Step4:   Create Mask6 from Img9, using them with Color Curves transform to enhance the evergreen tree image areas.

4.1   Create Mask6, using 'shadow tone range mask' procedures of Img9's 0->25% tones: click on Img0 and open the Mask Tool - Brightness Curve = [0,100], [15,100], [25,0], [100,0] and ADD->APPLY;   then Blur = 25, APPLY;   Brightness Curve = [0,0], [25,0], [45,100], [100,100] and SUBTRACT->APPLY;   then Feather = -2, APPLY;   then Feather = +2, APPLY; creating Mask6 and leaving active on Img9.


Mask6
4.2   Click on Img9 and open the Color Curves transform in HSV color space: Input = Img9, Mask = 'active Mask6', white = 62.5, black = 0, form an HSV,V curve = [0,0], [12,20], [45,100], [100,100], click OK creating Img10.   Click OK on the Mask Tool creating Mask6 and minimize its window.

Place your mouse over the image to compare with Img9. Img10

Step5:   Create Img12, using a temporary mask and the Filter transform with a 'warming' brightening filter color to create slightly brighter fall color tree highlights.

5.1   Create an 'active mask' on Img10: click on Img9 and open the Mask Tool - Brightness Curve and form a Brightness Curve = [0,0], [60,10], [100,100] and ADD -> APPLY; Combine = Mask3 and SUBTRACT -> APPLY.   The 'active mask' should only show white below the ridge lines.


Mask active on Img10
5.2   Click on Img10 and open the Filter transform in Additive mode: Input = Img10, Mask = 'active mask', white = 38, black = 0, Filter = RGB = 100, 98, 90, ExposureComp = 10; click APPLY creating Img11.   Use the Readout Tool probe on a zoomed Preview to confirm that highlights are not being excessively clipped.   If they are, either decrease EC and/or the white mask amount.

5.3   Click on the Filter transform in Additive mode: Input = Img11, Mask = 'active mask', white = 0, black = 10, Filter = Img11, ExposureComp = 0; click OK, creating Img12.   Click on Img11 and close without saving.   Click OK on the Mask Tool to close and discard the 'active' mask.

Place your mouse over the image to compare with Img10. Img12

Step6:   Create Img13 by decreasing mid-saturations and saturation balancing of the foreground and sky using the Saturation transform and Mask3.

6.1:   Click on Img12 and open the Saturation transform in the HSV color space where Input = Img12, Mask = Mask3, white = +10, black = -35, Preserve = Low and High; click OK, creating Img13.

Place your mouse over the image to compare with Img12. Img13

Step7:   Create Img14 by mid-tone edge USM sharpening of Im11's HSV,V channel.   Follow the Capture Sharpening Workflow described HERE using USM settings: white = 62.5, black = 25, radius = 1, and threshold = 3 in Step3.2.

Step8:   Create Img15 by clicking on Img14 and opening the Levels and Color transform in the HSV color space, adjusting the settings to preference.   Img15 was created with the Levels and Color transform settings: Input = Img14, amount = 100, 'full dynamic range', midtones = 0, HSV color space, Saturation = -15, click OK.   This step serves has a 'full dynamic range' check/adjustment with a slight overall de-saturation.   The illustrated difference between Img13 and Img15 is subtle and barely decernible in the following comparison.

Place your mouse over the image to compare with Img13. Img15