Make whites bloom?

[saqib]

hi,

i am trying to convert a picture from color to b&w, and the kid in the photo is wearing a white shirt - i want the shirt to 'bloom' a little.

i am using photoshop - any help please?

thanks in advance,
Saqib.

[Scottes]

I'm not sure what you mean by "bloom." I think flowers blooming, opening up, so do you want the shirt to "move" - that is, change the shape?

Or do you wish to do something with the color? This also makes me think "glow."

[CanonUser]

If you mean having the shirt glows like the old soft focus trick then try this:
1/ Complete all adjustment as needed.
2/ Select the final image, press Control+Alt+~ to select the hilight areas.
3/ Press Ctl+C to copy.
4/ Create a new layer, then press Ctl+V to paste the hilights into this layer.
5/ Blur the hilight layer (Blur 1) with Gausian Blur, be heavy handed with the setting.
6/ Duplicate this blurred layer (Blur 2).
7/ Reduce the opacity of Blur 1.
8/ Change Blur 2 blend mode from Normal to Screen.
9/ Reduce the opcaity of Blur 2.

Adjust the Blur 1 & 2 opacity to your taste. If wanted, you can put a mask on Blur 2 to restrict the "Bloom" effect to the shrit only. Mask Blur 1 to control the soft focus.

Good Luck,
Alan

[whowie]

After you select the highlights, Control-Alt-"~", then just press Control-J and the highlights will automatically be pasted to a new layer. Saves a couple of steps.

[saqib]

by bloom i basically mean like making it almost bleed and appear really bright. bloom is a word coined from setting up tv systems using THX optimizer (found on some dvds) - when adjusting the brightness, some of the white squares 'bloom'.

thanks for the advice - i will let you know how i get on :)