Tonal Range Help

[Dave_D]

I shot this photo with Fuji Neopan 400 and developed it at home. This was my first try at film processing and it didn't turnout too good. After extensive review of my process, I have since figured out what went wrong and can now get very good results processing film.
On to the "help" part. I obviously blew out my tonal range in processing and have tried to correct it with PSCS2. After trying several methods, the results you see here were done by just simply making a new layer and choosing multipy in blending options. I then made a new layer from the multiplied layer to increase the effect pulling back on the opacity a bit. When I try to correct the contrast any further, the blacks become too black thus taking me one step forward and two steps back. I'm trying to bring down the hot spots. Any suggestions?

[Kraellin]

what you want is 'curves' and/or 'levels'. this will allow you to bring down the brights without also bringing down the darks.

Craig

[Dave_D]

I tried both curves and levels without much success. If someone would like a go at it and let me know what steps I would need to do, It would be greatly appreciated as I have quite a few from this roll of film I would like to correct. Thanks in advance.

[Cassidy]

Dave, your point of emphasis would be very helpful on this one, ie point of focus. Have played a little

[philbach]

Another Method to clip the highlights is to use Image/Adjustment/Shadow-Highlights. Set the Shadow adjustment to zero per cent and move the highlight slider to the right. That seems to work nicely for me.

[Duv]

For a less contrasty look, often I can get good results using Blend If. One thought might be to duplicate the background. Run Levels or Curves on Background to darken. Change copy to Screen mode then use Blend If. A bit of Curves tweeking and perhaps an orange filter in Channel Mixer. You could also try a bit of Burning on a 50% grey Overlay layer.

Cheers

Dave