IMAGEs by DEN

Initial Comments:

The following workflow is based upon Img0, a 564KB, 797x1200 pixels, jpg file of a minimally processed and resized RAW conversion file. While the resolution is of medium quality, the suggested workflow and specific transform settings/curves/masks, most likely will need modification when applied to the high resolution full pixel sized converted RAW to tiff file. Additionally, the suggested workflow settings will result in a personal preference towards contrasty and saturated images. Experiment with the suggestions to suit your own preferences and imaging enhancement style. Please note that the steps described are based upon PWP3.1.h but should still essentially reflect masking and transforms when using PWP3.5x and PWP4.x. . . .'den'. . .

Image Mask Descriptions: Mask1 isolates Img0's 0->38% tone range [below and including the left and right ridge lines/trees]; Mask3 isolates Img0's 38->100% tone range [above the ridge lines including the sky and mountains]; Mask2 is an image area mask for the enhancement recovery in the gradient transition zone below the ridge lines generated by Mask1; Mask4 is an image area mask of the cirrus clouds/sky image area, and Mask5 is an image area mask of the foreground grass image area. A Mask6 isolates the 0->25% tone range [evergreen trees] from an intermediate Img0 version where the original 0->38% tone range has been expanded.

Mask1 and Mask3 tone range masks basically divide the image into the two major image tone ranges and image areas that need to be significantly enhanced: the foreground to the tree/ridge lines that cross the image and the sky/mountains above the ridge lines. The 38% tone was determined to be the median tone of a rather narrow tone range that consists of the ridge/sky/mountain tones. This boundary tone range was observed to be uncommonly narrow so that the normally recommend 'complex tone range' mask formulations need modification in order to not provide unacceptable auras/halos or extensive MiscTools or Clone-ing corrections. This bounday has enough contrast so that a Mask Tool - Paint brush in 'track similar pixels' mode will work well but may be difficult to achieve good blending edges with Feather/Blur that do not produce significant halo upon aggressive tone range expansion. The workflow for Mask1 and Mask3 will be a modified 'complex tone range' mask approach specific for this image and its resolution.

The 38% boundary median tone was determined a bit by trail and error but mostly from inspection of the original image's histogram in 'log' [PWP3.1.h] or 'high' [PWP3.5x/4.x] resolution from the Mask Tool - Brightness Curve OPT drop downs. As the Mask Tool - Brightness Curve grid cannot be expanded by mouse click/drag a dialog box corner as with the Brightness and Color Curves transforms, you can accurately form tone curves by editing a 'saved' approximate curve file, *.crv, and re-loading into the Mask Tool - Brightness Curve using the OPT drop downs. Editing of the *.crv file can be done by changing the file extension to *.txt, modify the curve points using NOTEPAD [a text editor] and remembering to use 0->255 for values rather than 0->100%, save the changes, and then change the extension back to *.crv. The modified file can now be loaded in the Mask Tool - Brightness Curve.

Image area masks: Mask2, Mask4, and Mask5; are formed using an Gradient Outline technique illustrated here.

Notes: The APPLY instruction is used here with the PWP3.1.h version of the Mask Tool which means to apply a mask mode or tool to an image, and NOT used as the 2nd APPLY available in PWP3.5x/PWP4.x that creates a mask without closing the Mask Tool. Additionally, unless otherwise noted the Brightness/Color Curves/Mask-Brightness Curve curves are 'smooth' [default, i.e., 'spline'].

Step1: Create Mask1 and Mask3, using them with editing transforms to expand Img0's original 0->38% tone range.

1.1 Create Mask1, using modified 'shadow tone range mask' procedures: click on Img0 and open the Mask Tool - Brightness Curve = [0,100], [28,100], [38,0], [100,0] and ADD->APPLY; then Blur = 50, APPLY; Brightness Curve = [0,0], [38,0], [42,100], [100,100] and SUBTRACT->APPLY; then Feather = -5, APPLY; and click OK, creating Mask1 and minimize its window.

Mask1
1.2 Create Img2 using Mask1 expanding Img0's original 0->38% tone range. Click on Img0 and open the Composite - ADD transform where Input = Img0, Inpute Mask = Mask1, white = 100, black = 0, Overlay = Img0, click APPLY, creating Img1. Repeat the Composite-ADD where Input = Img1, inpute Mask = Mask1, white = 100, black = 0, Overlay = Img0, click OK, creating Img2.

Img2

Comment: Notice the darkened/muted fall colors where they are near the ridge lines. This is because they are in the gradient transition zone created by the Blur amount of Mask1. This will be corrected in Step1.4 using an image version where Mask1 has not been used and then combing the two image versions.
1.3 Create Img4 expanding Img0's original 0->38% tone range without benefit of a mask. Click on Img0 and open the Composite - ADD transform where Input = Img0, Inpute Mask = 'No Mask', Overlay = Img0, click APPLY, creating Img3. Repeat the Composite-ADD where Input = Img3, inpute Mask = 'No Mask', Overlay = Img0, click OK, creating Img4.

Img4

Comment: The remaining sub-steps of Step1 describe a way to do 'one to one' cloning using an active Mask Tool - Paint brush and the Composite - Blend transform for two image versions of the same image. The Composite transform's Preview window can be used to monitor the changes being made with the Mask Tool - Paint brush. This can only be done where the Input and Overlay images of the Composite transform are the same pixel size, i.e., register. By changing the Mask Tool - Paint brush radius/transparency/softness and/or Composite Input image mask's white amount slider, very fine control of image changes can be made.
1.4 Create Img5, blending Img4 image areas into Img2. Click on Img2 and open the Mask Tool - Paint brush - Add mode, leaving it 'active' on Img2. Click again on Img2 and open the Composite - Blend transform where Input = Img2, Input Mask = 'the active mask', white = 100, black = 0, Overlay = Img4. Click on the Mask Tool and paint Img2 monitoring the results in the Preview. Image areas of Img4 should be composite-blended into Img2 according to the radius/transparency/softness settings of the Mask Tool - Paint brush.

Hints: use brush transparency = 50 and softness = 75 with varing radius as needed for painting nearest the ridgeline boundary and as you move away from the ridge line, set transparency = 25 and softness = 50 with varying radius as needed, and even further away reduce the transparency = 0. Use short brush strokes. Complete the painting mask using the 'Freehand Outline' for painting/masking the Img2 areas below the brush strokes. Zoom the Img2 and Preview windows for fine detail viewing and painting. You can Undo the most recent brush stroke with the Mask Tool - Undo or erase more using Mask Tool - Subtract with a 'paint brush' or 'Freehand Outline' and then switch back to Add mode.

Screen View 1.4

Click OK on the Composite transform, creating Img5. Click OK on the Mask Tool, creating Mask2 and minimize its window.

Place your mouse over the image to compare with Img2.

Img5

Mask2

Continue/Return to Page 2 3 4 for additional Steps.

You are welcome to see other IMAGEs by DEN.

Last Update: 060923 revised 'final img'