Photoshop Elements SIG 2-18-09

Adjusting Image Tone with Blend Modes

For overexposed, light, Image

1. Copy Background to a new layer, Ctrl+J
2. Change Blend mode to Multiply

For an underexposed, dark, image

1. Copy Background to a new layer, Ctrl+J
2. Change Blend mode to Screen

Brightness and Contrast Adjustment Layer

1. Add a Brightness Contrast Adjustment Layer to change the tone and contrast of an image.
2. Levels gives you more control.
   

Using Levels

1. Add a Levels Adjustment Layer
2. Move both the Shadow and Highlight sliders to the start of the histogram "mountain"

To color correct in Levels

1. Adjust the highlights by Alt+click on the highlight slider and the image goes black.
2. Drag to the left until a bit of white appears. This is the brightest part of the image so note where this is in the image.
   
3. Reset the slider and click on the white spot in the image with the Highlight Eyedropper. This sets this point in the image as a neutral white, 255, 255, 255.
4. For the darkest point do the same as above but Alt+click on the Shadow slider. The image goes white. Drag to the right until a dark spot appears. This is the darkest place in the image.
5. Clicking the dark spot in the image with the Shadow Eyedropper neutralizes this point to 0,0,0.

To Adjust Contrast - Mainly to Increase Contrast

1. With Levels Adjustment Layer open from adjusting tonal range move the middle slider (midtone) to the right to increase contrast and to the left to decrease contrast.

A Better Way to Increase Contrast with More Control

1. Add another Levels Adjustment Layer
2. Change the blend mode to Soft Light
3. To lessen the amount of contrast move the Output Shadow slider to the right.

To Increase the Local (small area) Color Saturation using Blend Modes

1. Determine the blend mode that is best by
   
2. Copy background to a new layer
3. Cycle through blend modes by choosing the Move tool (V) and pressing the Shift key and the + key. Each time you press the + key the blend mode will change to the next.
   
4. Pressing Shift plus the - key will cycle back.
5. Notice the blend mode that gives the color you want - good for eyes of birds for example. Overlay and Soft light are normally good.
6. Change back to Normal blend and with the Brush tool
7. Change the brush's blend mode to the one you decided, probably Overlay or Soft Light.
8. To darken corners you can change the brush's blend mode to Multiply and with a large brush at an opacity of about 20% paint the corners.

Local Tone and Contrast Adjustment

1. The Dodge and Burn tools allow for localized darkening (burning) and lightening (dodge) of an image. It is best to use at between 10% and 20% and build up.
2. Enhance > Adjust Lighting > Shadows/Highlights can be used to open up shadows in an image.
3. To use a Layer and a Blend mode to dodge and burn, add a new layer. This can be blank or filled with 50% gray in order to see the effects. Too fill with 50% gray
4. Press the Alt key when pressing the new layer icon.
5. In the dialog box you can name the layer. Then choose Soft Light as the blend mode and check the box for filling with 50% gray.
6. When you paint with a gray that is lighter than the 50% gray you lighten (dodge).
   
7. Paint with a color darker, then you darken (burn).
   

Photoshop Elements 7's new Tools discussed

1. Quick Edit > Touch Up - either Red Eye, Whiten Teeth, or Make Skies blue.
   
2. The Whiten Teeth and Make Skies Blue create an adjustment layer so check the Adjustment layers in Full Edit to see what is being done and to make corrections.
3. Full Edit - The Smart Brush Tool allows you pick from a group of different corrections. Again Adjustment Layers are created that can be altered.
   
4. When you first click with the Smart Brush tool a colored point is placed on the image. Double click this point to change the adjustment.