Some Advice Needed

[rsaw3rd]

Hi,

This was taken with a Nikon D40, I know the Exposure is too hot, but individual wants this as a 11x14, I need some advice on how to make look better, I am using CS3, but am really new to this and sorta lost. Thanks for any advice.

[rsaw3rd]

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/sell4u-online-auctions/Inquires/DSC_1088_11x14copy.jpg">

Sorry forgot to post image

[DCobb]

Hi-
If you are using CS3, which I use, you might enjoy Scott Kelby's 7-Point System for Photoshop CS3. With CS3, as you may know, you can open JPEGs and flattened TIFF files in Camera Raw where you can use the camera raw functions before taking the photo into CS3 for further refinement. Made a few changes. There is still more work that could be done on this.

dc

[rsaw3rd]

Oh Ok, thanks for the tip

[madclark]

And rsaw3rd, you should realize that the image as you posted looks underexposed and not "hot" which would refer to highlights being blown out to pure white. You can see that DCobb had to bring the tone up on the picture, not down. Do the raw adjust like suggested first, than otherwise you would need to adjust the levels for fine tuning when you imported it into Photoshop, ok? :-)

Also, did you do some post shot processing on it? The image seems all blobby for some reason.

[mistermonday]

A simple Level adjustment (Ctrl+L or add a Levels adjustment layer) moving the Highlight Slider to the left is all you need to brighten the image. Then a small amount of Smart Sharpen to eliminate the "digital softness" will make your image come to life. If you like the colors to be more intense you can boost the saturation with a Hue / Sat adjustment.
Regards, Murray

[Alison]

Hi rsaw3rd,

Open image, duplicate image.
Levels adjustment layer, individual channels, brought right slider into majority of information.
Flatten image, duplicate layer.
Used shadow/highlight filter to balance out the shadows and highlights a little bit.
Take snapshot.
Flatten image, duplicate layer.
Used a plugin called neat image to smooth out the image. Add layer mask, use black brush to paint over the individuals, not their leg area though.
Take snapshot.
Flatten image, duplicate layer, set blending mode to overlay, use high pass filter in filter>other (about 1 or 2), add layer mask, invert mask (ctrl - i) use white brush to paint over individuals in the same way as before.
Take snapsot.
Flatten image, duplicate layer.
Use filter>blur>gaussian blur, settings to suit, take down opacity of this layer to suit. I used about 50%. Add layer mask, using black brush paint over the individuals in the same way as above.
Take snapshot.
If satisfied with the result, flatten image, save for web, and post at RetouchPro

[rsaw3rd]

Thank You So Very Much For the Help

[skydog]

Allison...what do you mean by "take snapshot"?

DCobb...personally, your improved pic looks too saturated...but that's just my opinion.

[Cassidy]

This is such a busy picture and very beautiful but distracting for a portrait. First thing I did was crop the photo, so not as much of the distracting background was present. Then using a mask I used levels to remove the contrasty shadows on the faces. Using another levels layer with the same mask inverted, darkened the background and then dropped the saturation a bit. As to my eye the photo looks somewhat blurry, I used a highpass overlay to sharpen the detail a little.

[One4UAll]

I used Shadows/Highlights in PSCS. I also touched out the light spot on Mom's lower right lip. More touching up could be done. This is an excellent pose, but I wish the foot of the girl on the left were not cut off, nor the leg of the girl on the right. Maybe crop a half-inch from Dad's arm on the left and a half-inch from Mom on the right. (Best would be a better pose at the shoot.)

[Alison]

Originally Posted by skydog

Allison...what do you mean by "take snapshot"?

DCobb...personally, your improved pic looks too saturated...but that's just my opinion.

Hi skydog,

There is a little camera icon (center one I think) in the history palette. When I'm happy with what I have done so far in an image, I'll press the little camera icon which takes a 'snapshot' of the image. If I then continue on and decide I don't like what I've done, or have gone past the allotted history states, I can then just return to the previous 'snapshot' and start from there.

[One4UAll]

Originally Posted by rsaw3rd

Thank You So Very Much For the Help

So, rsaw, where are you re: this discussion? Thank You's without any specificity are not good feedback to the people who have tried to help you. Which suggestions do you think are best for your purposes? What did you learn from this? What are you now going to do, and why?

Frankly, I think I did the best job on your original image. Others think they did the best job. You're the judge. Where do we stand? If you don't respond, I'll not waste my time helping you in future.