New way to increase detail/contrast... try it!

[John Buchmann]

I searched this forum and i don't think this method has been mentioned. I just discovered an easy way to increase detail/contrast in any photo without unsharp masking.

I'm calling it "contrast lines" (similar name to "contrast mask" which i find really helpful)

Try these easy steps in Photoshop and see if it doesn't improve your image:

Note: My tests are with a 5 megapixel image. You may have to adjust the settings for a lower res image.

1) Duplicate background layer

2) In the duplicated layer, run the "Glowing Edges" filter in Filter--> Stylize menu.

3) I used these settings for a 5 mp image:
Edge Width: 2
Edge Brightness: 6
Smoothness: 10

4) Go to Image--> Adjustments--> Desaturate

5) Go to Image--> Adjustments--> Invert

6) Go into Curves and drag the right end point down half way. Everything white will change to 50% black while the black stays the same.

7) Change the layer mode to Overlay.

8) If necessary, decrease the layer opacity to suit your taste. I left it at 100%

Done

Please let me know what you think!

John

 

[id3dwiz]

I tried it, it worked.
Isn't it much faster to adjust levels?
The result seems the same.

 

[John Buchmann]

The result shouldn't be the same as levels. This technique only adds contrast to the major "lines" of a photo while ignoring everything else. It should probably be done as a last step after the normal "levels" adjustments. Just like sharpening should be done as the last step, so should this.

John

I tried it, it worked.
Isn't it much faster to adjust levels?
The result seems the same.

 

[rik young]

john,

thank you for sharing. can you please post some before and after photo?

rik

John

I tried it, it worked.
Isn't it much faster to adjust levels?
The result seems the same.

 

[Hal Fisher]

Any samples?

Hal

 

[John Buchmann]

I'll try to get a sample out in a couple hours... stay tuned!

John

Any samples?

Hal

 

[John Buchmann]

Here's a sample: (It's an animated gif, so it may take a little while for the comparison to show)



Even though it's an animated Gif, with a lot of quality loss, it thought it would be best to see the effect.

John

 

[Gordon W]

I searched this forum and i don't think this method has been
mentioned. I just discovered an easy way to increase
detail/contrast in any photo without unsharp masking.

I'm calling it "contrast lines" (similar name to "contrast mask"
which i find really helpful)

Try these easy steps in Photoshop and see if it doesn't improve
your image:

Note: My tests are with a 5 megapixel image. You may have to
adjust the settings for a lower res image.

1) Duplicate background layer

2) In the duplicated layer, run the "Glowing Edges" filter in
Filter--> Stylize menu.

3) I used these settings for a 5 mp image:
Edge Width: 2
Edge Brightness: 6
Smoothness: 10

4) Go to Image--> Adjustments--> Desaturate

5) Go to Image--> Adjustments--> Invert

6) Go into Curves and drag the right end point down half way.
Everything white will change to 50% black while the black stays the
same.

7) Change the layer mode to Overlay.

8) If necessary, decrease the layer opacity to suit your taste. I
left it at 100%

Done

Please let me know what you think!

Hi John,

While this looks interesting and gives the illusion of greater detail, unless I'm mistaken all it's doing is adding a thin dark line along the outside of some edges.

So if you have something with a lot of fine dark detail against a light background (i.e. a pine tree against a gray sky in my case), it basically swells the dark areas.

If you have fine light detail against a dark background, then the dark background also swells into the light area and in some case nearly pinches out the fine detail.

So I'm not sure what this buys.

Regards,
Gordon
--

 

[id3dwiz]

yes, John, you're right. It only hit me later LOL.
This is a good addition to the "more artistic wanna be" tool box.

Thank you for sharing.