Image enhancement help CS3

[clm738]

Hi APers,

I have been trying to enhance my photos with CS3, like dodge & burn, colour effects etc.
I am having a lot of trouble trying to get the finished product to look natural. I have read and used Photoshop CS3 by Scott Kelby, 7 Point System by Scott Kelby, Digital Masterclass by Tom Ang and numerous photo mags. but can't find any books or information on the net to help me perfect the finished product. I know some of the developing is basic stuff but I still need more help with that.
Could you please point me in the right direction regarding books & sites.
Thanks Heaps.

[IanB]

Post up a couple of the problem photos; you may be expecting too much of yourself ; and what do you consider as "natural" photos.

Cheers

[ricktas]

Agree with Ian, we need to see your starting and finishing photos. Dodging and burning is a lot about selecting an appropriate brush and opacities etc, so tell us what you arre doing in detail.

[pommie]

"I am having a lot of trouble trying to get the finished product to look natural."
This sounds like you are over applying the effects, when I am dodging/burning I use a soft brush and have the exposure set at 3~4% and build up the effect, same with increasing the saturation, curves etc, do it in very small steps.
I find it handy to apply the effects to a layer, then if you think you have gone to far you just reduce the opacity so they have less effect.

When doing "improvements" to an image, it is definitely ... less is better and only just is best

Cheers David

[davesmith]

It also depends what you mean by trying to "enhance" your photos. Photoshop can make a good shot look better but if the shot is poor to start with it can make a poor shot look just as bad, if not worse, and obviously processed.

Best way to learn might be putting up a shot that you're looking to enhance and get some suggestions on how to go about enhancing it.

[dbax]

Photoshop can make a good shot look better but if the shot is poor to start with it can make a poor shot look just as bad, if not worse, and obviously processed.

Photoshop can also make a good shot terrible if the work is poorly done, its a fine line and a very subtle tool to work well.
Agree with most others post up some examples and we can lead you through step by step

[doufdoug]

I don't use the dodge & burn 'controls' at all - I believe that this a better solution and you can control any effects (or go back several steps should you need to do so)
(Assuming Photoshop)
Make a new, empty layer (click on icon next to Trash)
In the Layers panel change this new Layer from 'Normal' to 'Soft Light'
Go to 'Edit' (in the main top command menus - File, EDIT, Image, Layer, etc)
In the 'Edit' drop down menu select 'Fill'
In the box that appears, choose '50% Gray' (it may default to this anyway)
Select the default foreground / background in the tools palette (towards the bottom - two overlapping boxes is the icon) to Black / White
Choose the brush tool
Change the brush tool's opacity and flow to around 10% - 20% (I use 10%)
Where you want to burn on your image, choose black and brush on your image, slowly building up to what you require
Where you want to dodge, choose white.
If you have 'burnt / dodged' too much, either go back into your history, or use a matte to 'erase' mistakes etc.
You can also change the opacity of the new 'Soft Light' layer in the layers panel should you wish, or make another one to add further dodging/burning.

Hope this helps.

[saratoga]

I also use Dougs method above but add a layer mask if required to clean up a little.

[IanB]

Pushed the wrong button again; wrote this yesterday>I use doug's way also.

That's well written Doug and your post should go somewhere else so it is available to more members Ask Rick about it.

[doufdoug]

'Pushing wrong buttons' is my middle name, lol. I am currently rebuilding many many many discs back into Lightroom after an impetuous button press called 'Del'.

[Roof]

yeah shouldn't touch that one

[IanB]

'Pushing wrong buttons' is my middle name, lol. I am currently rebuilding many many many discs back into Lightroom after an impetuous button press called 'Del'.

But aren't you luckly you had the back ups.

[doufdoug]

Thanks Greg, I probably was not clear enough, but yes - exactly right, a layer mask, or layer matte (nomenclature differs but the same process) is a huge help.