Detail for dark object in shadow

[kartracer]

Is there a way to raise the shadow detail of a dark object in shadow background without raising the detail in the shadow itself? e.g. a black paddle of a table tennis bat against a dark OOF background?

 

[swanseamale47]

I'd probably select it and ajust from that but without actually seeing what your seeing it's a guess.

 

[kartracer]

Thanks. I've uploaded a crop of the area in shadow (see gallery). It's a bird puppet - not much detail there really (and its a scan to boot).

 

[Chappers]

I think you are going to struggle with that image. As far as I can see there is no differentiation between what I assume is a bill and the background. If you can figure out the shape of the bill you may be able to draw a path around it using the pen tool, then using the path a selection lighten it a small amount.

 

[kartracer]

Its going to be a struggle, but I can see some differentiation when I boost the shadow in PS (of course, it brings up all of the background - which is why I'm trying to mask it). Thanks.

 

[swanseamale47]

Which bit of the blob are we supposed to be trying to lighten? I can't work out what it's supposed to be from this crop.
It will lighten but it starts to break up when you go too far.