luminance masking with ps elements?

[Brencam]

This is a great tutorial on luminance masking, but unfortunately requires full version of PS. This is a powerful way to make controlled image enhancements without introducing side effects (halos etc).

http://www.goodlight.us/writing/lumi...tymasks-2.html

Anyone here know how to do something similar with Elements - I currently have V3 of elements if if makes a difference.

TIA

[DannyRaphael]

Check out some of the hits with this Google search:

photoshop elements layer mask tutorial

I believe this workaround method will enable you to get where you want to go (eventually) by allowing you to leverage the power of "layer masks" based on luminance, or however you decide to populate the adjustment layer's mask.

[Richard_Lynch]

This is not all that hard. Using a flat image, try the following:

1. Select All
2. Copy
3. Make a Levels adjustment layer. Do not make any changes to the sliders.
4. Option/Alt+Click on the levels mask
5. Paste

You can apply this mask to any layer using Hidden Power free tool sets. See http://hiddenelements.com

Richard

[Brencam]

Thx for the responses - however I think there's a bit more involved here. FWIW I do have Richard's book and the hidden elements plugin and am able to extract the luminance on to a separate layer using that.

However that's just the start. The tutorial I referenced requires the creation of multiple layers (each with it's own mask)with various luminance levels - e.g. lights, light lights, darks, dark darks etc. based on adjustments one must make to the initial luminance layer.

Moreover the author has creates some ps actions to automate this as doing it manually is tedious.

How can I accomplish either of these steps in PSE?

TIA

[Brencam]

Just to clarify - here's a link to the required luminance masks - maybe that was not clear in my previous posting:

http://www.goodlight.us/writing/lumi...tymasks-5.html

[Richard_Lynch]

well, if you have my book I believe it is explained there. You want a highlight mask, invert the mask. Midtones are a little trickier...you'll want to use a gradient map.

Just because there are more pages doesn't mean there is more to it ;-)

Richard

[Richard_Lynch]

PS -- all that other stuff is just adjusting the mask...not really a big deal.