Help!!! Color Adjustment Layer… Maybe…

JB
Posted By
Jack Black
Nov 6, 2004
Views
532
Replies
22
Status
Closed
Hi, all!! Using PS7.0

OK, here’s the deal: I have a photo that is basically an old abandoned house (peeling white paint, some brick reds) sitting at the edge of a pasture (summer green and some browns), right next to a huge, sprawling tree (dark green leaves, dark bark). The background is a slightly hazy sky (white-ish) with sky blue more prominent on the right-side, from the middle out…

Now, I’ve let the sky and haze go for now, just so I could get the house, leaves, and grass adjusted how I’d like to see it. So the next step: I want to punch up the blue in the sky a bit, just so the left side (with the more prominent haze) looks more like a real sky than a white blanket!

I’ve tried creating a Color adjustment layer (setting the blue to the tone that I want), set the layer effect, and erased the foreground where I could on the adj layer to get rid of the effect on the foreground. However, I’m having one helluva time getting the tree to cooperate! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! 🙂

Here’s the current image, before I started tweaking the sky: http://www.diamondmill.com/images/experiment.jpg (371K)

Thanks for any suggestions!
Jack

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B
bagal
Nov 6, 2004
easy peasy

1 – image -> adjustments -> shadow/highlights

2 – slide the sliders until you obtain the effect you seek

Aerticus

"Jack Black" wrote in message
Hi, all!! Using PS7.0

OK, here’s the deal: I have a photo that is basically an old abandoned house (peeling white paint, some brick reds) sitting at the edge of a pasture (summer green and some browns), right next to a huge, sprawling tree (dark green leaves, dark bark). The background is a slightly hazy sky (white-ish) with sky blue more prominent on the right-side, from the middle out…

Now, I’ve let the sky and haze go for now, just so I could get the house, leaves, and grass adjusted how I’d like to see it. So the next step: I want to punch up the blue in the sky a bit, just so the left side (with the more prominent haze) looks more like a real sky than a white blanket!

I’ve tried creating a Color adjustment layer (setting the blue to the tone that I want), set the layer effect, and erased the foreground where I could on the adj layer to get rid of the effect on the foreground. However, I’m having one helluva time getting the tree to cooperate! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! 🙂
Here’s the current image, before I started tweaking the sky: http://www.diamondmill.com/images/experiment.jpg (371K)

Thanks for any suggestions!
Jack

N
nomail
Nov 6, 2004
Aerticus wrote:

easy peasy

1 – image -> adjustments -> shadow/highlights

2 – slide the sliders until you obtain the effect you seek
Aerticus

He is using Photoshop 7…


Johan W. Elzenga johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.nl/
JB
Jack Black
Nov 7, 2004
That’s not Photoshop 7… 😉

However, using a "global" shadow/highlite adjustment is not what I’m trying to achieve (and won’t achieve what I want anyway), but thanks for responding! 🙂

Jack

On Sat, 06 Nov 2004 22:53:40 GMT, "Aerticus"
wrote:

easy peasy

1 – image -> adjustments -> shadow/highlights

2 – slide the sliders until you obtain the effect you seek
Aerticus
MR
Mike Russell
Nov 7, 2004
Jack Black wrote:
Hi, all!! Using PS7.0

OK, here’s the deal: I have a photo that is basically an old abandoned house (peeling white paint, some brick reds) sitting at the edge of a pasture (summer green and some browns), right next to a huge, sprawling tree (dark green leaves, dark bark). The background is a slightly hazy sky (white-ish) with sky blue more prominent on the right-side, from the middle out…

Now, I’ve let the sky and haze go for now, just so I could get the house, leaves, and grass adjusted how I’d like to see it. So the next step: I want to punch up the blue in the sky a bit, just so the left side (with the more prominent haze) looks more like a real sky than a white blanket!

I’ve tried creating a Color adjustment layer (setting the blue to the tone that I want), set the layer effect, and erased the foreground where I could on the adj layer to get rid of the effect on the foreground. However, I’m having one helluva time getting the tree to cooperate! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! 🙂
Here’s the current image, before I started tweaking the sky: http://www.diamondmill.com/images/experiment.jpg (371K)

Layers? We don’t need no stinkin’ layers.

Here’s a version of your image on steroids that you may get some ideas from. If you have trouble with this URL, email me and I’ll send you the image. www.geigy.2y.net/tmp/experiment-curvemeister.jpg

I set a shadow point, increased saturation in a and b, and steepened Lightness everwhere except the three quartertone, which because there are no important objects at that value can be almost completely flattened.

Steepening the blue half of the b curve gives the sky some extra color, and the bend in the top of the Lightness curve makes the clouds stand out a little more.


Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com
www.geigy.2y.net
N
nomail
Nov 7, 2004
Mike Russell wrote:

Layers? We don’t need no stinkin’ layers.

But you have to buy s stinkin’ plugin in stead… 😉

Here’s a version of your image on steroids that you may get some ideas from. If you have trouble with this URL, email me and I’ll send you the image. www.geigy.2y.net/tmp/experiment-curvemeister.jpg

I set a shadow point, increased saturation in a and b, and steepened Lightness everwhere except the three quartertone, which because there are no important objects at that value can be almost completely flattened.
Steepening the blue half of the b curve gives the sky some extra color, and the bend in the top of the Lightness curve makes the clouds stand out a little more.

Here’s how you can achieve a similar result using ‘Curves’ only. http://www.johanfoto.nl/experiment-johan.jpg


Johan W. Elzenga johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.nl/
MR
Mike Russell
Nov 7, 2004
Johan W. Elzenga wrote:
Mike Russell wrote:

Layers? We don’t need no stinkin’ layers.

But you have to buy s stinkin’ plugin in stead… 😉

You can do the same thing with Photoshop curves, and a little more effort.

Here’s a version of your image on steroids that you may get some ideas from. If you have trouble with this URL, email me and I’ll send you the image. www.geigy.2y.net/tmp/experiment-curvemeister.jpg
….
Here’s how you can achieve a similar result using ‘Curves’ only. http://www.johanfoto.nl/experiment-johan.jpg

Similar, yes, but why settle for less? This image is more easily corrected in Lab than in RGB, whether or not you use Curvemeister to do so. —

Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com
www.geigy.2y.net
MJ
Monty Jake Monty
Nov 7, 2004
For the sky, make a selection with the wand. Mess with the tolerance to get the selection you need. Make a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and tweak the blues and cyans. This should give you what you need.

I have a PSD file I can send you if you would like to see what I’ve done with the pic.

Steve

— faith \’fath\ n : firm belief in something for which there is no proof. Webster’s Dictionary

From: Jack Black
Organization: Newsfeed.com http://www.newsfeeds.com 100,000+ UNCENSORED Newsgroups.
Newsgroups: alt.graphics.photoshop
Date: Sat, 06 Nov 2004 14:31:55 -0800
Subject: Help!!! Color Adjustment Layer… Maybe…

Hi, all!! Using PS7.0

OK, here’s the deal: I have a photo that is basically an old abandoned house (peeling white paint, some brick reds) sitting at the edge of a pasture (summer green and some browns), right next to a huge, sprawling tree (dark green leaves, dark bark). The background is a slightly hazy sky (white-ish) with sky blue more prominent on the right-side, from the middle out…

Now, I’ve let the sky and haze go for now, just so I could get the house, leaves, and grass adjusted how I’d like to see it. So the next step: I want to punch up the blue in the sky a bit, just so the left side (with the more prominent haze) looks more like a real sky than a white blanket!

I’ve tried creating a Color adjustment layer (setting the blue to the tone that I want), set the layer effect, and erased the foreground where I could on the adj layer to get rid of the effect on the foreground. However, I’m having one helluva time getting the tree to cooperate! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! 🙂
Here’s the current image, before I started tweaking the sky: http://www.diamondmill.com/images/experiment.jpg (371K)

Thanks for any suggestions!
Jack

N
nomail
Nov 7, 2004
Mike Russell wrote:

Layers? We don’t need no stinkin’ layers.

But you have to buy s stinkin’ plugin in stead… 😉

You can do the same thing with Photoshop curves, and a little more effort.

So why don’t you show it the Photoshop way, rather than turning almost every question into an advertisement for your plugin?

Here’s a version of your image on steroids that you may get some ideas from. If you have trouble with this URL, email me and I’ll send you the image. www.geigy.2y.net/tmp/experiment-curvemeister.jpg

Here’s how you can achieve a similar result using ‘Curves’ only. http://www.johanfoto.nl/experiment-johan.jpg

Similar, yes, but why settle for less? This image is more easily corrected in Lab than in RGB, whether or not you use Curvemeister to do so.

Because it’s always a matter of taste. Personally, I’d say your example is the one that is less. I don’t like the colors, the green becomes ‘artificial’ imho. But someone else may like your example better than mine, so now they have the choice and they know two ways of doing it.


Johan W. Elzenga johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.nl/
JB
Jack Black
Nov 7, 2004
Mike, thanks for responding!

That definately looks like an interesting solution! I’ll experiment a bit more with the technique you’ve suggested and see where it gets me!

Thanks for taking the time to help out on this!
Jack

On Sun, 07 Nov 2004 02:50:43 GMT, "Mike Russell" wrote:

Layers? We don’t need no stinkin’ layers.

Here’s a version of your image on steroids that you may get some ideas from. If you have trouble with this URL, email me and I’ll send you the image. www.geigy.2y.net/tmp/experiment-curvemeister.jpg

I set a shadow point, increased saturation in a and b, and steepened Lightness everwhere except the three quartertone, which because there are no important objects at that value can be almost completely flattened.
Steepening the blue half of the b curve gives the sky some extra color, and the bend in the top of the Lightness curve makes the clouds stand out a little more.
JB
Jack Black
Nov 7, 2004
John, thanks for responding!

I’ll play around a bit more with Curves. I’ve never really done any serious experimentation with Curves (it’s always seemed one of those tools that was above my head!), but I’ll definately try on this image!

Thanks again for taking the time to help out!! 🙂

Jack

On Sun, 7 Nov 2004 11:02:02 +0100, (Johan W.
Elzenga) wrote:

Mike Russell wrote:

Layers? We don’t need no stinkin’ layers.

But you have to buy s stinkin’ plugin in stead… 😉

Here’s a version of your image on steroids that you may get some ideas from. If you have trouble with this URL, email me and I’ll send you the image. www.geigy.2y.net/tmp/experiment-curvemeister.jpg

I set a shadow point, increased saturation in a and b, and steepened Lightness everwhere except the three quartertone, which because there are no important objects at that value can be almost completely flattened.
Steepening the blue half of the b curve gives the sky some extra color, and the bend in the top of the Lightness curve makes the clouds stand out a little more.

Here’s how you can achieve a similar result using ‘Curves’ only. http://www.johanfoto.nl/experiment-johan.jpg
MR
Mike Russell
Nov 7, 2004
Johan W. Elzenga wrote:
Mike Russell wrote:

Layers? We don’t need no stinkin’ layers.

But you have to buy s stinkin’ plugin in stead… 😉

You can do the same thing with Photoshop curves, and a little more effort.

So why don’t you show it the Photoshop way, rather than turning almost every question into an advertisement for your plugin?

I don’t think that’s a fair characterization. Other than the screenshot, I did not mention any Curvemeister features in my response, and anyone can duplicate what I did from the description.

But, as long as you’re asking … I’ve spent the last couple of years improving the curves interface, so it should be no surprise that I very seldom use Adobe’s curves anymore. It’s faster to create curves, plus I can show everything in one screen shot instead of several. Curvemeister makes a great gift too 🙂

Here’s a version of your image on steroids that you may get some ideas from. If you have trouble with this URL, email me and I’ll send you the image.
www.geigy.2y.net/tmp/experiment-curvemeister.jpg

Here’s how you can achieve a similar result using ‘Curves’ only. http://www.johanfoto.nl/experiment-johan.jpg

Similar, yes, but why settle for less? This image is more easily corrected in Lab than in RGB, whether or not you use Curvemeister to do so.

Because it’s always a matter of taste. Personally, I’d say your example
is the one that is less. I don’t like the colors, the green becomes ‘artificial’ imho. But someone else may like your example better than mine, so now they have the choice and they know two ways of doing it.

"Personally", I think you ran head on into RGB’s limitations, and are now crying sour grapes. In Lab, for this image, anyone can easily increase the saturation even beyond my example simply by steepening the curves more. In RGB that is simply not possible, and it will be necessary to resort to other tools.


Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com
www.geigy.2y.net
MJ
Monty Jake Monty
Nov 7, 2004
Yes. But the color shifts you ended up with are completely unacceptable in my opinion.

Steve

— faith \’fath\ n : firm belief in something for which there is no proof. Webster’s Dictionary

From: "Mike Russell"
Organization: SBC http://yahoo.sbc.com
Newsgroups: alt.graphics.photoshop
Date: Sun, 07 Nov 2004 20:39:28 GMT
Subject: Re: Help!!! Color Adjustment Layer… Maybe…
Johan W. Elzenga wrote:
Mike Russell wrote:

Layers? We don’t need no stinkin’ layers.

But you have to buy s stinkin’ plugin in stead… 😉

You can do the same thing with Photoshop curves, and a little more effort.

So why don’t you show it the Photoshop way, rather than turning almost every question into an advertisement for your plugin?

I don’t think that’s a fair characterization. Other than the screenshot, I did not mention any Curvemeister features in my response, and anyone can duplicate what I did from the description.

But, as long as you’re asking … I’ve spent the last couple of years improving the curves interface, so it should be no surprise that I very seldom use Adobe’s curves anymore. It’s faster to create curves, plus I can show everything in one screen shot instead of several. Curvemeister makes a great gift too 🙂

Here’s a version of your image on steroids that you may get some ideas from. If you have trouble with this URL, email me and I’ll send you the image.
www.geigy.2y.net/tmp/experiment-curvemeister.jpg

Here’s how you can achieve a similar result using ‘Curves’ only. http://www.johanfoto.nl/experiment-johan.jpg

Similar, yes, but why settle for less? This image is more easily corrected in Lab than in RGB, whether or not you use Curvemeister to do so.

Because it’s always a matter of taste. Personally, I’d say your example
is the one that is less. I don’t like the colors, the green becomes ‘artificial’ imho. But someone else may like your example better than mine, so now they have the choice and they know two ways of doing it.

"Personally", I think you ran head on into RGB’s limitations, and are now crying sour grapes. In Lab, for this image, anyone can easily increase the saturation even beyond my example simply by steepening the curves more. In RGB that is simply not possible, and it will be necessary to resort to other tools.


Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com
www.geigy.2y.net

MR
Mike Russell
Nov 7, 2004
Monty Jake Monty wrote:
Yes. But the color shifts you ended up with are completely unacceptable in my opinion.

Steve

Fair enough. I do tend to push color and contrast to the max, and tastes do vary. The technique may be easily adapted to produce less of an effect.

Perhaps you can contribute a version.


Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com
www.geigy.2y.net
N
nomail
Nov 7, 2004
Mike Russell wrote:

I don’t think that’s a fair characterization. Other than the screenshot, I did not mention any Curvemeister features in my response, and anyone can duplicate what I did from the description.

Except for the fact that you didn’t mention that one would have to convert from RGB tot Lab first…

But, as long as you’re asking … I’ve spent the last couple of years improving the curves interface, so it should be no surprise that I very seldom use Adobe’s curves anymore. It’s faster to create curves, plus I can show everything in one screen shot instead of several. Curvemeister makes a great gift too 🙂

Unless the person at the receiving end uses a Macintosh, that is…

"Personally", I think you ran head on into RGB’s limitations, and are now crying sour grapes.

Not at all. If I wanted more saturation, all I had to do was choose ‘Hue/Saturation’ afterwards. Nobody said this was a competition for the best "One Tool only" solution, or did I miss something?

In Lab, for this image, anyone can easily increase the saturation even beyond my example simply by steepening the curves more. In RGB that is simply not possible, and it will be necessary to resort to other tools.

I simply did not want more saturation. I think your result is a bit oversatured and makes the grass look unnatural.


Johan W. Elzenga johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.nl/
MJ
Monty Jake Monty
Nov 8, 2004
I have a version but nowhere to post it. If someone would like to see it I would be happy to send it directly.

Steve

— faith \’fath\ n : firm belief in something for which there is no proof. Webster’s Dictionary

From: "Mike Russell"
Organization: SBC http://yahoo.sbc.com
Newsgroups: alt.graphics.photoshop
Date: Sun, 07 Nov 2004 22:06:16 GMT
Subject: Re: Help!!! Color Adjustment Layer… Maybe…
Monty Jake Monty wrote:
Yes. But the color shifts you ended up with are completely unacceptable in my opinion.

Steve

Fair enough. I do tend to push color and contrast to the max, and tastes do vary. The technique may be easily adapted to produce less of an effect.
Perhaps you can contribute a version.


Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com
www.geigy.2y.net

MJ
Monty Jake Monty
Nov 8, 2004
Nothing wrong with converting to LAB. Does nothing to degrade the image since LAB includes the entire RGB gamut and more.

Steve

— faith \’fath\ n : firm belief in something for which there is no proof. Webster’s Dictionary

From: (Johan W. Elzenga)
Organization: Editor / Photographer
Newsgroups: alt.graphics.photoshop
Date: Sun, 7 Nov 2004 23:45:38 +0100
Subject: Re: Help!!! Color Adjustment Layer… Maybe…
Mike Russell wrote:

I don’t think that’s a fair characterization. Other than the screenshot, I did not mention any Curvemeister features in my response, and anyone can duplicate what I did from the description.

Except for the fact that you didn’t mention that one would have to convert from RGB tot Lab first…

But, as long as you’re asking … I’ve spent the last couple of years improving the curves interface, so it should be no surprise that I very seldom use Adobe’s curves anymore. It’s faster to create curves, plus I can show everything in one screen shot instead of several. Curvemeister makes a great gift too 🙂

Unless the person at the receiving end uses a Macintosh, that is…
"Personally", I think you ran head on into RGB’s limitations, and are now crying sour grapes.

Not at all. If I wanted more saturation, all I had to do was choose ‘Hue/Saturation’ afterwards. Nobody said this was a competition for the best "One Tool only" solution, or did I miss something?
In Lab, for this image, anyone can easily increase the saturation even beyond my example simply by steepening the curves more. In RGB that is simply not possible, and it will be necessary to resort to other tools.

I simply did not want more saturation. I think your result is a bit oversatured and makes the grass look unnatural.


Johan W. Elzenga johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.nl/
MR
Mike Russell
Nov 8, 2004
Monty Jake Monty wrote:
I have a version but nowhere to post it. If someone would like to see it I would be happy to send it directly.

Hi Steve,

I’ll be happy to put it in a temporary location on my web page. Email it to



Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com
www.geigy.2y.net
MJ
Monty Jake Monty
Nov 8, 2004
I’ve sent the pic to the site you’ve listed below.

Steve

— faith \’fath\ n : firm belief in something for which there is no proof. Webster’s Dictionary

From: "Mike Russell"
Organization: SBC http://yahoo.sbc.com
Newsgroups: alt.graphics.photoshop
Date: Mon, 08 Nov 2004 01:17:07 GMT
Subject: Re: Help!!! Color Adjustment Layer… Maybe…
Monty Jake Monty wrote:
I have a version but nowhere to post it. If someone would like to see it I would be happy to send it directly.

Hi Steve,

I’ll be happy to put it in a temporary location on my web page. Email it to


Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com
www.geigy.2y.net

M
mitch
Nov 8, 2004
Hello, I thought I’d jump in with a version too!

Monty Jake Monty wrote:
For the sky, make a selection with the wand. Mess with the tolerance to get the selection you need. Make a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and tweak the blues and cyans. This should give you what you need.

Steve

I’ve used the wand as well, given that Jack has the rest of the image the way he wants it.

Now, I’ve let the sky and haze go for now, just so I could get the house, leaves, and grass adjusted how I’d like to see it. So the next step: I want to punch up the blue in the sky a bit, just so the left side (with the more prominent haze) looks more like a real sky than a white blanket!

Jack

After wand, promote to layer, feathered on the right.
Set light area of left hand sky to the colour of the light area in the right.
Applied curves as per the inset.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/caisse/images/experiment_mdu. jpg
N
nomail
Nov 8, 2004
Monty Jake Monty wrote:

Nothing wrong with converting to LAB. Does nothing to degrade the image since LAB includes the entire RGB gamut and more.

I didn’t say that something was wrong with it. But for an OP who is obviously pretty new to Photoshop, talking about ajusting "L", ‘a’ or ‘b’ without telling him he should convert to Lab first, is very confusing. He may not have the faintest idea what you are talking about.


Johan W. Elzenga johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.nl/
MJ
Monty Jake Monty
Nov 8, 2004
Excellent point.

Steve

— faith \’fath\ n : firm belief in something for which there is no proof. Webster’s Dictionary

From: (Johan W. Elzenga)
Organization: Editor / Photographer
Newsgroups: alt.graphics.photoshop
Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2004 13:14:59 +0100
Subject: Re: Help!!! Color Adjustment Layer… Maybe…
Monty Jake Monty wrote:

Nothing wrong with converting to LAB. Does nothing to degrade the image since LAB includes the entire RGB gamut and more.

I didn’t say that something was wrong with it. But for an OP who is obviously pretty new to Photoshop, talking about ajusting "L", ‘a’ or ‘b’ without telling him he should convert to Lab first, is very confusing. He may not have the faintest idea what you are talking about.


Johan W. Elzenga johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.nl/
B
bagal
Nov 9, 2004
Upgrade – soon

Aerticus

"Jack Black" wrote in message
That’s not Photoshop 7… 😉

However, using a "global" shadow/highlite adjustment is not what I’m trying to achieve (and won’t achieve what I want anyway), but thanks for responding! 🙂

Jack

On Sat, 06 Nov 2004 22:53:40 GMT, "Aerticus"
wrote:

easy peasy

1 – image -> adjustments -> shadow/highlights

2 – slide the sliders until you obtain the effect you seek
Aerticus

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