Daniel Buck
08-01-2006, 02:14 AM
Using layer masks to color correct just one area of an image (for this example, we'll do just the car!)
(give and take on this website, here is some of my 'give' to those who aren't familier with photshop)
I like writing tutorials, I haven't done them in a while. Anyway, a major part of my photo processing is being able to control just the car. I have found that the most useful way is to do this with a layer mask. This may be a bit slow for those who are used to working this way, but for those who aren't, I hope you find this useful :)
the first animation shows me cutting out the car, I'll try to explain, it might be a bit fast to follow for those who aren't familier.
#1. I duplicate the raw layer
#2. I make a folder, and drag your duplicated raw layer into the folder.
#3. I make a curves layer (NOT in the folder, but outside of it) and darken the image. The purpose for this is so that I can differentiate between the raw original layer, and my layer inside of the folder
#4 I invert the layer mask on the folder, I turn it black so that the entire folder is transparent.
#5 with a small brush, I paint white in the folder layer mask. Anywhere that is painted white in the mask will reveal the folders contents. You can use any shade of gray, gradients, or even filters on the layer mask.
the second animation shows how you color correct just the car, basically all you do is create your color correction adjustment layers INSIDE your folder that has the car layer mask. Anything inside this folder will only be shown through your painted mask. And of course you can have masks within masks as well, like you could colorcorrect just the headlights, or just the wheels by painting directly on the layer mask of the layer you only want to affect the wheels, and so on.
My color corrections on these animations were exaggerated so that you could see the difference, your corrections don't have to be drastic, they can be very minor if thats all you think the car needs :-)
The COOL advantage to using layer masks, is that AT ANY TIME you can do back and touch up your mask (or start all over!) all you have to do is paint black in the mask, and now you are erasing what you previously painted. This can be very handy,
Tips on painting masks: I use a tablet, the advantage of this (among lots of other things!) is that it's pressure sensitive, I can change many things based on how much pressure I use while pressing down with pen. I can change the brush size, the opacity/flow, and other things (and combine all of that as well).
Even if you aren't using a tablet, a handy feature I like while painting masks is using the SHIFT key. Hold SHIFT and click once on your image. Click again elsewhere on the image (while continuing to hold shift) and you'll see that the brush makes a straight line inbetween the two clicks. this makes cutting things out very easy. even on curved objects (like a car!) it's very quick and easy to paint a mask using the shift key when you zoom in. the shorter distances you use inbetween your clicks, the closer to a curve you can get. It takes me a maximum of about 5-10 minutes to mask out a car with the level of detail that would be required for a 8x10 or larger image. for quick things to post on the web, it only takes about 30 seconds once you get good at it :-)
For crisp areas (in focus areas) you'll probably want to make your brush sharper. for out of focus areas, you'll want to make your brush much softer, and maybe a bit larger.
you may use this method to color correct just the car, or even to put the car on a different exposure (over, or under exposed) this is a good way to blend two exposures for a dark car, if your skies keep blowing out to white. You could also use this method to place an object into a different scene, though it will be more tricky to convincingly place the object without looking odd or cut out.
watch for the word "END", then the animation will re-start, as Undoubtably it's already in the middle of the animation by now. Relax though, they aren't very long :)
http://www.danielbuck.net/wip/ps_tut_01.gif
http://www.danielbuck.net/wip/ps_tut_02.gif
The final result? If you painted your mask well enough, you won't be able to tell that a mask has been used :) (this is the goal anyway!). Now obviously drastic color or contrast changes will allude to a mask being used (the car will look "cut out" from the background), the trick is to make the car 'pop', but not look cut out :-)
http://www.danielbuck.net/wip/ps_tut_03.jpg
(give and take on this website, here is some of my 'give' to those who aren't familier with photshop)
I like writing tutorials, I haven't done them in a while. Anyway, a major part of my photo processing is being able to control just the car. I have found that the most useful way is to do this with a layer mask. This may be a bit slow for those who are used to working this way, but for those who aren't, I hope you find this useful :)
the first animation shows me cutting out the car, I'll try to explain, it might be a bit fast to follow for those who aren't familier.
#1. I duplicate the raw layer
#2. I make a folder, and drag your duplicated raw layer into the folder.
#3. I make a curves layer (NOT in the folder, but outside of it) and darken the image. The purpose for this is so that I can differentiate between the raw original layer, and my layer inside of the folder
#4 I invert the layer mask on the folder, I turn it black so that the entire folder is transparent.
#5 with a small brush, I paint white in the folder layer mask. Anywhere that is painted white in the mask will reveal the folders contents. You can use any shade of gray, gradients, or even filters on the layer mask.
the second animation shows how you color correct just the car, basically all you do is create your color correction adjustment layers INSIDE your folder that has the car layer mask. Anything inside this folder will only be shown through your painted mask. And of course you can have masks within masks as well, like you could colorcorrect just the headlights, or just the wheels by painting directly on the layer mask of the layer you only want to affect the wheels, and so on.
My color corrections on these animations were exaggerated so that you could see the difference, your corrections don't have to be drastic, they can be very minor if thats all you think the car needs :-)
The COOL advantage to using layer masks, is that AT ANY TIME you can do back and touch up your mask (or start all over!) all you have to do is paint black in the mask, and now you are erasing what you previously painted. This can be very handy,
Tips on painting masks: I use a tablet, the advantage of this (among lots of other things!) is that it's pressure sensitive, I can change many things based on how much pressure I use while pressing down with pen. I can change the brush size, the opacity/flow, and other things (and combine all of that as well).
Even if you aren't using a tablet, a handy feature I like while painting masks is using the SHIFT key. Hold SHIFT and click once on your image. Click again elsewhere on the image (while continuing to hold shift) and you'll see that the brush makes a straight line inbetween the two clicks. this makes cutting things out very easy. even on curved objects (like a car!) it's very quick and easy to paint a mask using the shift key when you zoom in. the shorter distances you use inbetween your clicks, the closer to a curve you can get. It takes me a maximum of about 5-10 minutes to mask out a car with the level of detail that would be required for a 8x10 or larger image. for quick things to post on the web, it only takes about 30 seconds once you get good at it :-)
For crisp areas (in focus areas) you'll probably want to make your brush sharper. for out of focus areas, you'll want to make your brush much softer, and maybe a bit larger.
you may use this method to color correct just the car, or even to put the car on a different exposure (over, or under exposed) this is a good way to blend two exposures for a dark car, if your skies keep blowing out to white. You could also use this method to place an object into a different scene, though it will be more tricky to convincingly place the object without looking odd or cut out.
watch for the word "END", then the animation will re-start, as Undoubtably it's already in the middle of the animation by now. Relax though, they aren't very long :)
http://www.danielbuck.net/wip/ps_tut_01.gif
http://www.danielbuck.net/wip/ps_tut_02.gif
The final result? If you painted your mask well enough, you won't be able to tell that a mask has been used :) (this is the goal anyway!). Now obviously drastic color or contrast changes will allude to a mask being used (the car will look "cut out" from the background), the trick is to make the car 'pop', but not look cut out :-)
http://www.danielbuck.net/wip/ps_tut_03.jpg