Giving Your Photos a Glow

[gmitchel]

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a message that described how to add a diffuse glow to an image using a blur, layer blend modes, and the Blend If sliders.

Well, I wrote a tutorial, and you're welcome to download it.

The PDF file is available from my site. Feel free to look around and download anything else that interests you, too.

http://www.thelightsrightstudio.com/DigitalDarkroom/Tutorials/GivingYourPhotosAGlow.pdf

Michael Riechmann has published an HTML version on his site, The Luminous Landscape:

http://www.thelightsrightstudio.com/DigitalDarkroom/Tutorials/GivingYourPhotosAGlow.pdf

Enjoy!

Cheers,

Mitch

[evilenglishman]

that seems like a very long winded way to achieve a glow effect when you can do it in 3 easier steps.

1. duplicate your layer.
2. Use gaussian blur to your taste on the top layer.
3. Ajust opacity of top layer and also the transfer method (screen, overlay, softlight work well) to your taste.

[gmitchel]

What you say is true, if you want to blur the entire image.

Now, there may be times when you may well want an overall softening of the image. Then those three steps will accomplish the task.

The kind of diffuse glow effect I describe is instead limited to a particular tonal range -- highlights, midtones, shadows. Your choice.

You mentioned three of the steps I describe. All you left out was the use of Blend If sliders. By not restricting the diffuse glow to specific tonal ranges, you forfeit detail in the rest of the image.

Cheers,

Mitch

[RinkRat]

Oh, thank you!

I was working on this picture, & browsing the forum, when I stubled on this post.

I really like how this shot came out because of it.

Thanks again!

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze75feo/wedding/CRW_2660.jpg

[dtrayers]

I used your technique for this photo and I like the results:

http://home.comcast.net/~dtrayers/photos/m_9-18-04.jpg

However, I did have to make a curves adjustment on top to bring back some of the shadow. I probably need to add a little more, it's a little dark when printed. I also should burn in the bright area in the background.

But thanks for the great technique. I'm going to use it on more than just portraits.

[gmitchel]

Wow! That's great, Dave and Rinkrat!

I like being able to see what others do with the technique. Thanks so much for sharing! :)

Cheers,

Mitch

[cpc1225]

Am I doing alright :?:

http://www.ezez.netfirms.com/Photo-L/PhotoPageL-04.htm

[gmitchel]

Am I doing alright :?:

http://www.ezez.netfirms.com/Photo-L/PhotoPageL-04.htm

Yes. I think you gave the young girl's face a very nice diffuse glow.

I prefer the second image. What do you think? Pleased with the effect?

Cheers,

Mitch

[slejhamer]

Mitch,

Do you typically combine these techniques on multiple layers in the same image? For example, a screen layer and a multiply layer, or a lighten layer and a darken layer? The latter is the method prescribed by Katrin Eismann, among others. Then it's a simple matter to adjust the layer opacities to taste.

My personal preference for portraits is to use screen, multiply and soft-light layers in the same image, with the soft-light layer getting additional blur and applied at a low opacity. This combination seems to me to give the closest approximation to Canon's soft-focus lens.

Cheers,

[cpc1225]

I prefer the second image. What do you think? Pleased with the effect?

Cheers,

Mitch

Yes, I am quite pleased with that.

Thanks for the tutorial.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Thanks for another excellent tutorial Mitch!

You have a PM :)

[uvadtmfub]

Thanks for the tutorial.
Is there a Blend If slider option in Photoshop Elements 2.0?
I can't seem to find this.