An 'Half-Sepia' Tonal Adjustment Procedure

Introduction:

This is a “Picture Window Pro” [PWP] tonal adjustment workflow that will show how to combine a sepia image version with its original color version.   While the 'half-sepia' procedure is illustrated, with variations it can be changed to simulate 'dragan effects', 'lazlo effects', and others.

Step 1:  Open an image [Image1] and create a non-active mask [Mask1].

    Image1  . . . . . and . . . . . . . . .   Mask1-Sharpened

1.A:  Click on Image1 and open the Mask Tool-Brightness Curve option --> APPLY --> OK, creating Mask1.   If desired, the straight diagonal line can be changed to preferences before clicking on APPLY but for this workflow, it was left as a straight line.

1.B [optional]:  To add texture [grittiness] and increase the effectiveness of the mask amount sliders used later in the Composite transform, the Mask1 image was over sharpened by applying USM [amt=100, r=2, thrsld=0] twice consecutively, creating Mask1-Sharpened.

Step 2:  Create a sepia version [Image2] of Image1.

Image2

2.A:  Click on Image1 and open the Monochrome transform using the default 'luminous' green filter --> OK, creating an intermediate B&W image.

2.B:  Click on the '2A' image and open the Tint transform and load DL-C's 'Sepia.cln' file --> OK, creating an intermediate sepia image.

2.C:  Click on the '2B' image and open the Levels & Color transform and adjust for prefered dynamic range, mid-tones, and saturation --> OK, creating Image2.

Alternatives:  Image2 need not be a sepia, it could have a different tint or remain a B&W with a preferred contrast or a solid color with a prefered tone value.   The Color Curves transform could be used in place of the Levels & Color transform in '2C' for more refined adjustments of the sepia image for brightness, contrast, and saturation.

Step 3:  Create a half-sepia version [Image3] of Image1.

Screen Shot

3.A:  Click on Image2 and open the Mask Tool-Brightness Curve option, adjust curve to preference --> APPLY, creating an active mask for Image2

3.B:  Click on Image1 and open the Composite transform where the Input Image=Image1, InputMask=Mask1, Overlay=Image2, OverlayMask=ActiveMask for Image2, Operation=Blend, and adjust mask sliders and ActiveMask curve to preferences --> OK, creating an intermediate Image3.

3.C:  Click on the '3B' image and open the Levels & Color transform and adjust for prefered dynamic range, mid-tones, and saturation --> OK, creating Image3.   For this work flow, the intermediate image was adjusted in Levels & Color for 'full dynamic' range, +15% mid-tones, and -30% HSV saturation.

Alternatives:  Different white and black mask amount settings as well as a different ActiveMask curve will alter the half-sepia image toning.   Changing the Composite transform Operation to something other than 'Blend' will also affect Image3 toning providing interesting alternatives.   The Color Curves transform could be used in place of the Levels & Color transform in '3C' for more refined adjustments of the final image for brightness, contrast, and saturation.

Before [3tone adjusted], After [Half-Sepia], and Full-Sepia medium resolution images [3 images - 415 KB total] may be seen here.

You are welcome to see other IMAGEs by DEN.