I work with scans of slides of paintings. The slides often contain washed out areas that I can correct with Contrast, however I would like there to be a fall-off. Combining Contrast with a Gradient would be ideal, but I don’t see Contrast as one of the Mode selections.
LRK, What I’m trying to remove are brighter, washed out areas usually cause by a flash. The spot created by the flash is usually brightest at its center and gradually fades off to normal lighting. Thus, the Gradient tool is ideal because I can select an area and create a fall-off that reverses the effect of the flash. In theory, it should work.
I can get close by using the Gradient tool set to Darkening mode. But it’s not a perfect solution, because I have to then go back and relighten the areas I don’t want darkened.
I’ve also tried, with limited success, selecting the area with a lasso and using Curves, B/C and other tools, but it effect each pixel equally, which means the lights get darker and the darks get darker too. Not the result I need.
I can’t see why modes like Contrast, Blur, etc. should be able to be applied as Gradients. Perhaps Adobe will add it in some future upgrade.
I totally agree about using the gradient tool on an adjustment layer. It works great and I use that combination all the time. If it were me I would probably use a combination of adjusment layers, using a soft paint brush to paint the effects in and out as needed. I would need to see the photo in order to determine where I would start though. I’m more of a visual, hands-on problem solver. 🙂
Wow! Whodathunk so many of us would live in Florida?
Jason, Who do you work for there in Clearwater?
Doug, Sarasota is great! Especially if you’re an artist, as it was originally an Artist Colony and retained much of the lifestyle. The beaches are also great, some of which are considered in the top 10 in the nation (re: Siesta Key Beach).
The weather is typically cooler and breezier than surrounding cities, like Tampa and St. Petersburg/Clearwater. Sarasotans like to believe it’s cause we’re so special, but I suspect there’s something to the lay-of-the-land that causes it. ;^)
Sarasota isn’t a large city, so the work for illustrators is limited, excepting newspapers and magazines, of which we have many. Sarasota alone produces at least five top mags, including Sarasota Magazine, SRQ, LBK (stands for Long Boat Key) and Paradise. All are full-bleed, full-color glossy mags. They employ most of the illustrators in the area. However, Tampa and St. Pete/Clearwater are less than an hour away and are major metropolitan areas. Especially Tampa, which is considered an Illustator/Photographer capital. I could probobly make more money there, but I don’t want the commute anymore, and I love living in Sarasota (five minutes from the beach) so I’ll never move there.
BTW, who is MO?
LRK, Where is Palm Beach Gardens? Is it in Palm Beach (probobly a dumb question). Are you on the East Coast of Florida?
I’ll try the Adjustment Layer technique. I don’t use them much, as I find it faster to simply pop in and out of my History Palette when I want to go forward and back during retouching. I’ll let you know how it works out.
All, We should start a Florida Illustrator/Retoucher network. My contact info is below. Please send me yours, so we can stay in touch. It’s not that often I meet others from Florida in my field.
Doug, since you’ll undoubtedly end up here in paradise, you should include your contact info too. ;^)
Thanks All! Mike McBride Universal Color Slide Sarasota, FL 941/966-3632 www.universalcolorslide.com
Be sure to go back and read Bruce Fraser’s post… you are getting advice from one of the leading experts. 🙂
Palm Beach Gardens is the newer area of Palm Beach County. It’s north of West Palm and very nice. We are west of Palm Beach Gardens in an equestrian area.
I remember Sarasota from when I was a kid and my parents would take me there when my dad played in golf tournaments. I remember it as being very nice although I haven’t been back in many years.
Did you attend Photoshop World in Tampa two and three years back?
Doug, Either I’m slow, or I missed the punch line. I thought MO was a company you worked for. Should I recognize the man in your picture?
LRK, No, I missed Photoshop World that year, as I lived in Virginia at the time. Sarasota is very nice, and improving as more "younger" population arrive each year. I relooked at Bruces advice, as you suggested. I’ve never understood the "Multiply" mode, so I’ll have to look into it.
I’ve gotten some really good advice here, and I want to thank everyone who took the time to respond to my call for help. I’ll try your techniques and post my results.
Thanks again! Those of you in Florida be sure to send your contact info to me at I want to start a FLA Illustrator/Retoucher network.
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