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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Random Tip of the (Week)Day
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03/13/2003 03:18:29 PM · #1
In an effort for me to remember some of those long forgotten tips, tricks, and cheats I've read or others that I use on a daily basis, I decided to try writing a tip of the day. (But since I'm likely not to remember on the weekend, and since everybody's too busy shooting then anyway, I'm keeping it to the weekdays.) If y'all think they're crap, let me know and I'll stop.

Today's tip is a Photoshop trick extremely useful for underexposed and overexposed images. (Sorry to the non-Photoshop users out there. Also sorry that its not DPC legal.)

If you have an image that's a bit too dark (underexposed)overall, create a duplicate layer of the image and set the blending mode for that new layer to "screen." If you find that it lightened the image too much, set the opacity of that layer to a level that is more acceptable. If it didn't lighten it enough, duplicate the "screened" level as many times as necessary to get the image just a bit lighter than you want, and then play with the opacity on that last layer to bring it down to "perfection."

Conversely, if your image is too light (overexposed), duplicate all of the above steps except set the blending mode to "multiply."

In addition, I find this is a much "better" way to dodge and burn -- especially when dealing with color. (Don't get me wrong, I use the dodge/burn tools as well, they do different things and they are better for some things than the blending mode trick.) There are a number of ways you can do this -- probably the easiest is to erase or mask out the areas you don't want to be changed. Last night, however, I was contemplating a means of using the history brush to paint the dodge/burn in like you would with the dodge/burn tools.
03/13/2003 03:42:15 PM · #2
Are you sure that your layering technique is not legal?

We discussed this layering technique topic over the past several days now, and at this point we're waiting on Admin for the verdict, since we haven't been able to bring the issue to a close ourselves.

Please see following thread, if you're interested:

//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=15616

Calaille

Message edited by author 2003-03-13 15:42:59.
03/13/2003 04:12:27 PM · #3
First of all: Great idea for the tips.

Also wanted to point out that this technique will work with PSP as well as PS.


03/13/2003 05:55:12 PM · #4
Thanks for this. I look forward to more of your tips.
03/13/2003 05:59:52 PM · #5
Originally posted by calaille:

Are you sure that your layering technique is not legal?

Please assume it is NOT "DPC-legal" until you explicitly hear otherwise from the admins... unfortunately it might take them a week or two.

I hope your prospective entry isn't completely dependent on this (or a variant) technique!
03/13/2003 06:07:11 PM · #6
I do large area dodge / burn a little different. Try (ps menu) Select - Color Range and once the dialog box opens select shadow or highlight. Take the selection and feather it for a smoother transitions. Copy the selection into it's own layer. If you selected shadows set the layer mode to Linear Dodge or Color Dodge depending on varience needed. If you selected the highlights linear burn or color burn.

I have never been a big fan of doing multiply or screen layers on the whole image because it will probably affect areas I don't want it too. Really a personal taste but I don't want to burn a shadow or dodge a highlight in general.

Now this would NOT be DPC legal, but is mandatory in the photographic world to learn. IMO Patellas way is absolutely legal for DPC since it is an overall move. Great job Patella!!!

Dave
03/13/2003 06:13:58 PM · #7
Originally posted by GeneralE:

Please assume it is NOT "DPC-legal" until you explicitly hear otherwise from the admins... unfortunately it might take them a week or two.


So it would be quicker to enter the technique and see whether or not you get DQed than it would be to wait for an answer??
I so wish I could tell my users to go sit on it for 2 weeks!

I would say Patella's technique is not legal because it uses screen blending where only normal blending is allowed.

(Oh, and nice tip Patella, thank you!)
03/13/2003 06:21:54 PM · #8
Don't get me wrong -- I'm not suggesting you use a whole layer to dodge/burn a specific portion.

The main tip was just for over/underexposed photos.

The secondary information was just ramblings about what you could do with the multiply/screen function as a means of doing an alternate kind of burn/dodge in very specific areas using a mask or selection, or to create an alternate means with a different look by using the history brush.

I think your suggestion to use the color range menu to select either highlight or shadow areas is very effective -- I use it a lot myself. *grin* A lot of times, however, I'm wanting to burn/dodge areas that match their surroundings in terms of tone. For instance, making a metal bolt stand out from it's metal background. In those cases I have to somehow select it from the background -- either by masking, selecting, or just painting it freehand.


03/13/2003 07:00:22 PM · #9
Thank you Patella for taking the time to post this tip! I will print it and try it in the future!!! If you're game for doing this daily, I'm game to try to learn. Praises to teachers!!!
03/13/2003 07:33:49 PM · #10
Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by calaille:

Are you sure that your layering technique is not legal?

Please assume it is NOT "DPC-legal" until you explicitly hear otherwise from the admins... unfortunately it might take them a week or two.

I hope your prospective entry isn't completely dependent on this (or a variant) technique!


No, no, I'd rather play conservative and submit something that I know for sure is legal. Besides, although the technique creates a really neat effect, I tried it on pictures I had already submitted and found out the results are only good for portraits showing high contrasts. For other pictures, it gives the impression that the picture is out of focus.

BTW, this daily tips thread is great. I wasn't saying that to bring it down or anything. Just wanted to iron out a detail, that's all. Keep them tips coming!...

Calaille.
03/13/2003 09:57:57 PM · #11
Jeff, What a wonderful idea for you to post tips. I'll be looking forward to them each weekday.
I hope you'll also be entering more challenges.
Regards,

Grayce
03/14/2003 09:02:22 AM · #12
I don't believe it is legal due to changing the layer mode. I do something to photos to deepen color ect but it calls for changing the layer to soft mode and the rules say it's not legal so I don't use them on DPC.
03/14/2003 10:27:16 AM · #13
Originally posted by calaille:

Are you sure that your layering technique is not legal?

We discussed this layering technique topic over the past several days now, and at this point we're waiting on Admin for the verdict, since we haven't been able to bring the issue to a close ourselves.

Please see following thread, if you're interested:



He is correct, this is not DPC legal due to using a blending mode other than "Normal."
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