[Tutorial] Effectively remove shadow from picture

[Saikat]

Hi friends,

Here is a small tutorial - " how to remove shadow from picture "
there are other techniques but i think this one is most effective.

load picture in Photoshop.

duplicate the picture

change mode to grayscale (not original , only the copy)

apply gaussian blur with radius value 6.

now select original picture.

now click on -- select > load selection (channel - gray ,
select invert box)

now you can see the selection of shadow, here you can add or subtract area with lasso tool,

now click on edit > fill (content mode-- 50% gray, blending mode-- color dodge)

now set the opacity on the fill window as you desire, it may be 100% or 20 to 100 % ,

Now click OK and see the difference.



if it help you, let me know..
any one with better method to remove shadow?

[Saikat]

Here is the example

[jeaniesa]

Hi Saikat,

I think your technique is very similar (if not the same) as the one Katrin Eisman describes in her book as a "fill flash" technique. I've been using it for quite a while now and have gotten great results with it! Thanks for bringing it to our attention again. It's a great technique and I think should be in everyone's "tool kit."

Jeanie

[Saikat]

thanks Jeanie,

I found this method in a monthly magazine's tips and tricks section about 2 years ago.

I dont know that it is from Katrin Eisman book.
I am looking for that book..
could you please mention the full name of the book and the publisher.

good photoshop tutorial book's are very rare in my place.

[CJ Swartz]

could you please mention the full name of the book and the publisher -- SaiKat

RetouchPRO Reviews - Katrin Eismann's Book

[heathrowe]

tnx for the heads up
gonna give that a try for sure..
cheers
heathrowe

[emoore83]

Thanks for the tip. I'm really new to using photoshop and it's taking me a while to learn the program. is there any kind of guide I can use to learn the basics. I tried to follow your directions but I don't know how to change a image to greyscale besides... Image>mode>Grayscale and that changes that flatten all the layers. Thanks for any help in advance.

[emoore83]

I didn't notice how old this is, sorry I got it to work though

[photoamy]

how can u do this if it is making you're original grayscale as well?

[cainam]

Why don't you use 'shadow/highlights'.

[photoamy]

because then it changes the whole pic and I don't want the highlights blown out.

[tzimm2006]

I tried your directions but couldn't get it to work. Any other ideas?

[yangez]

Originally Posted by emoore83

Thanks for the tip. I'm really new to using photoshop and it's taking me a while to learn the program. is there any kind of guide I can use to learn the basics. I tried to follow your directions but I don't know how to change a image to greyscale besides... Image>mode>Grayscale and that changes that flatten all the layers. Thanks for any help in advance.

Try kelbytraining.com or lynda.com if you like video tutorials. Their introductory photoshop courses are phenomenal.

[pyromania]

amazing!!! thank you for the tips

[nostradamuszen]

Hmmm - didn't work for me - maybe I missed a step: I'll try again . . .

[Der_W]

At least photoamy seems to have forgotten to duplicate the image (not the layer; "Image"-"Duplicate"), before converting it to grayscale, maybe some of the others experiencing problems forgot that step too?
Thanks for the great tip, I think I'll use it in the future

[Quantum3]

It kills the transitions! Seems it must be applyed with care, the fruits looks good. I did it just shrinking the histogram in levels, and I see the same resul, or at least, quite the same...

[jackster]

Der-W
Thanks you hit the nail on the head with what I was doing wrong, I had duplicated the layer not the image. Awesome tutorial worked a treat!

[atterus]

ineed to remove dark shadows from my pics - anyone know how??

[atterus]

what software is best to remove shadows and expose the true picture??

[Quantum3]

Originally Posted by atterus

what software is best to remove shadows and expose the true picture??

If you have the RAW Files, which is the best way, open those in Camera RAW or Adobe Lightroom. If you odn't have the RAW Files, the faster way is using Shadows And Highlights (Image/Adjustments/Shadows And Highlights). The other way is enlightening with Levels and masking out what's not needed.

[flexmanta]

Comparing the techniques side by side... I choose shadows and highlights as it is like using curves avoiding flatspots and being able to recover contrast and color easily.

[atterus]

Quamtum3 - flexmanta - thanks - are your suggestions standalone programs or addons? i have pics that have nearly half the face covered with the dark shadow of the bill of a hat. is it possible to remove the dark shadow and render the face under the shadow to a clear natural skin tone and light to match the sunny side of the face?

[Quantum3]

Originally Posted by atterus

Quamtum3 - flexmanta - thanks - are your suggestions standalone programs or addons? i have pics that have nearly half the face covered with the dark shadow of the bill of a hat. is it possible to remove the dark shadow and render the face under the shadow to a clear natural skin tone and light to match the sunny side of the face?

These solutions comes with Photoshop CS and up for Shadows and Highlights. There are some plugins for this but I personally never found something better than my eye and handwork. Lightroom is an stand alone program and Camera RAW comes with Adobe Photoshop CS and up.

It's possible to remove the shadows from anything, but it may be quite hard and time consuming because these tools deosn't do that.

To completely remove a shadows many advanced techniques are involved, but the most basic is using the clone/heal tools. You have to clone from a source where the skin is good to where you want to remove the shadows. You can also clone/heal in a separated new layer in order to not affect the image permanently by selecting in the tools bar from the pull down menu: Current and below. That way you will be able to clone/heal over a new layer and not over the pixels.

[atterus]

thanks for the good information - my learning curve has a starting point - ill get the photoshop cs and start there. when i get more experience, maybe ill be smart enough to ask better questions. thanks again

[cmagic]

I've got a big problem. I have an image that was produced by our 3D scanner. The subject sits in the center and stereo cameras are placed at 45 degrees either side. Each camera has an internal flash. The problem is that as you will see this produces a very harsh and very nasty hard shadow, especially at either side of the nose. I really need to remove this or at least minimize the effect of this but I honestly don't have a clue as what might be the best way to deal with this. Can anyone help me out or point me to a tutorial that might be able to?

BTW - I can't simply clone from the other side of the face either because the exact same problem exists there as well :-(

I'm a total noob when it comes to retouching, so please be gentle with me ;-)

Thanks heaps.

Joe

[chillin]

Originally Posted by cmagic

I've got a big problem.....

Thanks heaps.

Joe

I think the curves method couple with D&B & some color fix would do the job.

[Gary]

PWL ( Paint with light), painting on a new layer in lighten mode, blending with the healing brush tool and selective sharpening.


Cheers.

[cmagic]

Chillin and Gary: Thanks for your ideas and advice, that gives me a place to start. I certainly appreciate your help.

Kind Regards,

Joe

[skittler335]

I am getting hung up on the "now click on -- select > load selection (channel - gray , select invert box)" step. Only the "Save Selection" option is available to me. I am using PSE 7 and am very new to using it. Any suggestions? Thanks for your help!