Noob to PS needs help

[Cynthia in Alameda]

Okay, the cat just wasn't cooperating. I think this pic could work, but I don't know how to lighten up just the kitty's head after doing historgram. Anyone want to play with it? (I left it unaltered cuz y'all know this much better than me.)

Here's the big pic:

http://www.hamiltonappraisal.com/temp/travisbig.jpg

Here's a quick view: http://www.hamiltonappraisal.com/temp/travis_sm.jpg

[BrandonSi]

http://www.tenminutedream.com/images/travisbig_1_web.jpg

my take on it..

[RodBarker]

Duplicate the layer so you have 2 , select the top layer,, then apply an adjustment layer to that top layer by clicking on the 4th icon from left at the bottom of the layers pallet , select curves ,, then put your curser along the diagonal line roughfly in the middle and click then push towards top left corner ,, brighten the whole layer untill the cats head looks right dont worry about anything but the cats head , click OK .
Now on your adjustment layer click on the white box ( your mask) to select it , make sure you have the foreground color black on top ( the black and white squares bottom of toolbar) ,, then select your brush tool and paint on your image ,, everywhere you paint will darken so paint everywhere but the cats head ,,, if you reveal a bit too much ,, change color to white and that will lighten where you painted with black .

Rod

[Scottes]

Shadows & Highlights... Set the Highlights to 0%, and Shadows to 10%, and 30 on the next two numbers. That should havea dramatic difference, but play a bit. Once the Shadows look right, set Highlights to about 5%, Radius 3, and the play with the middle number. You just want to get a little bit of the details in the fur back. Not much, just a little.

Then Levels, and bring the right slider to the left until it touches the start of the Histogram. Play with the middle slider to adjust exposure if necessary.

[BrandonSi]

hrmm... I just created a new layer, filled it with white, and then changed the mode from overlay to "soft light." Works for me :)

[Cynthia in Alameda]

Well, I'm so new to Photoshop, I couldn't figure out half of what you said, but this is my result with playing around:

http://www.hamiltonappraisal.com/temp/travis_new.jpg

Thanks for your help folks!

[cgratti]

My attempt. Bumped the contrast to try and get the kitty to pop.

[PacAce]

Shadows & Highlights... Set the Highlights to 0%, and Shadows to 10%, and 30 on the next two numbers. That should havea dramatic difference, but play a bit. Once the Shadows look right, set Highlights to about 5%, Radius 3, and the play with the middle number. You just want to get a little bit of the details in the fur back. Not much, just a little.

Then Levels, and bring the right slider to the left until it touches the start of the Histogram. Play with the middle slider to adjust exposure if necessary.

That's exactly how I would do it, give or take a couple of notches on the Shadow sliders. :)