Page 106 - NyghtVision Magazine Volume 4 #3

thing and a bad one. Much as the left side of the image pulled the viewer's eye from the couple, this area,
because it was so bright now, made the brightness on the left even more distracting. So, whatever I did,
I would need to darken this section of the image without losing all the detail we were able to recapture.

3 There is almost too much detail in their faces and the preset I used removed most of the shadows
that added to the experience of the image. Given their age, I didn't want to make the detail excessive.
Excessive detail would make them look unnatural.

Fixing the Problems

1 Though it isn't required or even necessary, I always begin by making a copy of the background layer.
This "protects" the background and if I need to start again I can quickly do so.

2 The first problem I want to address is the area to the left of the image - it is too bright and therefore
distracting. I know from experience that I will have to separate this section from the rest of the image if I
want the best chance of fixing it. If I don't separate it, the right side of the image will be too dark.

3 Using the rectangular marquee tool, I select the area to the left that is too bright.

4 I moved that section of the image to a new layer (right click and select cut to a new layer).

5 Using Veviza from Google-NIK I lowered the exposure of this layer. I left the rest of the image as it

was. When I was finished, this made the left section of the image less distracting.

6 Using Analog Efex Pro, I selected a "finish" that added a vignette so that I would draw focus to the

center of the image.

7 Using Silver Efex, I added a layer - a monochrome layer - and then I changed the layer property

to Multiply. I reduced opacity and fill until I achieved the effect I wanted. This layer added detail and

softened the vignette.

8 I added a layer - I copied the Silver Efex layer - and then I changed the layer property to Normal. I

reduced opacity until I achieved the effect I wanted. This layer added focus on the couple.

9 I selected the background layer, and, using lasso tool with a feather of about 100, I selected

the couple. Then I right clicked, and selected copy to a new layer.

0 I dragged that layer to the top. I also adjusted fill and opacity to blend the layer.

106 | Creating Great Images