Paris and London

[MarkS]

Here is the original photo that I manipulated to create the image discussed in this thread.
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=23388



http://marks.smugmug.com/photos/47009317-L.jpg

and here is the photo that was submitted for critique

http://marks.smugmug.com/photos/46610842-L.jpg

Any help with the blown highlights and the psed background would be appreciated.

I currently use PS Elements2 for PP but hope to have CS2 soon

[rutt]

Was it shot raw? Do you use PS/CS2? If so try using a linear curve in ACR (curves tab) and move the exposure slider so there is no clipping (check the preview and highlights boxes.) Then the highlights part of shadow/highlights might recover some detail in these areas. Also try making the curve very steep in the highlights.

[MarkS]

No it wasn't shot raw and no cs2:(

[wxwax]

Does Elements have Layers? A pretty easy fix if it does.

[rutt]

I did a lot without either cs2 or raw. But you will need cs for this. You can do without even cs, but it's much harder.

Shadow/highlight in RGB mode can recover a lot of the highlight detail. In fact, this is about 90% of what I accomplished.

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/47023308-M.jpg

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/47023296-L.jpg

Impossible retouch in LAB This gets a little color as well as texture the texture we just recovered into thos blown areas. See: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=21648 The effect is subtle, but look carefully.

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/47023139-L.jpg

Steepen L curve though the highlights and blend A little of this goes a long way. Make a Curves adjustment layer and make the L curve very steep in the highlights and then change the blending options so it only affects the lightest parts of the image and use a very low opacity.

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/47023149-S.jpg

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/47023227-M.jpg

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/47023218-L.jpg

Once you get thsi far, you can lighten, change the background, blend back into the original at 50% opacity to recover a bit more of the original look, whatever.

[MarkS]

Thanks Rutt!

I'll give it a go in pse2 unless my cs gets here soon. I think levels is similar to curves.

[rutt]

This is going to be tons easier in cs than in elements. Don't hit your head against the wall unless there is a very good reason. For this kind of thing, levels is a very poor substitute for curves, and without highlight/shadows or curves, well I would consider it a challenge.

I worked on your full sized originals and saved at quality level 12. Pick up the original of one of my versions and go from there if you are in a rush. Just substitute an O for the L in the URLs.