How to lighten dark clouds?

[Dewcal]

Hi Folks,

I am working on a picture of a gull in flight against a blue sky with white and dark whispy clouds. One of the dark clouds is just at the end of a wing tip and is very obvious. I would appreciate (polite) suggestions as to how to lighten the darkness - especially as it is not a solid colour and gradually fades into the blue / white of the rest of the sky. I am sure there is a name for the technique I am looking for - I just do not know it. Am using CS3.

Have tried the patch tool without satisfactory results - is this me or the tool?

Thanks for any help.
Dave

[amica999]

Dave, an example would be helpful Maybe a select-color range; select the dark cloud, followed by a curve adjustment would help?

[neumanns]

New layer set to soft light and paint with a low opacity soft brush (15% opacity 0 hardness for starters) set to white forground color. Build up the effect with multiple strokes as needed.

There may be other better options, but without seeing the image this would be my first attempt.

[Dewcal]

Thanks for replies - I will try the "soft light" on a new layer. I can finally attach a copy of the image showing the annoying cloud.

Thanks again.
Dave

[Swampy]

Great gull pic.

[Daviskw]

Hi there

You have nice smooth image lines...just use the pen tool to isolate the wing or the whole bird...Then just copy another part of the clouds...or replace the whole sky if you like.

Butch

[Dewcal]

Thanks Swampy - it is a Silver Gull from Australia.

Daviskw, the outline is nice and clean, however I am entering the image for a challenge that does not allow background replacement. I know it is a moot point as when the original background is the original background, but it is allowed to "selectively" lighten parts of image.... hence my query!

Thanks again.

Dave

[Juergen D]

Maybe like this?

Juergen

[Dewcal]

Thanks Juergen - I will give that a try and see how well I get on! It looks good.

[chillin]

I used curves & masking

[Dewcal]

Thanks chillin - looks good.

[neumanns]

Chillin, How did you generate the mask? I came up with a simular result but My mask is lacking. Also what did you do on the blank layer?

Here's my try (I didn't include the outer clouds) I selected via color range and and fuziness as best I could and then feathered the selection a bit but it is lacking compared to your mask. I know I could improve the mask via several time consuming methods but I got a feeling you let photoshop do the work for ya.

Dewcal...Please share your result and tecnique.

[chillin]

Originally Posted by neumanns

Chillin, How did you generate the mask? I came up with a simular result but My mask is lacking. Also what did you do on the blank layer?

I soften the mask with some gaussian blur to make a smooth transition.
The blank layer, I used to add dark patches.

[neumanns]

Thanks...I'm trying to improve my efficancy. Time spent selecting and masking is currantly under assult.

[Moejoe]

I am new to Photoshop, so forgive if this is way off, but curves adj mask and then try to paint in color mode, sampling from the nearest bit of cloud that was not dark. Dnt have a clue how that will come out, but in theory should be ok