B&W : Burn In

[marc_schmidtmayer]

Hi folks,

 

I've a photo and I want to burn in the sky (and bottom) similar to this :

 

http://www.michaelkenna.net/html/japan02/7.html

 

http://www.michaelkenna.net/html/moai01/9.html

 

http://www.michaelkenna.net/html/archive/92.html

 

So, even with a 'clear' sky (or bottom), burning it in like this ... how

should I do this in PS (to get a realistic effect like the example) ?

 

Thanks, Marc.

[silverdae]

I would create a new layer on top your original background image. Set the blend mode to overlay. Use black to burn in and white to dodge. Use gradients, paint, whatever floats your boat. Blur the layer to make the transition smoother. Overlay lightens anything lighter than 50% grey, darkens anything darker than 50% grey, and leaves 50% grey alone. So if there's anything you want left alone, use 50% grey (in your color picker, set h=0, s=0, b=50%).

[gdanmitchell]

You can also do this sort of thing with a levels or curves layer and a gradient mask.

[pje]

Similar to what Jen Lambert mentiioned I create a Dodge & Burn layer as the top most layer

when I need it.

 

1. From the Layers menu, create a new layer, set the Mode to "soft light", check the "Fill with

soft-light-neutral color (50% grey)" box.

2. Name the layer "Dodge & Burn"

3. Use the paint brush with black to burn and white to dodge

[ronald_moravec1]

What Paul E. said.

 

Click on foreground colors, hit d. You will now get default black and white. Hit B for brush tool. Use [ and ] to make it smaller or larger, X to swap forground and background. Use a soft edge brush.

 

Black make things darker, white make things lighter. Adjust opacity to make changes slower or faster. You can go over black with white to reverse.

 

So you paint black and white on the filled layer. Merge when you are happy.

 

Start at the top tool bar, layer-new layer-etc as above

[AaronFalkenberg]

Or... if you want to do it like it's done in the darkroom, simply use the burn tool with a brush diameter of about 400-500 pixels (assuming a 20" image) and an exposure of 5-15%. For any fillamentary cloud detail, use a smaller diameter.

[pje]

Aaron, the burn tool will certainly work, but it is destructive. Using layers is non-destructive.

[AaronFalkenberg]

True, but presumably the work we do on an image is intentional, so as long as you don't lose the history states it's no big deal. Sometimes layers are cumbersome, especially with a large image (9600x12000, 48bit).

[marc_schmidtmayer]

Thanks for the answers.

I tried this technique and I seem to get decent results when the shy is already a bit 'dark'.

 

The problem is when I want to this om a 'blank' sky (like this http://www.michaelkenna.net/html/books/calendars/2006/8.html), I do not get 'natural' results.

 

Probably I'm doing something 'wrong' ...

[silverdae]

To get similar results as the image your referencing, I would put a new blank layer on top, fill it with a black to transparent reflected gradient radiating from your horizon line, adjust the opacity to suit.

 

Another option- adjust curves as a new adjustment layer to suit your darkest area, then use gradients on your mask to hide/reveal. If you use foreground-to-transparent gradients, you can add multiple gradients without one cancelling out the other.

 

My advice- just play with it. Scroll through the layer blend modes, try different tools. What you try may not work on this image, but you may find something that you can keep in mind for later.

[marc_schmidtmayer]

Thanks Jen for the fine tip.