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10/12/2008 12:40:56 PM · #1 |
Hi all
I'm hoping for comments/suggestions on how to make this photo better with photoshopping - keeping in mind that i want the image to look real
Message edited by author 2008-10-12 13:20:27. |
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10/12/2008 01:07:06 PM · #2 |
edit: nevermind, that wasn't your photo.
Message edited by author 2008-10-12 13:07:50. |
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10/12/2008 01:08:30 PM · #3 |
I right clicked on the image he was trying to post and opened in a new window. This was what I got
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10/12/2008 01:16:02 PM · #4 |
| [thumb]730368[/thumb] Fake HDR |
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10/12/2008 01:25:35 PM · #5 |
Something like this perhaps. When I looked at your image, I saw that it still had a nice tonal range, even though the whole shot was over-exposed.
This is just a quick 5 minute edit, so feel free to experiment with other things too:
What I did was duplicated a layer, added a layer mask and added a small gaussian blur to it (this is just preference, you can experiment with adding other kinds of filters or none at all), and then using the "Multiply" blending mode. What this does is darkens colors that are otherwise washed out, giving the shot a heavier more prominent feel. The gaussian blur I use to give a softer feel and help eliminate jpg artifacts or jaggies or any other kind of too-sharp feel that the image might have. Like I said, it's just a preference.
I then dropped the opacity on the Multiply layer to 80%. Then I painted back in some detail in the grasses and trees to taste, using a medium sized soft brush at a 35% opacity.
Then I added a Selective Color adjustment layer to deepen the blues and cyans, and then a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to make some tweaks with the color to taste. (Experiment also with levels, curves, etc.)
Then, flattened it, sharpened it a tiny bit using Smart Sharpen (if you don't have CS2/CS3, you can use a small amount of Unsharp Mask), and voila.
*EDIT* Looking at it, you'll probably want to spend some time getting the colors a little less muted, but like I said, 5 minute edit. I was mostly going for bring the photo back down from over-exposure.
Message edited by author 2008-10-12 13:27:03. |
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10/12/2008 01:36:49 PM · #6 |
I like K10Dguy's edit. It has more of the real feel you wanted. I think the problem with your original image is it already has such strong fall colors that it may be tough to keep it real looking.
I spent a little while paying with it and got a little more involved. Here's what I got:
Here's what I did using PaintShop Pro (names of the adjustments may vary in photoshop):
-levels, moved midtone slider slightly to the right to darken.
-duplicate layer
-lower yellow saturation just a touch, increase green to make trees stand out better, increase cyan saturation, but lower cyan brightness to bring out detail in water.
-erase duplicate layer in the sky and on some of the reflections, in order to keep them bright.
-clarify on lower layer to bring out some texture and depth in clouds and reflections
Bring out detail from shadows by:
-duplicate the first duplicate layer, which contains the trees and grass
-desaturate this new duplicate
-negative image on new duplicate
-gaussian blur of 5
-overlay at 20%
-merge all layers
-final sharpen at radius .35, strength 115, clipping 2
-saved at compression level 13 to fit within basic editing limits (145k final file size)
Here are my layers just prior to merging them:
 background layer, on bottom
 Duplicate layer, in middle. Most of the image detail used in the final image is here.
 Overlay layer at 100% opacity. (Actually applied at 20%)
I've been experimenting with a lot of layer techniques lately, so I may have gotten unnecessarily complicated with this. The final image still seems a little darker than I wanted, but it's close.
Message edited by author 2008-10-12 14:33:52. |
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10/12/2008 02:32:28 PM · #7 |
Here's a quick take:
The details of adjustments made are on the image. Basically just tweaking of colors and adjustment of curves to optimize brightness and contrast. |
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