Keep the whites in check!!!

Hi all,

I have posted a few images and seemingly everytime, I get the comments of "upping the contrast" needed. I am forever trying to hold the whites in check and am very cautious with the contrast area, therefore my images tend to be deemed as "a bit flat".

If I add contrast to the image, my blacks go or/and the whites.

Is there some sort of technique in PS that would help.

Bit discouraged so could do with some help please.

Graeme

Graeme,

I think you should be looking into using masks so you can do selective contrast adjustments rather than affecting the entire image. There's some excellent tutorials and tools out there.
As far as books - you may want to look at Barry Haynes' "Photoshop Artistry".

Guy

I think Guy is right on, I too use masking and adjustment layers to affect one area and not another. You can paint in where you would like the an adjustment layer to show.

A simple method for contrast is the Levels adjustment. In your full size TIFF, use a Levels Adjustment Layer, move the black point triangle to the right, and the white point triangle to the left. You can hold down the "ALT" key while moving these triangles to see when pixels start to clip (colors show in the display). Back off slightly from there. Use the middle (gray) triangle to adjust the mid-tones.

There are many ways to "skin the cat" in Photoshop, this is just one of them - a method I use on nearly every image to do an initial contrast adjusment.

If you add contrast (via levels or curves) and feel your whites are getting clipped, try a selective color adjustment layer and add black to the white channel.

I use Todd's approach quite often when I am working with the whites of white water I shoot at slow shutter speeds. It does help quite a bit.

Check out some of the Photoshop Workbench features at The Radiant Vista. Heck, check out the whole site.

Pete D.

Thanks for all the comments. Really appreciated. Looks very useful. will have a bash at them all.

regards

Graeme

Rather than Levels, I always use Curves. But before using Curves, I use a Threshold layer to identify, then color sample (3x3 pixels) the darkest and lightest areas. Once the points are sampled, I can see in the Info palette what the numerical values are for RGB. Then in the curves dialogue, you can double click on the black or white pens to set the RGB values you want (say black 5/5/5 for web, 10/10/10 for printing). Then with the Curves still open click the points you previously sampled to automatically adjust the curve to match your settings. ... You should also look into Blending Options | Blend If. This is a much easier way than masks to control the affects of an adjustment or sharpening layer, in terms of range control.

What Bob said.