What techniques would you use to edit this photo?

[rolpahof leikonblad]

The attached photo "Bilbao Guggenheim Museum " uploaded by Andrea L.

Andrews (http://www.photo.net/photo/1629449) is

excellent except the lower left hand corner, which is too bright. As

an exercise, I have tired many ways to "fix" it but failed. Can

anyone tell me how to do it?<div></div>

[paul allen]

<tongue in cheek>

 

Crop out the bottom 15%? :)

 

</tongue in cheek>

[rcoda]

Adjust it in Photoshop using an adjustment layer until you have it where you want it. Then create a layer mask for the adjustment layer - set it to hide all. Using the gradient tool or a large, soft brush, you can then paint in (or out) the effect. Then you can play with the layer mode for further effect.

[chris_hawkins]

I previously asked how to continuously lighten an image from bottom to top. It was moved to the general "non-archived" forum because it the eyes of the moderator it was trivial. I wanted to lighten the entire image, but you can modify the directions below to meet your needs. Find below the revelant part of the now deleted thread...

<p>

Use the gradient tool in the layer mask of a curves/levels adjustment layer.

This method works best, also as non-linear grad ND: <br>

<ol>

<li> Your image should be the bottom most layer.

<li>Duplicate this bottom layer 3 times.

<li>Modify the layer on top using the curves tool (+2 to +3 fstops). Change the opacity level of this layer to 50%.

<li>On the middle layer, use the grad tool (any form) with black/white as the two extreme colors to render the virtual "ND GRAD".

<li>Set the middle layer to "Overlay", change the opacity of this layer to 75%.

<li>Play around with the top two layer's opacity levels to achieve the proper effect.

</ol>

Cheers,

-- Yaron Kidron , March 07, 2003; 06:20 P.M. Eastern

<p>

Yep, a linear gradient (foreground to transparent with black foreground) in a separate layer above the image. Change to Soft Light mixing mode. Back down the transparency from 100% to something suitable.

Beauty of this method: quick, simple, unobtrusive. Also, judicious use of airbrush and/or eraser in the gradient layer gives you the chance of adapting to image elements that might be darker/lighter than necessary with only the linear gradient.

-- Per Ofverbeck , March 08, 2003; 11:30 A.M. Eastern

[dloose]

File under "for what it's worth" and "i need to learn this too..."

 

I tried the technique above and seems to work fairly well. Unfortunately, I don't really understand what it's doing! Back to the manual...<div></div>

[mike_botelho]

Personally, I'd treat the photo as I'd treat it in a darkroom, by burning in the area I wanted darkened. As an example, I opened the file in Photoshop, selected the burn tool, used a large brush size, set the exposure very low, burned the area on both highlights and midtones. Took me about a minute to get the results I wanted.

 

Whether this is the result you visualized or not, I don't know, but it's just as easy to get whatever other burning effect you wanted. Plus, this is a good skill to practice, since it comes in handy just as it does in a real darkroom, and you can easily learn to burn and dodge any area you'd like.

 

Cheers,<div></div>

[rcoda]

But the burn and dodge tools are not reversible. Always a better idea to work on a layer with a mask. Gets the same thing done in a completely reversible, and more accurate manner.

[ellis_vener_photography]

<B>You didn't make the photo and you are asking us how to "edit" someone else's

photo? </B><P>

Well are you sure that Andrea L. Andrews wants her photograph 'edited' ?

I know: let's ask!

[mike_botelho]

Richard, I took it as a given that the work would be done on an adjustment layer, specifically because you'd already suggested that. Maybe I shouldn't have assumed, but I just wanted to add a little detail about modifying the image, not add to what you'd already said. I was thinking that the poster was looking specifically for the tools to darken an isolated spot on the image, and you seemed to kind of assume that he knew the answer to that. So I just added a bit, in case he needed that info. (Since he'd tried 'many was' to fix the image and failed, I assumed he was using global adjustments to alter the entire image, instead of just modifying the undesirable area.)

 

(And, no, I didn't use a layer when I altered the image, but that was only because I wanted to illustrate a change and had no intention of keeping the image. I would always keep the original intact if it were something of mine.)

 

Cheers,

[rcoda]

No offense taken, Mike.

[sparkyphotog]

I would use a burning technique that is slightly different than that Mike

suggested. I've used the PS Burn tool, but I found this other technique that I

like better. Basically, you first create a layer that contains a duplicate of the

image on top of the original. Then you adjust levels, curves, bightness/

contrast, or any combination of the above until the area you are working on

looks the way you want. The rest of the image will look yuck, but don't worry

about it yet. Finally, use the eraser tool with a soft-edged brush to erase all of

the top layer except that area which you want to be adjusted. Using a soft-

edge brush will allow you to blend the two layers at the transition point. Once

you are finish, you can flatten the image to finish.

 

You can use more than one layer if you want to adjust more than one part of

the image. This technique is simple, fast, and easy to do. Good luck!

 

Bryan

[andrea_l._andrews]

The lower left hand corner isn't too bright. It is exactly as it was in Bilbao.

The building's undulating curves and nonrepetitive geometries were realized with CATIA computer software in its first large-scale use by architect Gehry's firm. Though metal cladding has long been a hallmark of the architect's work, the museum represents his first use of titanium. In searching for a metal finish that was responsive to changing light conditions, titanium's reflective qualities were found to be ideal.

You can "fix" it and you can use how many layers you want. But you would change someone else's work, not mine of course, but the work of architect Frank Gehry.

I'd leave the picture as it is.

[rolpahof leikonblad]

To Andrea L. Andrews:

 

When I posted the question, I was too concentrated on the technique aspects. I should not haved used other's work as example. Sorry for my insensitivity.

[mike_botelho]

Andrea,

 

In my eagerness to answer Dave's original question, I mistakenly assumed that he was asking about how to alter your photo because he was associated with you in some way. My attempt to help him out in no way indicated your photo needed 'fixing'. No offense.

[andrea_l._andrews]

No problem.

Photo.net members' suggestions are always welcome!

[dag_nystuen]

Lasso tool and feather x2 and curves. Wery fast and easy. And it will also work in 16 bits mode.

[greg_miller8]

1. Create a Levels adjustment layer.

2. Change levels until the area you want to darken looks right.

3. Edit / Fill / Black

4. Using paintbrush tool and white color, paint in the area you want to darken until its dark again. Using an opacity (say 30%) less than 100% allows you to totally darken the area with several brush strokes and feather out into the surrounding area to your own taste. If you overdo it, change the color to black and paint over the overdone area (white & black add & subtract the effect (they don't actually look white and black on an adjustment layer).