Balancing Over- & Under-Exposure in an Image

[One4UAll]

If these images are familiar, it's because I included them in an earlier thread (Removing Unwanted Reflections). How can I make this short & sweet? I got good guidance on removing the reflection, but I have another problem.

The first image is the original 16-bit file. The second image is an 8-bit file for printing purposes. (I have some workflow issues.) Now, I want to reprocess that original file.

In that earlier thread, I'd balanced the light triangular area in the upper left with the darker area of the rest of the image by selecting that light area, reversing the selection, and using Curves to bring the dark area up to match the light area as well as I could. I used some Color Range, as well.

But, in the second image, the 8-bit, there's still a perceptible division between the former light & dark areas. When I selected the light area with the Polygonal tool, I feathered at 5 px. Maybe I should have feathered at 10 px, or even more.

I want to redo the original the best way, & am asking if what I did on the 8-bit image is on track or if any of you have a better way. Some of you may feel the light area is ok. Let me know. I used a reflective exposure meter for the total image, hoping to get some kind of balance between the light & shaded area. Well, it was not close enough. (I think.)

http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/att...7&d=1196897142

http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/att...8&d=1196897167

[Enkay]

It's really not that bad.

If you really want to fix it, I would just keep playing with levels and color balance until I get it right. If you want a quick fix (or even once you've fixed it more), you can try making the seperation line less obvious with the healing tool.

You could also reconstruct that corner of the door as it's quite small and you have alot of "good parts".

The more I look at it the more it becomes apparent it needs retouching but I think that's the problem: noone is actually going to look that close at the corner of your door for 5 minutes!

EDIT: don't forget to also remove some contrast or blur the light part a little because the harsh light gave the texture way more detail than the rest.

[chillin]

I try to change the bright area to match the dark one first & then use the curve to brighten the entire image.

[One4UAll]

Enkay & chillin,

Thanks for the advice. Chillin, I click on your thumbnail but get a screen telling me to sign in. I don't get it. I'd really like to see a closeup of what you did. Making the bright area to match the dark area is good advice & I had it backwards.

Both of you indicate I was on the right track.

[chillin]

It works for me, maybe you are signed off?

[One4UAll]

I had signed off, yesterday, but signed back in to start this thread, today. I quit my browser & restarted it, thinking it was a browser problem. Same result, this try.

[chillin]

OK. Take from here

[Enkay]

haha chillin beat me by putting it on another server!

[One4UAll]

Chillin, Ah. Very good. Thanks much.