Tutorial Contrast Masking - an HDR alternative,

I love this technique. Here are three of my efforts:

rockportlight.jpg


3152101886_5280211095_o.jpg


frozen.jpg


3152234744_93629f0fab_o.jpg


reeds.jpg


3152235188_c7787b5bd2_o.jpg
 
here you go andiphoto....

Assuming you are using photoshop what to do is
create a duplicate layer and then desaturate this copied layer.
Invert this desaturated layer to give a black & white negative of the background image.
Change layer mode to Overlay.
Apply a Gaussian Blur Filter to this layer. The level applied will depend on the size of the image. I used about 80 for this image but you will need to experiment.
The opacity of the layer should be altered to get the desired lighting effect.
Once done you can apply any curves, levels, other adjustments as you see fit to get the image to where you saw it. In my case I used a masked multiply layer and hue saturation layer.
 
Looks really useful not for every shot but its saved as an action so I dont forget

Been having a play this morning and on the right type of shot its just brilliant,no excuse for not getting the exposure right in the first place but this technique can add so much sparkle to the right type of shot

However on this one there is a halo effect around the chimney,any idea what causes it

ClovellyCM.jpg
[/IMG]
 
Last edited:
CaptainPenguin said:
Looks really useful not for every shot but its saved as an action so I dont forget

Been having a play this morning and on the right type of shot its just brilliant,no excuse for not getting the exposure right in the first place but this technique can add so much sparkle to the right type of shot

However on this one there is a halo effect around the chimney,any idea what causes it
Click to expand...

Glad you are finding this technique useful.

Don't forget that this is a contrast mask therefore the differences are going to be more noticeable near an edge.

The mask is a "blurred" inverted negative so it is going to have most difficulty near edges which are dark/light. To remedy simply apply a layer mask and with a low opacity paint over the halo area until it matches the sky tone. Use a soft edge and do not worry about going over the building a little as it will be less noticeable than the halo effect. :thumbs:
 
HIMUPNORTH said:
Glad you are finding this technique useful.

Don't forget that this is a contrast mask therefore the differences are going to be more noticeable near an edge.

The mask is a "blurred" inverted negative so it is going to have most difficulty near edges which are dark/light. To remedy simply apply a layer mask and with a low opacity paint over the halo area until it matches the sky tone. Use a soft edge and do not worry about going over the building a little as it will be less noticeable than the halo effect. :thumbs:
Click to expand...

I know you said 'simply' but could you possibly break this down further for PS numpties like me?

Thanks.
 
I really like this technique, took a rather plain photo and made it something decent.

1# original
3492632796_f89e5428e7_o.jpg

2# edit (no other editing, just contrast masking, nothing else)
3492632800_031a18a389_o.jpg
 
Last edited:
Fantastic work guys.

I've been using this for quite a while, and very frequently!
Without a doubt, the best editing technique I've learnt yet :clap:
 
Cheers Gary, that is really usefull for recovering some details in some of my images.
 
Thanks a lot for the heads up its a great technique very simple and effective!
 
I have struggled with this. The first is from the camera. As you can see, the natural light was pretty desaturated and quite flat, but there is some drama in the contrast beween the foreground and the distance. The problems with the original related to loss of detail in the foreground shadow, and a washed out sky. Whilst I have gained some of the missing shadow detail, the sky has both darkened but flattenened. I need those 'whites' back. I am using GIMP.

Help......! Any thoughts?

DSC_11801Web.jpg


DSC_11803Web.jpg
 
Hey thanks, this really transformed my images without requiring long painful HDR or pseudo HDR tasks! xD
3816035464_489f9a7dff.jpg
 
Wow, this a fantastic tip, I've just spent some time trying it out on photos I was going to delete but whith this technique, they will become keepers.
Thank you so much for this :)
 
Gary. Thanks for sharing that I think it works very well

Saved as a action
Arransunrise.jpg


Arransunrisecm.jpg
 
Last edited:
I was bored, so I used this on a few photos. Thanks for the tutorial!

Before:
3926999155_b701736dd0_o.jpg


After:
3927780904_d838c1d374_o.jpg


Before:
3926999279_22ff2e93d9_o.jpg


After:
3926999329_10c4cef281_o.jpg


Before:
3927781340_41c20c4fed_o.jpg


After:
3926999739_3b85a5db32_o.jpg
 
create a duplicate layer and then desaturate this copied layer.
Invert this desaturated layer to give a black & white negative of the background image.
Change layer mode to Overlay.
Apply a Gaussian Blur Filter to this layer.

HELP ! hi, i can get this far on my images but cannot seem to get the colour back into them...ie they are staying black n white.....im using Elements 7 so how do i get the colour back to the converted image ????????

Any help will be a blessing........many thanks.
 
Thanks Gary,

had a play tonight and it really works "amazing" thank you for sharing :thumbs:

________
Graham
 
I havnt made my mind about it but its a great idea to do. Cheers boss :thumbs:

Here's my go anyway.

Before,
ouaag1.jpg

After,
15wzzv7.jpg
 
Last edited:
This is great !

1before.jpg


1after.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top