I took some photos at our family Christmas get together today. Unfortunately for the photos it was all indoors with terrible light and with 16 kids to catch on film I resorted to using the in camera flash which I hate. I'm now faced with a whole stack of photos with that washed out overlit face. Wondering if anyone has a could recipe to help these photos using photoshop elements CS5 - I'm not very good at using it and don't want to spend a great deal of time on each photo? I have applied the white balance "flash" thingy - is there any other "quick fixes" that might get rid of the deer in the healights look :-) Thanks for all your help
50mls of Original Baileys
200g good quality dark chocolate, roughly chopped
20g unsalted butter
1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
50g chopped unsalted pistachio kernels
75g roughly crushed shortbread biscuits
200g mini marshmallows or chopped regular ones
150g white chocolate, roughly chopped
1: - Grease an 8cm x 20cm bar pan. Line with baking paper, leaving some overhanging edges
2:- Place Baileys, dark chocolate, butter & milk in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water (don't let the bowl touch the water). Allow to melt, then stir until smooth. Remove from heat & cool slightly. Stir in nuts, biscuits, marshmallows & 100g white chocolate.
3:- Spread mixture into pan, then chill for 2-3 hours until firm.
4:- Melt remaining 50g white chocolate as before. Drizzle over fudge, leave for 3-4 minutes to set then cut into 12 squares. The fudge will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
@naturalp So sorry Sarah I think you have to push your shots through photoshop, but I don't know how...I always have the other problem of turning my flash down too low.
Try this - you can record it as an action so you can just hit it for every shot that needs it...
Duplicate your background layer.
Desaturate the layer.
Set a gaussian blur to around radius 70 or 80.
Invert the layer (ctrl-i).
Change blend mode to linear burn, or colour burn (depending on the image).
Adjust opacity to around 50% or so (to taste).
Merge layers (flatten) when done.
This will help fix those blown out highlights, and at the same time give your washed out images some punch. You will have to fine-tune though (blur and opacity settings).
If you have trouble with that method, I suggest simply using the eyedropper tool to select a "good" skin tone, create a new layer, change the blend mode to "color", and paint over the blown areas (with a low flow, soft-edged brush) to taste. Flatten image when happy. You could even use a combination of these two methods for really fine tuning.
@kjarn yum! Perhaps that recipe will help me deal with editing all these shots :-) @jinximages Thank you so much! I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about but it sounds great - will sit down and have a go and see what I can figure out - loving the idea of this "action" thing - is that how people apply watermarks to their shots???
@naturalp@jinximages Thank goodness Jinx is to the rescue to provide some real help. I have an alternative suggestion that may involve some of your own creativity and does not involve Photoshop...
Reflect the light naturally. You can spend money to buy gizmos to do it for you, or you can make you own (I know, tack, but economical in a pinch). I have done this with something as simple as a piece of foil in my hand and positioning my hand to where I want to reflect and diffuse, create shadows, etc. I sort of had this simple ephiphany when I was at a wedding years ago, my camera battery died, and I was relegated to the disposable camera left on each table to take pictures with.
When the drunk Manly men were in the bathroom taking pictures of a toilet, I ventured to take some nice images. It worked.
1.) "The best camera is the one that's with you" - Chase Jarvis
2.) "Make do with what ya got" - My ex-wife
3.) Ideas: www.diyphotography.net
I wish I knew how to do all of the great stuff! I have Adobe Premiere Elements 9 and books but I don't have the time to work with it. Maybe when I retire! That is what is so amazing about 365-I can view all sorts of photos from beginners to pros!
Another possibility is to duplicate the layer, use Image > Adjustments > Shadows/Highlights.
Move shadow amount down to 0
Move hightlight amount up until you get a nice tone on the face. Play with tonal width slider.
Since you have the duplicate layer, you can fill the mask with black and then paint white just on the faces (with a soft brush)
If that seems like too much, just use an Exposure adjustment layer, lower the exposure, and then again, use a black layer mask and paint white where you need darkening.
Thank you all for your suggestions - haven't had a chance to do any editing yet but will attack them after Christmas and I'm looking forward to trying them all out
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50mls of Original Baileys
200g good quality dark chocolate, roughly chopped
20g unsalted butter
1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
50g chopped unsalted pistachio kernels
75g roughly crushed shortbread biscuits
200g mini marshmallows or chopped regular ones
150g white chocolate, roughly chopped
1: - Grease an 8cm x 20cm bar pan. Line with baking paper, leaving some overhanging edges
2:- Place Baileys, dark chocolate, butter & milk in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water (don't let the bowl touch the water). Allow to melt, then stir until smooth. Remove from heat & cool slightly. Stir in nuts, biscuits, marshmallows & 100g white chocolate.
3:- Spread mixture into pan, then chill for 2-3 hours until firm.
4:- Melt remaining 50g white chocolate as before. Drizzle over fudge, leave for 3-4 minutes to set then cut into 12 squares. The fudge will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Enjoy!
@naturalp sorry to hijack your thread :(
Duplicate your background layer.
Desaturate the layer.
Set a gaussian blur to around radius 70 or 80.
Invert the layer (ctrl-i).
Change blend mode to linear burn, or colour burn (depending on the image).
Adjust opacity to around 50% or so (to taste).
Merge layers (flatten) when done.
This will help fix those blown out highlights, and at the same time give your washed out images some punch. You will have to fine-tune though (blur and opacity settings).
If you have trouble with that method, I suggest simply using the eyedropper tool to select a "good" skin tone, create a new layer, change the blend mode to "color", and paint over the blown areas (with a low flow, soft-edged brush) to taste. Flatten image when happy. You could even use a combination of these two methods for really fine tuning.
Reflect the light naturally. You can spend money to buy gizmos to do it for you, or you can make you own (I know, tack, but economical in a pinch). I have done this with something as simple as a piece of foil in my hand and positioning my hand to where I want to reflect and diffuse, create shadows, etc. I sort of had this simple ephiphany when I was at a wedding years ago, my camera battery died, and I was relegated to the disposable camera left on each table to take pictures with.
When the drunk Manly men were in the bathroom taking pictures of a toilet, I ventured to take some nice images. It worked.
1.) "The best camera is the one that's with you" - Chase Jarvis
2.) "Make do with what ya got" - My ex-wife
3.) Ideas: www.diyphotography.net
Move shadow amount down to 0
Move hightlight amount up until you get a nice tone on the face. Play with tonal width slider.
Since you have the duplicate layer, you can fill the mask with black and then paint white just on the faces (with a soft brush)
If that seems like too much, just use an Exposure adjustment layer, lower the exposure, and then again, use a black layer mask and paint white where you need darkening.