Shadow Removal with Photoshop

Sometimes shadows can spoil an image and pose a challenge to restore. But with  little bit of patience the problems can be tackled in Photoshop. It is not difficult to do.

This is the image with shadows removed from the face. The original image is below.

I have been sent this image of a baby. As you can notice that there are a lot of shadows on the face. This will be removed.

Step 1 : Press CTRL+J to duplicate the Background Layer.

Click the Add Layer Mask button. A Layer Mask is added on Layer 1.

Step 2 : Go to Image>Apply image.

Step 3 : The Apply Image dialogue box opens. These are the default settings. Invert should be checked. Click OK.

Step 4 : Change the Blend Moe to Screen. Note that the Layer mask now has the image of the baby in B&W.

Step 5 : Press CTRL+J to duplicate the layer a number of times till the shadows are gone. I have duplicated it 1 time. For other images it may require a number of more duplication.

The image looks like this.

Step 6 : With Layer 1 copy Layer highlighted press SHIFT and  click on Layer 1.

All the Layers are highlighted.

Step 7 : Right click the highlighted layers and click on Link Layers from the pop up menu.

Both the Layers are now linked.

Step 8 : Press  CTRL+E to merge the linked layers.

Step 9 : Click the Add Layer Mask button. A layer Mask appears on Layer 1 copy.

Step 10 : Ensure that the Foreground Color is set to Black. Click on Brush Tool.

Step 11 : In the top panel open the Brush controls and set the Hardness to 0%. Increase the size of the Brush by pressing ] (right square bracket) and decrease it by pressing [ (left square bracket).

Step 12 : Paint avoiding the rest of the image besides the baby's face.

The Layer Mask looks like this after painting.

Step 13 : Click the Layer Mask to select it. A tiny border appears around the Layer Mask when it is selected. In fact it was already selected in the earlier step.

Step 14 : Go to Image>Apply Image.

The image looks like this.

Step 15 : Change the Blend Mode to Screen and lower the Opacity to 75%.

The finished image.

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Selective Blur in Photoshop

Telephoto lenses in cameras can keep the object in sharp focus and blur out the background or areas which are not in focus. The same effect can be done with any version of photoshop and requires no great skill.

This is the effect I will create

I will be using this full body stock. You will find it here

It belongs to caseykitten

Study the image. Both the model and the wall are in sharp focus.  If we want our eyes to focus on the model only we can blur the brick wall. There is a very simple way to do it.

Step 1 : Duplicate the Background Layer by pressing CTRL+J. Actually it is not required and can be done on a single layer. But I am using a new Layer 1.

Step 2 : Click the Edit in Quick Mask Mode button. In some versions of photoshop there are two buttons. The other button is the Edit in Standard Mode button. Here a single one doubles up for both.

Step 3 : Click the Brush Tool.

Step 4 : Click where the arrow points to open the Brush controls in the top panel. Set the Hardness to 0%. For increasing the Size use the [ (left square bracket) to decrease the size and ] (right square bracket) to increase it.

Step 5 : In the top panel I am leaving the Mode, Opacity and Flow at the default settings.

Step 6 : Increase the Brush size by pressing the ] (right square bracket).

Step 7 : Ensure that Black is set as the Foreground color.

Step 8 : Begin painting with the Brush. It seems you are painting with Red. I am not only painting the model but some of the background also.

Step 9 : I have finished painting. I have not only painted the model but also some of the wall.

Step 10 : Click the button again. 

Step 11 : As soon you click the button. A selection appears.

Step 12 : Go to Select>Modify>Feather.

Step 13 : Set the Feather Radius to 100 pixels. Click OK.

Step 14 : Go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian. Advanced versions have Box Blur, Shape Blur, Smart Blur and Surface Blur. Photoshop7 does not have them. So I am using Gaussian Blur.

Step 15 : In the Gaussian Blur I have set the Radius to 15. Nothing hard and fast about it. It will depend whether you are using a high or a low resolution image.

Click OK.

Step 16 : The model has remained in sharp focus and also the wall immediately behind her. The other portions have been blurred and are no longer in sharp focus. That's it. It is as simple as that.

Step 17 : This is just an additional part just to add an effect to this image.

Click the New Layer icon and a new Layer 2 forms.

Step 18 :  Make sure that the Foreground/Background are set to the default Black/White.

Step19 : Click the Gradient Tool. Click in the top panel to open the Gradient Editor.

Step 20 : In the Gradient Editor click the Foreground to Transparent. In the top panel the Linear Gradient is set by default, If it is not click it.

Step 21 : Drag the Gradient diagonally as shown. It is not drawn across the entire image.

Step 22 : The left top corner darkens like a shadow. You can reapply the Gradient if you wish to make to it darker still. But I am not doing it.

Step 23 : Drag the Gradient Tool partly downwards as shown.

The right bottom corner darkens. That is all.

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Selective Blown out highlights 2

I have posted a tutorial on adding a blown out effect selectively in photoshop in this tutorial. 

This is another way of doing it. Perhaps a much more easier way. It can be done in all versions of photoshop and will work for most images.

These are the effects you can apply with Photoshop. The original image is below.

I will demonstrate the technique with this stock image. You will find it here

It belongs to Ziki37

Note that this image already has some blown out highlights. 

Step 1 : Click the New Layer icon and a new Layer 1 forms above the Background Layer.

Step 2 : Switch the Foreground Color to White by pressing x on the keyboard or use the small bent double headed arrow above the Foreground/Background Colors.

Step 3 : Click the Gradient Tool. Click where shown in the top panel to open the Gradient Editor.

Step 4 : Click on the Foreground to Transparent.

Step 5 : Click on the Linear Gradient. It is checked by default.

Step 6 : In the top panel Mode is set to Normal. Reduce the Opacity to 60%. Reverse, Dither and Transparency are checked. 

Step 7 : Drag up the Gradient Tool diagonally in the direction of the light from a point just above the hair,

The Gradient has been applied a teeny weeny bit.

Step 8 : Drag up from the nose diagonally as shown.

A bit more of the Gradient has been applied. 

Step 9 : Drag sideways outwards with the Gradient Tool.

Step 10 : Drag down diagonally with the Gradient Tool as shown.

A bit more of the Gradient has been applied. Nothing looks out of place. Continue applying the Gradients in small increments as shown.

Step 11 : Continue applying the Gradient till you get something like this.

Step 12 : Click the Add New Fill or Adjustment Layer button.

Step 13 : Click on Curves from the pop up menu.

Step 14 : Click 2 points on the diagonal as shown in the Curves. The top of the diagonal represents the highlights and the lower the shadows.

Step 15 : Nudge the top point slightly up and the bottom one slightly down.

The image looks like this.

Step 16 : With Curves 1 Layer highlighted click on Layer 1 keeping SHIFT pressed. Both Layers are highlighted.

Step 17 : Press CTRL+G. The two layers are now in Group 1 Layer. The Blend Mode changes to Pass Through.

Step 18 : Lower the Opacity of the Layer to 85% or to taste.

The completed image.

Other Photoshop tutorials are here

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