Fog

Does anyone know of a technique for enhancing objects shot in fog? I'm trying to get more clarity and sharpness out of some images shots in those conditions, and it occured to me to ask before I re-invent the wheel.

Are you trying to do something differently at the time of the shot to make it better, or are you trying to post-process something in after the fact?

After the fact, I simply run a contrast tool over the subject with +5%, and keep doing that until I get the desired effect.

---Bob Gross---

I'm trying to get more definition and detail out of a object that's kind of hidden in the fog. I figured that I'd go at it with contrast and that kind of stuff but just wondered if someone had already figured it out.

Thanks for the help though. I'll try the 5%.

Try local contrast enhancement (LCE) which uses USM at unconventional settings to bring up the contrast. See this article in Luminous Landscape. The suggested USM setting of radius=50, amount=20, threshold=0 works almost all the time.

Forgive my ignorance, but is there an actual contrast tool in photoshop??
If so,.. WHERE?!!!

You'll have to ask that question to a PhotoShop user. I don't use it.

---Bob Gross---

Contrast tool in PS7:

Image > Adjustments > Brightness / Contrast

That would probably affect the entire image, which is not desired.

Other editors use a tool, like a brush, where different effects can be "painted on".

---Bob Gross---

Robertgross is correct, that would affect the entire image. Various methods using the "Painted on effect" might involve the use of duplicate layers.

For more localized control you might try this method:

1: Duplicate layer
2: Go to "Image > Adjustments > Brightness / Contrast" and boost contrast (exaggerate the effect)
3: go to "Layer > Add Layer Mask >Hide All"
4: Paint over the “fog� using various shades of grey to apply the effect in the desired amounts.

NB. The lighter the shade of grey, the more the effect you show.

TIP: You can use a particular shade of grey combined with different brush opacities for finer control (I like to use a soft edged brush.)

The method I tried to describe, like some other methods allow you to easily redo an area without degrading your original image file. To redo an area, simply paint over it in black and start again.

Other methods include the history brush, layer effect / eraser tool... these other methods can also be used for localized contrast adjustments and are arguably better than the generic contrast tool such as curves, blending modes, levels, black point, unsharp mask and so on.

NOTE: You can apply the method I described using other contrast altering effects. To do this, just apply a tool in “step 2�. For instance, rather than using the contrast tool you can try curves or levels.