Photoshop Tip: Fixing Underexposure

Photoshop - Such a versatile tool! For every step I walk you through today, know that there's probably 5 other ways to get the same result!

So one of the major issues people have with their photos is either underexposure or overexposure...Today, I'm going to try to help you fix an underexposed photo. But first...

What is underexposure??
In plan and simple terms, it's when a photo is too dark. Naturally, you can make the correct conclusion from this statement that overexposure is when a photo is too bright. Is there such a thing as a perfect exposure? I don't know...My darkroom instructor from FSU would probably tell you no - LOL

So because I'm human and err, for my next trick, I'm going to give you a few real life examples!

Underexposed:


Overexposed:



(Disclosure:) My name is Lee Howell, I took the above underexposed and overexposed photos, and fully acknowledge their lack of technical merit. Don't get me started on overexposing and underexposing for the sake of art...I don't disagree with this philosophy, in fact I encourage and support it when used properly...The whole "know the rules before you break the rules" spiel...But for this lesson, we're going textbook. These photos suck! LOL

So! Photoshop is open...If you'd like to practice along at home, you can download that original image here.

(1) File -> Open...Navigate to your file, select file & Open.
(2) Press CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+~ (If using CS4, replace ~ with 2).

You'll see "marching ants"...You've just selected the highlights.


(3) Press CTRL+SHIFT+I...You've just inverted your selection to the shadows.
(4) Press CTRL+J...Now we've created a new layer from the selection. This new layer is ONLY the shadows from our image! Problem identified - 1/2 of the job done :-)

Make sure you have your layers window visible for this next step, (F7) or Window -> Layers.

(5) Select Screen for your blend mode.


Wow - Instant success, huh?!


You may find on some photos that stopping right here is enough...You may find you need to press CTRL+J one more time to double the effect...Or perhaps the first application was too much, and you need to adjust the opacity.

For the purposes of this example, we're going to stop here because we've accomplished what we've set out to achieve. This image obviously needs a little help from here, and with a few additional steps, you can get to something like this:



I wouldn't enter it in any competitions, but hey...It's better than looking at the before! :-P

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