Boost the light mid-tones and enhance highlights
This is a step by step explanation of the systematic approach to image editing. This time I will show how to make the light midtones and highlight stand out. In this image ( below ) we want to present the painting of the flowers on the right glass better. They look a bit subdued and lack contrast.
Here is the list we will follow:
- Edit Highlights using Curves and Selection
- Enter black / Enter white using Curves
- Tone using Curves
- Contrast using Curves
- Colorcast using Curves
- Color-correction using Hue/Saturation, Selective Color, Replace Color, Path, Layer Mask.
- Restoration using History brush.
- Sharpen using Unsharp Mask.
This is the order you should follow editing most images. All list items should be considered. Act on those that are appropriate and skip if there is no need to adjust.
And here is the image:
Step by step editing:
1. The first thing you have to consider is if there are highlights present. In this case we have a lot of fine highlights. Use the magic wand to select some of the highlights. You have to adjust the tolerance in the floating menu at the top to not select to much.
Then use menu Select Similar to select all highlights and open the image and the curves dialog box.
Choose menu and submenus:
The Curve dialog box opens. Adjust the curve like this to make the highlights drop out. You should find R 255, G 255, B 255 values in the highlights.
Use select inverse to make a protect mask. We want to make sure the next edits do not add any tone to the highlights. This should not happen, but with this you do not have to think more about it.
2. Take a quick look at the white point and black point using the info pallet. In this image it is already like it should be.
3. Next step is tone edits. Looking at the painting of the flowers on the right glass you want to make them stand out more. Using Curves select points on the curve and drag up to make a smooth curve, lifting the light the mid-tones and some of the dark mid-tones.
4-5-6. Contrast, Colorcast and Color-correction you can skip.
6. Using the history brush paint back the colors that edit made muddy.
7. Next you make an selection around the flowers on the glass using your favorite selection tool.
Use Menu: View Extras to hide selection. Set the amount to 500 and click O.K. Thats it! You are finished.
The final result compared to original.
