The document provides instructions for editing a color photo in Photoshop using color adjustment techniques and high dynamic range (HDR) processing. It describes duplicating the image layer and adjusting it to create under, properly, and over-exposed versions. These layers are saved as separate files and merged in Photoshop's HDR process to combine the tonal range of the photo into a single image. Additional instructions describe applying color adjustments, blur effects, and layer blending to further enhance the processed HDR image.

2. 1.
2.
OPEN a color photo
edit this photo using the color editing
techniques gone over in class
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3.
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5.
duplicate layer
edit as a black and white image (do not use
GRAYSCALE to change to black and white)
duplicate background layer and drag this to the top
 edit this for COLOR ONLY
use HUE/SAT, COLOR BAL, PHOTO FILTER
change this LAYER BLEND to COLOR
lower the opacity of the BLACK & WHITE LAYER to
taste
MERGE layers or use GROUP
make sure your image is FLATTENED after
editing
DUPLICATE your layer
IMAGE  ADJUSTMENTS  EXPOSURE
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create an “under exposed” image by making it dark
6.
7.
DUPLICATE BACKGROUND and drag to the top
IMAGE  ADJUSTMENTS  LEVELS
8.
9.
DUPLICATE BACKGROUND and drag to the top
IMAGE  ADJUSTMENTS  EXPOSURE
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slightly brighten this image (very subtle)
create an “over exposed” image by making it very bright
10. This will give you FOUR LAYERS. Turn each of
these LAYERS into a separate JPG file.
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to do this, simply TURN OFF the LAYERS that you do not
want to see and then hit FLATTEN IMAGE
repeat this FOUR times so that you have a file for each of
your different layers
I named mine:
DARK, LIGHT, MID and ORIGINAL
save these to your DESKTOP
close all files in PHOTOSHOP
11. FILE  AUTOMATE  Merge to HDR
12. Browse for your newly created FOUR files and
LOAD them into the WINDOW  press OK
13. the MERGE to HDR WINDOW opens allowing
you to edit with the HISTOGRAM  when
done, change to 8 BIT in the PULL DOWN
MENU and then hit OK
14. the HDR CONVERSION window appears  edit
to taste using the SLIDERS
15. IMAGE

ADJUSTMENTS

SHADOW/HIGHLIGHT  edit to taste
16. HDR: High Dynamic Range: Think of a scene
that has bright sunlight and dark shadows. A
single image can't capture all parts of the
scene in a proper exposure, but if you take a
series of photos of exactly the same scene
while altering the exposure between each
shot, then later you can blend the images
together in Adobe Photoshop
original

3. 1.
2.
OPEN a color photo
edit this photo using the color editing
techniques gone over in class
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
duplicate layer
edit as a black and white image (do not use
GRAYSCALE to change to black and white)
duplicate background layer and drag this to the top
 edit this for COLOR ONLY
use HUE/SAT, COLOR BAL, PHOTO FILTER
change this LAYER BLEND to COLOR
lower the opacity of the BLACK & WHITE LAYER to
taste
MERGE layers or use GROUP
make sure your image is FLATTENED after
editing
DUPLICATE your layer
IMAGE  ADJUSTMENTS  INVERT (ctrl+I)
change LAYER BLENDING MODE to OVERLAY
FILTER  BLUR  GAUSSIAN BLUR
use an increasing amount of G-BLUR to soften
the effect of the INVERT/OVERLAY .
ADJUSTMENT LAYER  GRADIENT MAP
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choose an outlandish gradient  I chose the SECONDARY
COLOR SCHEME (green, purple and orange)
10. change LAYER BLENDING MODE to one of the
“lightens” such as SOFT LIGHT
11. use a SOFT ROUND BRUSH and paint with
BLACK on the MASK to remove areas that are
too saturated or have too much color added
12. LAYER  FLATTEN IMAGE
13. IMAGE

ADJUSTMENTS

SHADOW/HIGHLIGHT to taste
14. experiment with color editing, toning (sepia or
other Photo Filter) or turning this image black
and white
EXAMPLES of TRUE HDR Photo IMAGES
original

4. Create a silhouette from a landscape photo
Extend the background, add other images (of clouds, other skies, etc.) and then reflect the image
Use COLOR ADJUST, ADJUSTMENT LAYERS, BLURS and LIGHTING EFFECTS to enhance the image
Add a moon, stars, reflections in the water, by using MASKING TOOLS and LAYER BLENDING MODES
Images from: http://www.psdtop.com/blog/photo-effects/the-magic-night/

5. Use ADJUSTMENT LAYERS to change the colors of an image and isolate colors in a portrait
Use images of nature and blend these into your initial image by using QUICK MASK or LAYER MASK
Use the CLONE STAMP or ERASER TOOL to blend the nature images into the photo further
Images from: http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/nature-inspired-photo-illustration/ /

6. Use MASKING TOOLS to combine two images on a decorated background or textured background
Create highlights and darkened areas using the PAINTBRUSH and LAYER BLENDING MODES
Composite more images to fully realize the illustration  background, details, objects, figures etc.
Add further colors, BLUR EFFECTS, LIGHTING EFFECTS to enhance the image
Images from: http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/create-a-nature-inspired-photo-manipulation-in-photoshop/