10 Stops From The S2!

[Steve P]

I discovered this site www.dustylens.com that claims one can achieve the above. You all know the score where everythings perfect except the sky's blown. It goes like this.

1. Take pic at ISO100

2. After download into computer, use EX to convert to a tiff using normal sensitivity.

3. Then convert this same file again, this time correcting for the blown highlights (-1 ) We now have two tiffs of the same file that are named DSCF0520.tiff and DSCF0520_1.tiff.

4. You now have two tiff files in photoshop. It to make sure they are 8 bit and not 16.

5. This is where I'm doing something wrong. You drag the normal exposed photo onto the under exposed photo. It says to make sure Snap is checked. The images will align pixel for pixel.

6. You now use the Eraser tool and erase all the blown highlights. The darker highlights will now show through. Magic!

Great if you can get it to work. I seem to be going wrong with "snap" maybe because when I erase it just makes white lines!! :help:

Maybe some kind person can throw some light on this.

Steve

[sandman]

Can't help on that method Steve , but a far simpler way to achieve the same result is , make a dulpicate layer then do all the adjustments on the blown highlights , then use the history brush on everything apart from the highlights . bingo , same thing .

Brian

[Steve P]

Hi Brian, Yes I agree the way I discovered does look round the houses doesn't it. I couldn't make it work anyway so I'll have a look at your suggestion.

:)

[JPS]

Hi Steve ! Here's two threads i started a few months ago, with examples of what you get, and how you get it:
http://theswampbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4765
and:
http://theswampbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4843
...the shots have been done in JPG as well as in RAW, but i'm convinced that one get better results with two pics, one for the low-lights and one for the highlights, than with only one RAW, once converted with under-exposition and another converted with over-exposition !
:cheers:

[ianmcc]

In photoshop use the move tool (keboard shortcut:V) and hold the shift key as you drag and drop the one exposure onto the other. You'll get them "pin registered"... then use a layer mask to hide the sky you don't want.

[JPS]

Hi Steve ! I tried Dustylens.com's trick to align pixel per pixel two pics one on top of the other, and didn't succeeded myself ! BUT Ian's technique is the best on -that I know- to do that ! Let's explain:
1) you take ONE shot in RAW, mesured on the "average light", then with EX (or other) converter, you convert the pic ONCE for the highlights, then save it, and ONCE again for the lowlights, and save it with another name.
2) you open both pics on your screen, go to the "lighter" one, type CTRL-A to select the whole pic, then HOLD SHIFT-V and drag the lighter pic over the darker one (no need to have "VIEW/SNAP" checked) !
3) on the darker pic, go to WINDOW/LAYERS and you will see that you have two layers now.
From then on, you click -to work on- on the lighter layer, and, choosing an ERASER/BRUSH not too big size and around 20 to 30% of opacity, gently rub on the burned parts of your pic, letting the part of the darker pic -underneath- coming out !
Have a try and let us know how it worked out ! You can also show us the "original" pic next to the "corrected" one...
:cheers:

[eric]

I try different blend modes before using the eraser. Usually find that multiply or screen will give good results, If the effect is too great change the opacity of the top layer.