FDPiech
4th October 2006, 11:51 AM
A technique for fixing a low contrast image.
Here is a simple technique for fixing a low contrast image like this
http://www.piechdesign.net/fm/luma_start.jpg
First we need a b&w layer of the image. We can get this a number of ways?
1) Desaturation
a) Click <layer><duplicate layer> - Give the new layer a name ? I called my ?Luminosity Layer?
b) Desaturate this new layer ? Click <image><adjustments><desaturate> (or <shift><ctrl>+U)
2) Copy a Channel
a) Look through the channels RGB and see which channel makes the best b&w image
b) Click <image><apply image> and fill the new layer with that channel
3) Personal B&W converstion
If you're good at doing your own b&w conversion? use that as your new layer.
4) Set the blend mode of this new layer to ?Luminosity?
Your layers pallet should now look like this:
http://www.piechdesign.net/fm/luma_layers_pallet.jpg
Now for the trick?
With your new layer highlighted in the layer pallet
5) Click <image><adjustments><levels> (or <ctrl>+L) to pull up the Levels box.
6) Drag the left hand arrow to the left edge of the histogram
7) Drag the right hand arrow to the right edge of the histogram
8) Fine tune the balance by dragging the center arrow to find what looks right to you
NOTE: For even finer control you could use a curve instead of levels.
Here are the values I picked for this image:
http://www.piechdesign.net/fm/luma_levels.jpg
Your final result will come out like this:
http://www.piechdesign.net/fm/luma_final.jpg
You can do farther fine tuning by adjusting the opacity of your luminosity layer.
This simple and fast technique can rescue many a flat, washed out image.
Give it a 'shot'... post your results.
Here is a simple technique for fixing a low contrast image like this
http://www.piechdesign.net/fm/luma_start.jpg
First we need a b&w layer of the image. We can get this a number of ways?
1) Desaturation
a) Click <layer><duplicate layer> - Give the new layer a name ? I called my ?Luminosity Layer?
b) Desaturate this new layer ? Click <image><adjustments><desaturate> (or <shift><ctrl>+U)
2) Copy a Channel
a) Look through the channels RGB and see which channel makes the best b&w image
b) Click <image><apply image> and fill the new layer with that channel
3) Personal B&W converstion
If you're good at doing your own b&w conversion? use that as your new layer.
4) Set the blend mode of this new layer to ?Luminosity?
Your layers pallet should now look like this:
http://www.piechdesign.net/fm/luma_layers_pallet.jpg
Now for the trick?
With your new layer highlighted in the layer pallet
5) Click <image><adjustments><levels> (or <ctrl>+L) to pull up the Levels box.
6) Drag the left hand arrow to the left edge of the histogram
7) Drag the right hand arrow to the right edge of the histogram
8) Fine tune the balance by dragging the center arrow to find what looks right to you
NOTE: For even finer control you could use a curve instead of levels.
Here are the values I picked for this image:
http://www.piechdesign.net/fm/luma_levels.jpg
Your final result will come out like this:
http://www.piechdesign.net/fm/luma_final.jpg
You can do farther fine tuning by adjusting the opacity of your luminosity layer.
This simple and fast technique can rescue many a flat, washed out image.
Give it a 'shot'... post your results.