Step 6: Change
the blending mode to luminosity
Your image should
look more saturated than it was before. If you don't like the
increased saturation, change the blending mode of the Curves
adjustment layer to Luminosity and the saturation will return to
normal.
Step 7: Adjust
the layer mask
Now we're going to
work on the layer mask and adjust where we want the contrast to be
applied and where not. Select the layer mask then choose Image >
Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast. If you are using Photoshop CS3,
check the "Use Legacy" option. While looking at the photo and layer
mask, adjust the brightness and contrast settings. The brightness
settings will adjust the overall visibility of the contrast. The
contrast setting will adjust the compression between the
shadows/highlights and midtones.
Step 8: Blur
the layer mask
Finally, we'll blur
the layer mask. This will produce results similar to enhancing local
contrast. Choose Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. As you increase the
radius, the contrast between the edges will increase.
Step 9: Invert
the layer mask (optional)
Depending on the
results that you desire, you may also invert the layer mask so that
contrast is applied to the shadows and highlights but not the
midtones. To invert the layer mask, choose Image > Adjustments >
Invert.
Layer mask not
inverted
·
This
works well with landscape photos and can produce results that look
slightly like HDR tone mapped images. Preserves detail in the
highlights and shadows. Only the midtones will have its contrast
enhanced.
Layer mask
inverted
·
This
works well with portraits and certain landscapes. With portraits,
you generally want to preserve the details of the skin tones which
usually is in the mid tones. With the layer mask inverted, the image
appear to have more contrast without affecting the midtones.
Final Results
Here is a comparison
of the original photo and the photo with this adaptive contrast
tutorial applied. The image now has higher contrast without blowing
out the shadows on the hiker's backpack and the highlights in the
distance.
Below is a comparison
between increasing contrast normally and using this adaptive
contrast technique. Without the layer mask, the shadows and
highlights are blown out.
Below are examples of
the adaptive contrast effect with an inverted layer mask applied to
a portrait. The layer mask is inverted because we want to preserve
the skin tones. That way, the contrast is only increased in the
highlights and shadows.
Below is a comparison
between the contrast enhancement with and without a layer mask. The
image on the left shows how the image would look like without a
layer mask. The image on the right shows the same contrast but with
the adaptive contrast technique applied. The contrast is increased
only in the hair and the highlights of the skin; the midtones in the
skin are preserved to keep it looking natural.
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