Hi Key Effect For Colour Images?

[Lisajane]

Hello

I am pretty new to PS and I have been trying all day to recreate this effect, but I can't manage it.

Have you got any ideas?

Thanks in advance,

Lisa Jane

[kiska]

I did this in about 5 mins. There are MANY ways to obtain hi-key. It needs further desaturation (hue/saturation adjustment layer, at bottom of layers palette). I wanted to post the basic steps so you could experiment. Needs to be taken further. This is the simplest approach.

[Flora]

Hi Lisajane,

Welcome to RP!

On the same site your example picture is, I found this very nice Tutorial on how to achieve a High key effect on black&white images with Photoshop .... If you scroll down the page you'll find "Technique Two: Katie Arndt’s Technique" which is the one I follow with my picture (please, keep in mind that my picture is a far cry from the quality and resolution of the image used for the tutorial!!! )

Putting back some colour in your High Key image...
Following the Tutorial, at a certain point, you are asked to "Duplicate the Background Image, set the Blending Mode to Overlay and apply Gaussian Blur to taste."
When I was happy with the B&W result, I merged visible keeping all the underlying correction Layers (the action for merging 'visible' without losing the underlying 'steps' can be downloaded here.) I went back to the blurred background duplicate and, keeping its blending at 'Overlay' I just 'dragged it on top of all other layers .... Adjust its Opacity ... and that's all...

Hope this helps....

[grafx]

Everyone does it different, but here is my way.

I always think of a white background when I think of Hi-Key, so I normally select a photo with a white drop or cut my subject out.

1.) Change the image to b/w using the channel mixer.
2.) Adjust levels or curves to get a high contrast image with really light whites.
3.) Duplicate the layer add a gaussian blur of around 1.
4.) Use the history brush to paint in the details from your background or you can use your eraser tool to erase a view to the bottom layer. Do this for any area you want to be pronouced, eyes, lips, etc.
5.) Burn/Dodge areas to bring out darks/lights, create interest. You may also use layer filters with soft light. Make light areas merge with background.
6.) Add orginal back as a layer if you want to add color back in. Play with layer filters and opacity to get the look you want.