PS Elements 2 -> Blending layers

My background:

I use a 10D.

I shoot RAW.

Normal workflow is to use C1 for white balance and curves. PS

Elements 2 for sharpening and clonestamping.

I temporarily (8 weeks) using a laptop that I do not wish to load C1

onto (not my laptop). I am therefore am experimenting with DPP 2.0.3

and a few "add ins" for PS 2: Specifically, I got EarthBound

Light's "curves" and "Layer Mask".

http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/photoshop-elements-

curves.html

When doing difficult landscapes (dark trees / bright sky), I am used

to using "curves" in C1 to bring out the dark detail. Now I am trying

to use the "Layer Mask" technique as shown in Luminous Landscape.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/digital-blending.shtml

Does the following sound like a correct technique?

1: Create Layer 1 (original image)

2: Create an adjustment layer 1 and "pump up the low levels" to the

point where the sky gets destroyed.

3: Create Layer 2 (copy of original image)

4: Create a layer mask for Layer 2.

5: Copy Layer 1 into the Layer 2 *mask*. (alt-click)

(note: I suspect this is transcribing the "unaffected" layer 1, but I

don't think that matters? If I merge Layer One and Adjustment Layer

One, all I do is "strengthen" the mask, with more light grey tones?)

At this point: My image is changed, and the lights in Layer 2 wipeout

the blownout highlights resulting from Adjustment Layer One.

The "darks" in Layer Two are masked out, and therefore do not impact

Layer one.

Question: If I am doing this craziness: How important is it to blur

the Mask in Layer 2? I guess if I have hard edges (ie, person fill

flash against a setting sun), then I can soften it with the blur?

Question: Am I wasting my time, or should I just stick to the curves

adjustment? (If I could only figure out how to save preset curves in

DPP 2.0.3 and PS Elements!)

Hi Jim,

A year and a half later, I had exactly the same question. I suppose you may have already found this, but here is a link to a free layer mask tool for PS Elements 2.

http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/p/layermasks.htm

Best-