Quick masking: In Adobe Photoshop find the button called 'edit in quick mask mode'. It's located near the bottom of the main tool bar and looks like a circle in a rectangle. There's also a short-cut key: Q. Once in quick mask mode, you can select and deselect areas simply by painting them with white and black respectively, using the standard brush tool. Zoom to 100 or 200 % for best accuracy. You might want to use a soft-edged brush to avoid hard edges. Alternatively, when you're done, exit the masking mode and go to 'Select > Feather' and set the feather radius to 5-10 pixels or so. A nice option is that you can set the opacity to anywhere between 0 and 100%, allowing you to apply the effect stronger or weaker in one part of the image that another.
Layer masking: Slightly more complicated, you can add a layer mask. This allows you to apply any effect gradually from any point in your photo. Follow these steps in Photoshop:
1. Select 'Windows > Layers'.
2. Right click on your layer and select 'Duplicate layer'.
3. Click on the little icon in the bottom of the layer box called 'Add layer mask'.
4. Choose the 'Gradient tool' on the main tool box.
5. Select a gradient style from the top 'Options' bar (linear, radial etc.).
6. Click on your image on the point you don't want to change, and drag the mouse away to the point where you want the full effect to take place. The effect will be applied gradually more and more along this line you've now created.
6. Click on your image on the point you don't want to change, dragging the mouse away to the point where you want the full effect to take place. The effect will be applied gradually more and more along this line you've now created.
7. Last, go back onto your original background layer and apply any effect you want. This will apply the effect in a soft, gradual way. Use opacity to turn the effect down to less than full strength if you want.
Lens-like effects: You can apply 'Gaussian blur' using the layer masking outlined above which will make the selected areas appear soft-focused, as if you had used a large-aperture lens. With 'Curves' you can make your corners darker than the center, duplicating the lens effect called vignetting. Technically, vignetting is considered a lens dysfunction, but subjectively it can add an extra feeling to your photo, creating a sort of frame that will have a 'sucking' effect, drawing more attention into the center of your photo. You can also just lower the contrast and/or color-saturation around your main subject, helping to separate it from the background clutter. Be creative with the many options offered!
1. Duplicate layer.
2. Apply 'Gaussian blur' to the new (top) layer. Make it blurry, but leave a little detail.
2. Apply 'Gaussian blur' to the new (top) layer. Make it blurry, but leave some detail.
3. Adjust the blend modes and opacity till you get what you want:
'Lighten' or 'Screen' blends lightens the image instead. Good for adding high key or highlight glows.
'Soft Light' and 'Overlay' adds contrast and saturation. Particularly useful for landscapes and still life photos.
'Soft Light' and 'Overlay' adds contrast and saturation. Useful for landscapes and still life photos.
Colour grading: You know how some movies have a 'special look', golden brown, sick yellow-greenish, cool blue etc.? You can get the same effect in your photos if you want. The simple way is to go to 'Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation', click 'Colourize' and use the slide bars to select your preferred grading. If you are going for a well-defined colour, it's better to use the 'Edit > Fill' function. Simply select the colour you want and set the 'Blending mode' to 'Colour'. Either way, it's good first to duplicate your layer before you start. This will allow you to preserve some of the original colours by turning the colour grading down. Use the 'Opacity' slider in the layer box to do this. If you want a duotone image, simply make 2 duplicate layers and give them different colour gradings. Mix them together, again with the 'Opacity' slider and the different 'Layer blending mode' options in the layer box.
One example: To give your image a cool green-blue color tone, first create two duplicate layers. Use 'Edit > Fill' to make the first one green and the second one blue. Set opacities to 30 and 60% respectively and select the 'Multiply' blending mode for the top (blue) layer. Adjust levels to get it exactly like you want. Also try adding a soft glow, as described above.
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