Bringing out details in shadows: I need a little help, please

[ScubaMargie]

Hi all,

I'm hoping you can help me with a samll problem. I am trying to bring out the face of the eagle in the attached picture but can't seem to do so. I have been reading through the forums here, and at other sites, and following the directions given but i just don't get the results.

I would love to see the details. Can you guys give me some pointers?

I had to compress the pic to get it under 100k. If you need a copy of the original let me know and I'll post a link.

Thanks in advance.

[Ying]

Hi ScubaMargie,

I blurred the bush in the front a bit, adjusted the levels to make the whole photo a bit brighter, then:
1. Created a new layer, set the blending mode to "Soft Light", then painted over the eagle's face with white, using a very soft brush with flow set to 10%. Merged all layers.
2. Made a loose lasso selection of the eagle's head, made a new layer of it (ctrl+j is one of the best shortcuts in photoshop ;), applied High Pass filter, then set the new layer's blending mode to "Soft Light"

Here's the result:

[Flora]

Hi,

ScubaMargie,

...if you work with PS CS or higher, the Image>Adjustment>Shadow/Highlight option can work wonders in these cases...

If you work with a previous PS version, you can select the shadows and use Levels or Curves or Brightness/Contrast to lighten them...

In my example I used the Levels..

When you lift the shadows in the image posted, you reveal a strong pixelation due to compression as you pointed out .... I'm sure that working on the full size the result would be much better...

[duwayne]

ScubaMargie,
I used a curve adjustment layer to bring up the darker tones. Used unsharp mask on the head to sharpen a little and hue/saturation layer to darken the green and increase the saturation of yellow.

[Gary Richardson]

Here's another way to do it (for those who don't have CS2 and a Shadows/Highlights filter).

Copy image to a new layer. De-saturate layer, then Invert it. Set layer Blend Mode to Soft Light and adjust layer Opacity for effect.

Finally applied cover all Layer Mask, then painted with soft white brush where I wanted the effect to apply.

[philbach]

Well I copied the layer using screen blending mode x about 5. Flattened those layers down to layer 1 and then added a black mask and painted the beak in.

[Daviskw]

Hi There

I used Gary's way but also added a little gaussian blur to the softlight layer.

Just for a little interest I brought the eye out a little.

Filled in a few feathers... thats it.

Butch

[ScubaMargie]

Hiya Guys.

Thanks for the info and it looks like you all have done a pretty good job on this beautiful bird.

I'll give all your suggestions a go and get back to you will the results.

Thanks again for your help.

[Gary Richardson]

I used Gary's way but also added a little gaussian blur to the softlight layer.

Nice touch Butch (sorry for the poor rhyme), takes out the noise nicely.

[ScubaMargie]

I've been having a go with the different methods described and found that Garys' method works best for me to a point. This may sound like a silly question but where do i find the cover all mask? I can't seem to find it anywhere.

Also David, How did you bring out his eye. It looks great.

Ok, I found the cover all mask, and everything is starting to come out nicely. Thanks again guys.

[Gary Richardson]

A cover all mask is an all black mask (it covers all), ie the effect is not applied.

Easiest way to get this (this is in Photoshop) is to make the layer you want to mask active, then Alt + Click on the layer mask symbol (dotted circle) at the bottom of the layers palette.

Then you click on layer mask to make it active, and paint on the black mask with a soft white brush, this will reveal whatever effect you'd masked out.

If this isn't clear let me know, and I'll try to illustrate what I mean.

EDIT: Oops, didn't read the last line.

[ScubaMargie]

Thanks for the info Gary. It sounds prety straight forward to me.

[ScubaMargie]

Here's what I have so far. What do you guys think?

I used Garys' method and also added a levels adjusment layer.

He seems a little bit blurred to me. What would be the best way to sharpen him?

Thanks again.

[plugsnpixels]

Here's the original, treated with Lucis Art>Wyeth, Alien Skin Image Doctor (for JPEG artifacts) and Photoshop's Shadow/Highlight.

I like Daviskw's work--how much "liberty" did you take? Regardless, it's great! Nice color and detail.