Gradient mask

LH
Posted By
Lawrence_Hudetz
Dec 14, 2003
Views
323
Replies
5
Status
Closed
I want to create a mask that gradually allows me to burn down sky values from the horizon to the top of the image. I don’t want fill, I want a mask so that I can then use layers or curves to control the amount of burn down. this is similar to, in analog printing, using a card, positioned at the horizon, starting the timer, then moving the card up to the top to produce this progressive, very smooth tonal change.
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gradient mask

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MV
Mathias_Vejerslev
Dec 15, 2003
Use a layer mask, and a Gradient? You could simply add a Curves Adjustment Layer, and just fill a gradient into it.

I have an action for sky polarization that works with 16-bit and allows you to define the sky only if you wish.

I´ll forward it to you if you like.
LH
Lawrence_Hudetz
Dec 15, 2003
Please do, Mathias.
MV
Mathias_Vejerslev
Dec 15, 2003
Here you go, Lawrence: <http://www.96ppi.net/deluxe_sharpeners.zip>

I threw in a good number of sharpening actions, red eye pen etc.

The sky polarizer is near the bottom of the set.

I use a trick with a Gradient Adjustment Layer on a copy to create a uniform gradient mask for every document. This was the only way I could find to make a gradient from top to bottom of any sized image. (Gradient Tool is measured in absolutes).

Let me know if it works for you.

Mathias
PC
Philo_Calhoun
Dec 15, 2003
Another trick is to kind of simulate a red filter as one use to do in the old days of black and white photography: duplicate the background image and on the upper layer, apply image -> red channel in darken mode. Then change the upper layer from "normal" mode to "luminosity".
LH
Lawrence_Hudetz
Dec 15, 2003
Thanks Mathias.

Philo, I am working from a grayscale neg.

I think I just found the limits of PS; either that or the limits I can achieve in PS. The image I am working on had been first scanned and manipulated in PS from the print, not the neg, as I could not locate the neg. Yesterday, I found the neg, and believe it or not, I cannot make a print from a scan that works as well as the scan from the print. This is primarily due to the inability to do the progressive burn as I outlined.

Today, I built a Quick Mask with the gradient tool that seemed to do the job. It did, except for one thing. It left the series of rings as a footprint of the gradient. Big as life, and when you compare the two versions, the scan from the print wins hands down. The gradient give a definite grunge look to the clouds. I wish my web site was up and running. I could show the difference.

So, it appears that, at times, making a great print in analog, then scanning, actually produces results superior from scanning the neg.

My, oh my! And I no longer have a darkroom!:-(

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