Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
The Fourth Point:
Adding Contrast
We normally add contrast at this point,
but here I went to the Tone Curve panel
and this time I tried all three of the Point
Curve presets. The one that looked the
best for this particular image, rare though
it may be, was Linear, which means “no
added contrast” (which is why the curve
itself is a flat diagonal line). I have to
admit, I hardly ever run into an image
where turning off the contrast like this
looks better, but that's the thing about all
of this—it always depends on the image.
Note: Although there are seven points to
the 7-Point System, the fewer points you
have to use, the better, so don't let it freak
you out if you get to a point and it doesn't
need adjusting. For example, not every
image needs local adjustments, or finish-
ing moves, so just know that skipping a
point, if the photo doesn't need it, is per-
fectly fine. In fact, it's great—less is more!
The Fifth Point:
Local Adjustments
We're going to use a different local adjust-
ment to darken the sky—the Graduated
Filter. Click on it in the toolbox below the
Histogram panel (it's to the left of the
Adjustment Brush), lower the Exposure
amount to -2.31 and the Brightness to
-92. Then press-and-hold the Shift key (to
keep your gradient straight), and starting
at the top center of your image, click-and-
drag the filter down until you reach the
beach (as shown here. For more on this
filter, jump back to page 182). Then switch
to the Adjustment Brush (K) , so we can
brighten the grass. Choose Brightness
from the Effect pop-up menu, set the
Brightness slider to +78, then paint over
the rocks and the grass (you'll see the re-
sult in the next image). Also, if you wanted
to remove the posts on the beach, you
could do that with the Spot Removal tool,
although I'm not doing that here. Click on
Close at the bottom right of the tool op-
tions when you're done.
 
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