So, buddy of mine calls up this morning and shocks me by telling me he got a scanner, figured out how to hook it up and scanned his first image. I'm shocked because this guy's computer knowledge is just about used up after he hits the power button. :D Anyway, I gave him my old PShop 5.5 long ago and he's played with it some, but never for photos (which I always thought was ironic). The first image he scanned was one that was "all dark and stuff, ya know" and he wanted to know how he could fix it. I started to explain levels and curves to him and as the line went completely quiet I knew that wasn't happening. So I reverted back to quick and easy and he was all happy and giggling like a little school girl. So, what does that have to do with here? I know from time to time Misha, myself and others get a little too technical for most, so I thought that maybe if there was interest, I'd post a "quick fix" tip every now and then. Photo correction stuff that doesn't require a degree in quantum mechanics and a firm grasp of chaos theory to use. That said, next message is how I told him to fix his underexposed photo quickly and easily. No, it's not as good as some more complex methods, but for most people it's just fine.

You most certainly may! I think that would be great for those who don't want to get too techy......but don't stop being technical on us...although I may not understand all of it, at least I'm learning something and I appreciate that more than you know....

Okay ... I assume that the image is loaded, there is only one layer and it's the "Background" layer. Also, you should be able to see your "Layers" window. If not, go to "Window" on the menu bar and select Layers. 1 - Right-click on the "Background" layer in the layers window and select DUPLICATE. When the dialog box comes up, just hit OK. (You can also just left-click and drag the background to the CREATE NEW LAYER icon, but that made him say "What?" twice) 2 - Change the blending mode of this layer to SCREEN (it should be set on NORMAL by default). The image should lighten. 3 - If it's still not light enough for you, duplicate the SCREEN layer (this time, you shouldn't have to set the blending mode as it should already be SCREEN). Do this again and again until it's light enough for you. Of course, at some point the quality breaks down severely. No miracles here. :) Not as much control as other methods, but infinitely easier for many. You can also use this same technique to fix over-exposed shots. Just use MULTIPLY blending mode instead of SCREEN. Anyone else have a different and quick way to do this? let us know. -=>Donald

Attached Link: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/index.shtml

Misha...little too technical??

Can I virtually hug you?? Because this was great :)

hey Donald, maybe you should get your friend a copy of:

What's sad is, it wouldn't help. I swear, he has a mental block when it comes to computers. He has pretty much convinced himself he'll never get it. He's taken comm. college classes and even had one guy tutor him one on one. You can tell him or show him something and an hour later it's like you never said anything. Of course, mention something about a car and he'll remember it for life. :) Oh yea, someone asked me in a message how they could get a little finer control over the above techinque. Pretty simply, you get finer control by changing the opacity of the top layer. Try it and you'll see what I mean. -=>Donald

Misha - Oooops. Missed that one. Oh, I don't know what I was thinking. Not you, Misha. i was thinking about this other Misha I know who once had a 3 day discussion of histograms and grain aliasing. :) -=>Donald

Ah! That Misha!

Great idea Donald!Keep em coming! Can you give this topic a "name" so we can watch for it? :-D