You might find it helpful to apply a masking on your photo to choose which areas you want to change and leave untouched before you apply any of these special effects. You can create a soft fade between the areas with effects added and those without. This is called masking and can be done in a variety of ways. One method is called the 'quick mask mode'. This is quick and easy to do and results are typically acceptable.
Quick masking: In Adobe Photoshop find the button called 'edit in quick mask mode'. It's located near the bottom of the main tool bar and looks like a circle in a rectangle. There's also a short-cut key: Q. Once in quick mask mode, you can select and deselect areas simply by painting them with white and black respectively, using the standard brush tool. Zoom to 100 or 200 % for best accuracy. You might want to use a soft-edged brush to avoid hard edges. Alternatively, when you're done, exit the masking mode and go to 'Select > Feather' and set the feather radius to 5-10 pixels or so. A nice option is that you can set the opacity to anywhere between 0 and 100%, allowing you to apply the effect stronger or weaker in one part of the image that another.
Layer masking: Slightly more complicated, you can add a layer mask. This allows you to apply any effect gradually from any point in your photo. Follow these steps in Photoshop:
Layer masking: Only a bit more complicated, you can add a layer mask. This lets you to apply any effect gradually from any point in your photo. Follow these steps to achieve this:
2. Right click on your layer and select 'Duplicate layer'.
3. Click on the little icon in the bottom of the layer box called 'Add layer mask'.
4. Choose the 'Gradient tool' on the main tool box.
5. Select a gradient style from the top 'Options' bar (linear, radial etc.).
6. Now click on your image on the point you don't want to change, then drag the mouse away to the point where you want the full effect to take place. The effect will be applied gradually more and more along this line you've now create.
6. Click on your image on the point you don't want to change, dragging the mouse away to the point where you want the full effect to take place. The effect will be applied gradually more and more along this line you've now created.
7. Last, go back onto your original background layer and apply any effect you want. This will apply the effect in a soft, gradual way. Use opacity to turn the effect down to less than full strength if you want.
Lens-like effects: You can apply 'Gaussian blur' using the layer masking outlined above which will make the selected areas appear soft-focused, as if you had used a large-aperture lens. With 'Curves' you can make your corners darker than the center, duplicating the lens effect called vignetting. Technically, vignetting is considered a lens dysfunction, but subjectively it can add an extra feeling to your photo, creating a sort of frame that will have a 'sucking' effect, drawing more attention into the center of your photo. You can also just lower the contrast and/or color-saturation around your main subject, helping to separate it from the background clutter. Be creative with the many options offered!
Soft glow effect: Great for creating a 'romantic' look for portraits. Follow these steps:
2. Apply 'Gaussian blur' to the new (top) layer. Make it blurry, but leave a little detail.
3. Play around with the blend modes and opacity till you get what you want:
3. Adjust the blend modes and opacity till you get what you want:
'Darken' or 'Multiply' blends: darkens image details while also softening features and adding a halo. Good for soft, expressive shadows.
'Lighten' or 'Screen' blends: lightens the image. Nice for adding high key or highlight glows.
Black-and-white-ish: Creates a metallic black-and-white'ish look, great for for documentary work and subdued portraits, and is achieved by setting the contrast high (curves) and color saturation low.
Colour grading: You know how some movies have a 'special look', golden brown, sick yellow-greenish, cool blue etc.? You can get the same effect in your photos if you want. The simple way is to go to 'Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation', click 'Colourize' and use the slide bars to select your preferred grading. If you are going for a well-defined colour, it's better to use the 'Edit > Fill' function. Simply select the colour you want and set the 'Blending mode' to 'Colour'. Either way, it's good first to duplicate your layer before you start. This will allow you to preserve some of the original colours by turning the colour grading down. Use the 'Opacity' slider in the layer box to do this. If you want a duotone image, simply make 2 duplicate layers and give them different colour gradings. Mix them together, again with the 'Opacity' slider and the different 'Layer blending mode' options in the layer box.
Color grading: The same color washed effects found in some movies (golden brown, soft blue) can also be applied to your photos if desired. The easiest way is to go to 'Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation', click 'Colorize' and use the slide bars to choose your preferred grading. It's better to use the 'Edit > Fill' function if you want a well-defined color. Simply select the color you want and set the 'Blending mode' to 'Color'. Whichever method, it's good first to duplicate your layer before you start. This will permit you to maintain some of the original colors by turning the color grading down. Use the 'Opacity' slider in the layer box to do this. If you want a duotone image, simply make 2 duplicate layers and give them different color gradings. Mix them together, again with the 'Opacity' slider and the different 'Layer blending mode' options in the layer box.
Micro contrast: This is a really neat trick to enhance your contrast and draw out texture details in your photos. You can even use it when your overall contrast is already maxed out, using all tonal ranges from pure black to pure white. The procedure is similar to the normal 'Unsharpen Mask', but with some special settings. Go to 'Filter > Sharpen > Unsharpen Mask' and set the 'Amount' to around 20-30%, the 'Radius' to 50-100 pixels and zero on the 'Threshold'. You will get a subtle contrast enhancement that, for some pictures at least, works really well.
Using any of the above outline effects can enhance your photos and make them works of art. Knowing when to use them however, and when not to use them is just as important as learning how to use them. When to use special effects in your photos is a matter of personal taste and opinion. Many times less is best, so just make sure not to over-do what you do.
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