The 'Mt Baker' image is a Canon S45 superfine, large, jpg camera download image file where the exposure consideration was 'expose to the right' such that the snow image area was not clipped. This resulted in overly dark foreground mid-tones and shadows due to the very high contrast mid-day sunlight.
A 'work-a-long' image file may be download here [800x1200 pixels, 383KBs]
Methodology:
Initially, an inverted 'darkening' and blurred gamma curve contrast mask [Mask2] and the 'darkening' gamma curve mask [Mask1] will be used in combination with the Composite-SoftLight transform to partially recover the foreground mid-tones and shadows without appreciably changing the snow/sky image areas. Mask2 will again be used with the Color Curves transform to further adjust the foreground for preference brightness, contrast, and saturation. A final adjustment of the foreground image area with a highlight contrast mask [Mask3] and the Filter transform to 'sun-dapple' the foreground highlights will be made followed with Advance Sharpening.
Background:
The PWP contrast method used is similar to 'LightZone's ToneMapper1', discussed here in a DL-C message posting by LarsTG, refined to take advantage of PWP3.5.0.10 features and capabilities for additional control. An inverted 'darkening' and blurred gamma curve contrast mask is derived for use with the Composite-SoftLight transform where the Overlay image gray tones determine whether they will be additively or subtractively filtered with the Input image, i.e., if the Overlay image gray tone is 'greater than 50% [128]', than they are subtractively filtered [lightens, decreasing contrast and saturation]; if the gray tone is 50% [128], than there is no change; and if the gray tone is 'less than 50% [128]', than they are additively filtered [darkens, increasing contrast and saturation].
. . .The Composite-SoftLight transform with a black/white Overlay image. . .
Note: As of this writing, the Composite-SoftLight transform does not render 48-bit color images properly. Atypical pixels will appear where the Overlay image has 'greater than' 50% [128] tone values. There is no problem with 24-bit color images. DL-C has this 'bug' under advisement and a correction is expected at a later program release.
Workflow:
Step1: Create a 'darkening' gamma curve mask, Mask1.
Open or click on Img0 [MtBaker_ori] and open the Mask Tool - Brightness Curve and form a curve = [0,0], [50,20], [100,100]; Add->'lower-left' Apply; then click the 'top-right' Apply creating Mask1.
. . .ScreenShot1: Creating Mask1. . .
Step2: Create an inverted 'darkening' blurred gamma curve contrast mask, Mask2.
Click Mask Tool's Add->'lower-left' Apply; Invert; Blur = 50, 'lower-left' Apply; leaving the Mask Tool active on Img0. Click on Mask1 and open the Filter transform where the Input = Mask1, Mask = Mask1, white = 25, black = 100, Filter = 'active mask', Method = Subtractive, and ExposureCompensation = 1.20. As the Mask Tool is active on Img0, the Blur amount can be 'Undo' and a new blur applied. When Preview shows a satisfactory mask image, click OK, creating Mask2 and close the Mask Tool.
. . .ScreenShot2: Creating Mask2. . .
. . .Mask1. . .
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. . .Mask2. . .
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Comments: Mask1 is considered a 'darkening' gamma curve mask as its 'exponential' curve is below the diagonal extending from the lower left corner [0,0] of the 10x10 grid to the upper right corner [100,100].
Considerations for Mask2 formulation were: adjust the white Mask1 slider amount in the Filter transform so that there is low contrast between the left and right side tree limbs and sky to avoid obvious halo and the ExposureCompensation was set so that the mask sky area above the mountain peak is approximately a 50% [128] gray tone [determined using the Readout Tool] so that there will be no appreaciable change to the original sky/snow image areas.
The suggested 'Gamma' curve = [0,0], [50,20], [100,100] seems to be relatively generic for most images.
The amount of 'Blur' is a matter of artistry. Factors affecting its amount include image overall pixel dimensions, specific pixel image areas to be changed, and the amount of desired change to be made.
The amount of 'Detail' is best selected on the basis of image areas that should not be changed when using SoftLight... use the Readout Tool when adjusting Mask Tool settings so that these mask areas are approximately 50% tone values.
Step3: Create Img1 with the Composite-SoftLight transform using Mask1 and Mask2 to increase foreground detail.
Click on Img0 and open the Composite-SoftLight transform where Input = Img0; Input Mask = Mask1, white = 0, black = 100; Overlay = Mask2, amount = 100. Click Ok creating Img1.
. . .ScreenShot3: Creating Img1 with the Composite-SoftLight transform and Mask1 & Mask2. . .
Step4: Create Img2 with the Color Curves transform using Mask2 to further adjust foreground brightness, contrast, and saturation.
Click on Img1 and open the Color Curves transform where Input = Img1; Input Mask = Mask2, white = 100, black = 0; form a HSV,V Smooth Curve = [0,0], [50.65], [100,100]; form a HSV,S Smooth Curve = [0,0], [40,45], [80,100], [100,100]. Click OK, creating Img2.
. . .ScreenShot4: Creating Img2 with the Color Curves transform and Mask2. . .
Step5: Create a 'sun-dappling' mask and Img3 with brightened forground highlights with the Filter Transform.
Click on Img2 and open the Mask Tool - Paint Brush with settings: radius = 50, transp = 0, and softness = 75; paint an image area comprising of the foreground heather. Change the brush to transp = 25 and paint the image area comprising of the low ground foilage on the right above the heather and below the trees. Again change the brush to transp = 35 and paint the lower half of the right side trees below the skyline. Then set Blur = 35, and 'lower-left' Apply. Select the Brightness Curve and Overlap->'lower-left' Apply a Smooth Curve = [0,0], [50,30], [80,100], [100,100]. Leave the Mask Tool active on Img2.
. . .ScreenShot5A: Painting step of the 'sun-dappling' mask. . .
. . .ScreenShot5B: Overlap -> Apply step of the 'sun-dappling' mask. . .
Click on Img2 and open the Filter transform where the Input = Img2, Mask = 'active mask', white = 100, black = 0, Filter = White [RGB=100,100,100], Method = Additive, ExposureCompensation = 1.20. Click OK, creating Img3.
. . .ScreenShot5C: Additive Filter transform step of the 'sun-dappling' sequence creating Img3. . .
Step6: Sharpen Img3 to preference.
The enhanced image version:
Place your mouse over the image to see the original image version.
. . .Mt Baker, WA USA as viewed from Artist Point Ridge. . . . . .September 24, 2005. . .
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Another image example where an inverted, blurred, gamma curve contrast mask was used with the Composite-Softlight transform is here.
