Brightening images in Photoshop

Sometimes you may have an image which is dark, which you wish to brighten. There are many ways of doing it. Let me show you an easy way in Photoshop.

                                               Step 1 : I have opened this free stock image in Photoshop. You can find it here

It belongs to *mjranum-stock Marcus J. Ranum

Step 2 : Press CTRL+J to duplicate the Background layer.

Step 3 : Click the Lasso Tool. Set the Feather in the top panel to 22.

Step 4 : With the Lasso Tool trace along the inside of the clothes.

Step 5 :  I have completed the selection with the Lasso Tool

Step 6 : As soon as you complete the selection it turns into marching ants.\

Step 7 : Press CTRL+J. The selection is copied and pasted onto Layer 2.

Step 8  : Change the Blend Mode of Layer 2 to Screen.

This is how the image looks. Details of the clothes are clearer now.

Step 9 : Press CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+E. A new Layer 3 forms.

Step 10 : Right click Layer 3 and click on Convert to Smart Object.

Step 11 : The Layer has been changed into a Smart Object.

Step 12 : Go to Image>Adjustments>Shadow/Highlights.

Step 13 : When the Shadows/Highlights opens set the Amount to 30% and Radius to 50 pixel. Click OK.

The completed image.

Step 14 : Click the Mask below Layer3.

Step 15 : The Foreground Color is set to White and the Background White, instead of the other way around.

Step 16 : Press CTRL+BACKSPACE. It will fill with Background Color, which is Black in this case.

Step 16 : Press b to bring up the Brush Tool.

Step 17 : Click the top panel. In he Brush's dialogue box set the Hardness to around 35%. You can increase the size of the brush by pressing ] (right bracket) and decrease it with [ (left bracket).

The image meanwhile looks like this after filling the Mask with Black.

Step 18 : With the Brush selectively brighten parts of the image you want to. You should zoom in for this. Paint with White to uncover detail. Paint with Black to cover detail.

Step 19 : I have touched up her face and dress, but left her hair alone while painting with White. In case of a mistake switch the Foreground Color to Black and paint it out.

Other Photoshop tutorials are here

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Increasing light in images

If you don't  have much time and you see that your images are dark, how can you increase the light quickly and without too much of effort in Phortoshop? Here is an easy way to do it.

Step 1 : Here is a free stock image I have chosen. You can download it from here

Step 2 : Press CTRL+J to duplicate the Background Layer. A new Layer1 forms.

Step 3 : Click the New Fill or Adjustment Layer button. Fom the popup click on Levels.

Step 4 : The Levels dialogue box comes up.

Step 5 : Keep ALT pressed. Click on the white slider.

Step 6 : The image turns Black.

Step 7 : Keeping the ALT pressed drag the White slider towards the left. Colored spots or streak will appear. It means that the colors are being clipped. Drag the slider towards the right in such a case till the colored spots and streaks disappear.

Step 8 : Press CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+E. A new Layer 2 forms.

Step 9 : Right click Layer 2 and click on Convert to Smart Object.

Step 10 : The layer has been converted into a Smart Object.

Step 11 : Go to Image>Adjustments>Shadows/Highlights.

Step 12 : The Shadows/Highlights dialogue box opens. Set the Amount to 30 and the Radius to 50. I am not changing the other settings. Click OK.

This is how the image looks.

Step 13 : Click the Layer Mask below  Layer2.

Step 14 : Make sure the the Foreground/Background Colors are set to Black and White. If not press x and then d.

Step 15 : Press ALT+BACKSPACE. The Mask fills with Black.

Step 16 : Press b on the keyboard to bring up the Brush Tool. To make the brush larger press ] (right bracket). To make it smaller press [ (left bracket).

Step 17 : Click where the arrow point. When the Brush dialogue box opens set the Hardness to around 30%.

Step 18 : Press x on the keyboard to switch the Foreground Color to White.

Step 19 : Paint with the Brush. The skin tone lightens.

Step 20 : I am continuing to paint with the Brush. You can see the difference in skin tone.

Step 21 : I have not only touched up her skin, but also her jeans, boots, buckle and the beads on her wrist.

The finished image. I don't think that was difficult.

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Noise Removal with Black Layer Mask

Noise presents a problem at times. Lighting may be wrong, the lens, specially of mobile cameras may not be good enough. So you get grains. There is an easy way to remove grains with the Reduce Noise Filter and a Black Layer Mask. You will not find the Noise Removal filter in Photoshop 7. In Photoshop 7 you can try the Gaussian Blur. So let's begin.

Step 1 : I have opened this photo. If you are wondering who the old fogey is, that's me at the office pretending to work. You cannot make out the noise. Just let me zoom in.

Step 2 : I have zoomed into the image. Now you can make out the noise.

Step 3 : Press CTRL+J. This will duplicate the Background Layer into Layer1. This is just a simple precaution. Working on a duplicate image is safer, You can fall back on the original image if things go wrong.

Step 4 : Go to Filter>Noise>Reduce Noise.

Step 5 : Give these settings when the Reduce Noise dialogue box opens.

Step 6 : Here is a close up of the settings. Click OK.

Step 7 : Look how smooth the image has become.But unfortunately it has blurred details, which should not be blurred such as the handle of the specs. That will not do.

Step 8 : Press ALT and click on the Add Layer Mask button. A Black Layer Mask forms next to the layer thumbnail on Layer1.

Step 9 : The grainy image appears again.

Step 10 : Set the Foreground Color to White by pressing x on the keyboard. You can also use the small bent arrow above the Foreground Color to switch between the Foreground and Background colors.

Step 11 : Press b on the keyboard to bring up the Brush Tool. This is a shortcut. To increase the size of the Brush, press ] (right bracket) and to decrease the size of the Brush press [ (left bracket).

Step 12 : In the top panel, click where the arrow points. In the drop down menu set the Hardness to between 30 % and 50 %.

Step 13 : As you paint with the Brush, the grains disappear.

Step 14 : As I am painting, I am not touching spectacle handle.

Step 15 : The photo looks much better. But I'm not done yet.

Step 16 : Some of the noise has been left behind. Zoom into the image.

Step 17 : Press b to bring up the Brush and paint away the noise from the skin.

Step 18 : The face looks OK now.

Step 19 : But not the hands. It's grainy.

Step 20 : Press b to bring up the Brush Tool. I have painted away the grains from the left hand.

Step 21 : I have painted away the grains from the right hand too. I have not touched the ring.

Step 22 : I have painted away the skin of the person sitting across the glass partition.

Step 23 : The grains have been removed from the skin.

Step 24 : This is an optional step. I have clicked on the layer thumbnail on Layer 1.

Step 25 : Go To Image> Adjustments> Shadow/Highlights.

Step 26 : The Shadow/Highlights dialogue box opens. I am just clicking OK.

Step 27 :Click on the Layer Mask of Layer 1.

Step 28 : I have pressed b to bring up the Brush and painted away some of the portions I missed.

The finished image. Look how my pate is shining!!

Other photoshop tutorials are here

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