Image Help - - removing harsh shadows - Page 2

Mig · #16 08-16-2002, 09:04 PM

Sorry about that - I'm not familiar with Macs. I thought those files were all the same.

Here's the pic. Mind you, I like the original too, but if you want to lighten the shadows, they're lightened here.

Mig

Mig · #17 08-16-2002, 09:12 PM

Here's a picture of the curve with an explanation...

Here's the way with curves. This can also be done with Levels - which is the equal brother to curves - but I don't know how.

To make your own curve like this for rachel, run your mouse over the image with the curves dialogue box open. YOu'll see the dot on the line move around. Put your cursor on the parts of the pic you want to lighten, this being the shadows, like under the bowl is a good spot. Watch where the dot is on the curve. Tug gently on the curve at that approximate point to lighten those areas. You may have to anchor the curve in the centre first by clicking there and adding a dot to the curve.

Sounds complicated but once you practice this for fifteen minutes this fix takes a few seconds.

To finish...

duplicate the layer, blur it to smithereens, change the blend mode to screen and reduce the opacity to somewhere around 15. Sharpen the background layer a little and it's near perfect.

Hope this helps

Mig

winwintoo · #18 08-16-2002, 09:25 PM

Thanks Mig. Macs have no trouble with most files that are posted here, but for some reason, .zip files get mixed up even though there is built in capability to unzip them - one of the mysteries of computers.

I didn't know that you could find spots on the curve by moving the mouse over the image - that is very interesting and good to know. Thank you for sharing that.

Margaret

KenB · #19 08-16-2002, 09:31 PM

Here's my version. I just cloned out the shadows on the window frame, slected it and added a little blur, then I used variations to get it back closer to white. This turned her face a little more red though, so I added a selective curves layer and toned down the red. Removed the persons hair in the top left corner and probably some other things that I forgot during the process.

KenB · #20 08-16-2002, 09:38 PM

Mig.....try as I might

I can't get this to work...what am I doing wrong??

"To make your own curve like this for rachel, run your mouse over the image with the curves dialogue box open. YOu'll see the dot on the line move around. Put your cursor on the parts of the pic you want to lighten, this being the shadows, like under the bowl is a good spot. Watch where the dot is on the curve. Tug gently on the curve at that approximate point to lighten those areas. You may have to anchor the curve in the centre first by clicking there and adding a dot to the curve."

Stephen M · #21 08-16-2002, 11:11 PM

I have a list of very good articles on using curves/levels found here:

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binar...V_links.html#C

Just scroll down to the curves, levels and colour correction section of links.

Perhaps most specific to this section of the thread is the following link, although all of the articles are worth reading and practicing a few times - curves is a very powerful tool:

http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/13811.html

The important thing is that you can hold down CMD/CTRL or add other key modifiers to place edit points on the curve for the region of the image that the mouse is over on the image. This could be the composite curve or on separate individual curves.

Have fun,

Stephen Marsh.

KenB · #22 08-17-2002, 06:42 PM

Thanks Stephen, lots of great useful information at that site.
The thing I was questioning is how Mig see's a dot moving along the curve when he moves his mouse over spots in an image. I know control and clicking sets a point along the curve, maybe that's what he meant.

jeaniesa · #23 08-17-2002, 07:34 PM

KenB, If you're using a mouse, hold down the left mouse button as you move the cursor over the image - then you'll see a moving point on the curve that corresponds to the area your cursor is moving over. If you're using a graphics tablet, be sure the pen tip is touching the tablet (doesn't have to be hard pressure) as you move over the image.

Hope this helps, Jeanie

KenB · #24 08-17-2002, 08:39 PM

Jeaniesa, thanks ...that's what I was missing, did as you said and it worked fine.

Ken

jeaniesa · #25 08-17-2002, 09:06 PM

Glad I could help.

Jeanie

RedAlert · #26 09-04-2002, 05:25 PM

Thanks very much much for all the good ideas.

I combined some and came up eith this.

Actually I am quite satisfied.

I first brought the window posts closer to white and then started copying and pasting. Actually this was quite simple when I come to think of it.

Most of the time I've been trying various methods and learned a lot of other things along. So this excersise was very helpfull.

Thank you all very much and I'll try to stay active here !

Regards,

Edwin

RedAlert · #27 09-04-2002, 05:29 PM

forgot something................

DannyRaphael · #28 09-04-2002, 05:58 PM

Edwin:

A vast improvement over the original image. Glad you learned a lot and had fun, too!

Thanks for sharing your results.

~DannyR~

Blacknight · #29 09-04-2002, 06:11 PM

I've looked at all of these pictures, and I just have to say one thing after seeing them...

I WANT A CAKE NOW!

pstewart · #30 09-04-2002, 10:48 PM

Blacknight, let's split one! LOL!

Edwin, you did an excellent job! Hope you will stick around and take part in some challenges and share your tips with us.

Phyllis