Gosnap Photography Forums Tutorials Reviews Photos: Contrast Masking

Contrast Masking
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Another World on 23 February, 2008 03:37:00
 
Hope no one minds, but as we were just discussing it on another thread, I though
I would post this very simple tutorial. Its a technique for improving depth or
detail and colours in an image without the need for clever HDR stuff and can be
applied straight to jpgs off the camera. Its not a technique I have mastered by
any means, only just discovered it, but if these forums are for anything, I
think its for learning together.
So, the image I started with was this one, straight from the camera.
*Create a duplicate layer [CTRL & J]and then desaturate this copied
layer[imagemenu>adjustments>desaturate].	*Invert this desaturated layer to give
a black & white negative of the background image.[image
menu>adjustments>invert]	*Change layer mode to Overlay.[layers panel, use drop
down box where it usually says 'normal', and choose 'overlay]	*Apply a Gaussian
Blur Filter to this layer. The level applied will depend on the size of the
image. I used about 70 for this image but you will need to experiment.[filter
menu>blur>gaussian blur, and adjust slider accordingly]
The opacity of the layer should be altered to get the desired lighting effect.
[layers panel, slide opacity setting down] - this could be anything between
about 30% and 70%, or even more, but again, its experimental for each image, so
remember to use the undo function and try again if you dont like it.After this,
apply any saturation or other editing you want [for this image I increased
saturation by a small amount] and flatten the layers
This really is just a basic outline, and much playing can be done to get
different levels of effect depending on what you want and the image involved. I
have seen it applied incredibly well to 'character' portraits to [you know,
those lovely shots of wrinkly old men looking thoughtful] but not yet been brave
enough to go that far.
However, the end result was this - bearing in mind this was my first effort
too...maybe a little overdone, but it gives you an idea of what can be done very
quickly.
I must say many thanks to Gary, a friend from another forum, for the outline of
this tutorial, to which I have just added a bit of detail for anyone that is new
to photoshop!
A nice, quick and concise tutorial Yvonne, thanks! - GS Team