need help with contrast using PS

[Jonathan Lee]

Hi,

I am trying to update this photo.



I like the green tree on the right side over the one of the left. Also, the mountain is very sick (pale .

What is the good technique to correct it using PS? I am kind of new to PS. Baby me with step by step will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

--Jon.

 

[feivel]

Hi,

I am trying to update this photo.



I like the green tree on the right side over the one of the left.
Also, the mountain is very sick (pale .

What is the good technique to correct it using PS? I am kind of
new to PS. Baby me with step by step will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

--Jon.

for a first simple step try:
filter> sharpen> unsharp mask
start with these amounts on the sliders
amount 20
radius 50
threshold 0

play with first slider keeping it between 10-30 and see what you like, if anything

feivel

 

[feivel]

Hi,

I am trying to update this photo.



I like the green tree on the right side over the one of the left.
Also, the mountain is very sick (pale .

What is the good technique to correct it using PS? I am kind of
new to PS. Baby me with step by step will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

--Jon.

basically did what i said but used masks and layers to even out the sides



feivel

 

[jnulu]

I liked what you did with Jonathans' picture!!

Care to elaborate for newbies like me and let us know what you did one step at a time, please?
Thanks in advance.
Regards.

--Jon.

basically did what i said but used masks and layers to even out the
sides

feivel

--

To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as night the day, that thou canst not then, be false to any man.

 

[Bud Guinn]

original:

--
bud guinn....FCAS charter member
sony fd91, nikon 5700
http://www.pbase.com/budguinn/root
http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/showgallery.php?ppuser=340
DPReview, PBase supporter

 

[SEMO]

Hi,

I am trying to update this photo.



I like the green tree on the right side over the one of the left.
Also, the mountain is very sick (pale .

What is the good technique to correct it using PS? I am kind of
new to PS. Baby me with step by step will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

--Jon.

My Take

 

[Gleb Esman]

I'ts always a pleasure to do a final touch to something already beautiful



Used gradient mask for contrast enhancement, another mask to enhance mountains (primary complain ). Touch of USM to complete...

Gleb
[email protected]

Hi,

I am trying to update this photo.

...

I like the green tree on the right side over the one of the left.
Also, the mountain is very sick (pale .

What is the good technique to correct it using PS? I am kind of
new to PS. Baby me with step by step will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

--Jon.

 

[bottles]

I used the Magic Wand (tolerance set to 50 and anti-aliased checked) to select the trees along with their reflections. It was necessary to hold the shift key and make several selections to get all of that properly selected. Then, if I wanted to work on the sky and it's reflection, I just chose Select > Inverse. Also, depending on whether I was working on the sky or the tree selection, I would sometimes choose Select > Modify > and either Expand or Contract a pixel or two.

Anyway, after making the appropriate selection, I used Curves to either darken the sky or lighten the trees a little. Lastly, I sharpened just the tree selection using USM (45-0.7-0).

bottles

 

[Jonathan Lee]

Wonderful touch feivel. Thanks for your insight.

Jon.

 

[Jonathan Lee]

Pretty cool, Bud. Thanks.

 

[Jonathan Lee]

SEMO,

I really like the way you've darken the mountain's shadow and the sky. Would you elaborate how you fix those area? They are really what I like.

Jon.

 

[Jonathan Lee]

Gleb,

I love what I saw when I was at Grand Tetons. It was just better than I hope. I wish my photo skill had been better to correctly capture its beauty to the fullness.

I really like the green enhanced on those trees left hand side and the sky. I am new to the concept of gradient mask and can't find a good step by step on it from the books I've got. Would you kindly elaborate or point me to a tutorial web site/book on this topic? Many thanks.

--Jon.

 

[Jonathan Lee]

bottles,

Thanks for your detailed note. I will play with your ideas. I really like the even darken sky you suggested. Would you think I can bring the contrast and color of the mountain closer between its darker reflection and the one point up to the sky? What would be a good technique to make them look much closer in color? Thanks.

--Jon.

 

[bottles]

Hi Jonathan,

Well, I'm not sure that the mountain and it's reflections would (in reality) really be the same contrast and color. However, I tried to make them look a little more similar in the image below. I simply selected the mountains and used Levels on the selection. I did the same with the reflections.

If you want to be able to control the various parts, or areas, of an image, nothing is more important (at least in my opinion) than learning to select. There are many ways to go about selecting, and we all have our favorites. Personally, I use the Magic Wand and Polygonal Lasso a lot. The secret of success, when it comes to using the Magic Wand, is learning to properly use the "Tolerance" setting.

Another important thing to learn is masking. For example, using the Quick Mask mode can be extremely helpful in refining your selections. If you're not using it, learn to do so.

There are so many talented people on this forum that can answer just about any question you or I could ask. I know that I've still got a lot to learn. I also know that there's just no substitute for the most important thing of all - practice – practice- practice.

Looking forward to seeing more of your photos, you've got a good eye.

bottles

bottles,

Thanks for your detailed note. I will play with your ideas. I
really like the even darken sky you suggested. Would you think I
can bring the contrast and color of the mountain closer between its
darker reflection and the one point up to the sky? What would be a
good technique to make them look much closer in color? Thanks.

--Jon.

 

[Chris Muir]

Jon,

Here's my try.

First I adjusted levels to maximize dynamic range.

Next tweaked curves a little to bring out the dark greens.

I increased saturation in the cyans and blues

Made a copy of this on another layer and set its mode to Screen.

Made another copy of the first layer and adjusted levels to bring out the sky.

Added a layer mask to this layer so only the sky shows through. I should have taken longer with the mask. You can se the problem in that the tips of the trees are darker than they should be.

My version:



Original:



--
http://www.xfade.com

 

[Vera]

Jon,

Here's my try.

First I adjusted levels to maximize dynamic range.

Next tweaked curves a little to bring out the dark greens.

I increased saturation in the cyans and blues

Made a copy of this on another layer and set its mode to Screen.

Made another copy of the first layer and adjusted levels to bring
out the sky.

Added a layer mask to this layer so only the sky shows through. I
should have taken longer with the mask. You can se the problem in
that the tips of the trees are darker than they should be.

My version:



Original:



--
http://www.xfade.com

--please help with the gradient mask thing. gradients are one thing i am having troubles with too
Vera

 

[Gleb Esman]

Jonathan,

gradient mask (i name it like that anyways) is an approach for gradually applying any correction at one side of image with little or no change to the other side.
The way you could do that is:

• press 'q' to get into quick mask mode.
• press 'd' to reset colors to default
• click on the gradient tool, make sure "linear gradient" is selected.
• click on the gradient selection, where gradients of different colors could be selected. This is at the very top left corner of PS7 toolbar. Here you're interested in monochromic gradient named "foreground to background". Just click on it to make it active gradient.
• paint gradient quick mask right over your image (still in quick mask mode) drag left mouse button to paint quick mask gradient form left to right. You'll see reddish gradient painted.
• press 'q' to exit quick mask mode - and you'll see selection. Depends on the direction of change you want - you might need to repeat it all over drawing in quick mask mode in opposite direction.
• once you exit quick mask mode and got your gradient selection "marching ants" ready - create any adjustment layer (in case of this picture - curves).
• This new curves adjustment layer automatically picks the gradient mask you created.
• touch up the contrast with curves. This will have full effect in one side of the image but gradually diminishing to zero effect in opposite corner.

That's it.

PS: With sky i did "select-> color range" for sky pixels, then feathered it with value of 2, then made sure no one image pixels (but the upper sky and mountains area) is selected. Another curves adjustment layer - and mountains contrast is enhanced.

Hope it helps. Best regards,

Gleb Esman
[email protected]

Gleb,

I love what I saw when I was at Grand Tetons. It was just better
than I hope. I wish my photo skill had been better to correctly
capture its beauty to the fullness.

I really like the green enhanced on those trees left hand side and
the sky. I am new to the concept of gradient mask and can't find a
good step by step on it from the books I've got. Would you kindly
elaborate or point me to a tutorial web site/book on this topic?
Many thanks.

--Jon.

 

[Bud Guinn]

--
bud guinn....FCAS charter member
sony fd91, nikon 5700
http://www.pbase.com/budguinn/root
http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/showgallery.php?ppuser=340
DPReview, PBase supporter

 

[nfll]

I'll send you my version and technique.

 

[feivel]

I liked what you did with Jonathans' picture!!
Care to elaborate for newbies like me and let us know what you did
one step at a time, please?
Thanks in advance.
Regards.

filter> sharpen> unsharp mask...20/50/0
dup layer, again unsharp mask 20/50/0
layer mask
paint out in black in the mask everything but the low contrast trees on the left

feivel