Sometimes for everyday photography or something a bit different the lights and darks in an image can be enhanced with just a couple of layers and a few basic tools to turn the image into something worth a second glance.
Again let me tell you that the image is not important, but the technique. It can be done in any version of photoshop.
This is a free stock image from http://www.deviantart.com/
You will find it here
The same image after the steps I will describe.
You will find plenty of free stock images at http://www.deviantart.com/
Step 1 : Make a new layer by clicking the New Layer button at the bottom of the Layers palette.
Step 2 : Click the Elliptical Marquee Tool. Note that the Feather in the top panel is set to 0.
Step 3 : Draw a selection. It may not be dead centre. Just nudge the selection into place with the arrow keys.
Step 4 : Go to Select>Modify>Feather.
Step 5 : Set a Feather Radius fairly large at say something like 150 pixels. Click OK.
Step 6 : Make sure that the Foreground/Background Colors are set to White/Black. If it is not press x and then d on the keyboard to restore the default setting.
Step 7 : Press CTRL+BACKSPACE to fill with the Background Color which is White.
Step 8 : Pres CTRL+D to deselect. The marching ants go away.
Step 9 : Change the Blend Mode to Soft Light.
Step 10 : Decrease the Opacity of Layer 1 to around 75%.
The image looks like this. There were shadows below the model's eyes. They have been softened considerably.
Step 11 : CTRL+CLICK the Layer thumbnail of Layer1.
Step 12 : The selection reappears.
Step 13 : Press CTRL+SHIFT+I to inverse the selection.
Step 14 : Click the New Layer button. A new Layer 2 forms.
Step 15 : Press ALT+BACKSPACE to fill with the Foreground color or Black.
Step 16 : Press CTRL+D to deselect.
Step 17 : Change the Blend Mode of Layer 2 to Soft Light. Lower the Opacity to 75%.
Here is the finished image. There is all that there is to it. This should work with most images.
This is another free stock image from http://www.deviantart.com/
You will find it here
The same image after following the same process.
Other photoshop tutorials are here
