. Or try using a gradient map (black to white) and set to luminosity. That will darken the shadows also and then mask out everything else but the areas you want darken. Also, Curves with a mask applied should also work. Try an S curve which should give you more contrast and then just mask out the parts you don't want effected or resample the blacks using the eyedropper and choose something that isn't quite black. That will make the everything darker.

Message edited by author 2006-06-22 02:31:18.

fotomann_forever

06/22/2006 03:07:40 AM · #3

Create a new layer, set it to soft light mode. Then with a soft brush at about 25% opacity and 75% flow paint with white to dodge and black to burn.

Dodging and burning with this metod is much more natural than the dodge and burn tools.

When you are done, you can fade the effect by changing the opacity of the Soft Light layer.

Message edited by author 2006-06-22 03:08:24.

06/22/2006 03:17:02 AM · #4

So you are saying to create a selection based on a color corrected and contrast adjusted image, then use that on the basic image?

I think I can try that...

I'll try your method too... after lunch FF!

Thanks for the replies...

If anyone wanted to have a go at it, feel free...

Please remember that I only want to increase contrast in the eye region.

06/22/2006 04:39:56 AM · #5

Still having troubles with this one...

FF, your idea is great, but I'm trying to adjust the contrast of a small area of the photo with fine detail and lowish contrast... Your method is good for larger areas...

I'm still working with the selective color method, but because of the 'red filter' that is the balloon, I'm having loads of difficulty trying to get only the areas I want...

I've gone to using a separate layer for each eye...

Message edited by author 2006-06-22 04:56:30.