Extending sun rays, your help please: It was suggested that rather than simply lightening the foreground a bit, I should extend the shafts of sunlight between the trees' shadows...

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

It was suggested that rather than simply lightening the foreground a bit, I should extend the shafts of sunlight between the trees' shadows, bringing them to bottom edge of frame.

#1 is my effort, futzing with blend modes, luminosity, color and dodging. #2 is the original for you to show me a better way

Many thanks!

(Download)

cyclespeed Loc: Calgary, Alberta Canada

Do you use Luminar 3 or 4? Very easily done there.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

You accomplished your task with flair (pun intended). IMHO You took an oh well photo to a WOW. Did you just play around with blend modes and such or did you have a general plan in mind. Just curious because a lot of my attempts to create something out of nothing successes are just random luck.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

cyclespeed wrote:

Do you use Luminar 3 or 4? Very easily done there.

Hi, thanks for your comment. No, just PS Elements, Nik Collection and an old Topaz Simplify

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Curmudgeon wrote:

You accomplished your task with flair (pun intended). IMHO You took an oh well photo to a WOW. Did you just play around with blend modes and such or did you have a general plan in mind. Just curious because a lot of my attempts to create something out of nothing successes are just random luck.

Funny you should mention random, because that is what I did with another photo after I posted this, and I managed to "luck" onto a better blend mode. I'll post info and a revised pic after I see if anyone else wants to try an edit.

Thanks Jack!

bleirer

I can say a few ways for Lightroom and photoshop users. In Lightroom you can anchor an adjustment tool at one size in one spot then hold down shift and click on a new spot to get a straight line. If you start small then change the size of the tool on the other end it will graduate the line thickness from small to large. Photoshop tools like dodge and burn also do the straight line trick, but won't do the graduated size, so you have to make multiple passes with a smaller tool.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

bleirer wrote:

I can say a few ways for Lightroom and photoshop users. In Lightroom you can anchor an adjustment tool at one size in one spot then hold down shift and click on a new spot to get a straight line. If you start small then change the size of the tool on the other end it will graduate the line thickness from small to large. Photoshop tools like dodge and burn also do the straight line trick, but won't do the graduated size, so you have to make multiple passes with a smaller tool.

That LR trick sounds very handy! PS Elements works similar to PS in that regard. I did hold down the shift key for the straight line, though maybe I should try a harder edged brush?

bleirer

Linda From Maine wrote:

That LR trick sounds very handy! PS Elements works similar to PS in that regard. I did hold down the shift key for the straight line, though maybe I should try a harder edged brush?

Maybe a little, but keep it subtle, I think, so it doesnt look 'photoshopped.'

Another way that gives a lot of control is a layer with a 'hide all' mask above the base. Brighten this whole layer then white paintbrush with small flow to reveal just the 'rays'.

L-Fox

Linda From Maine wrote:

It was suggested that rather than simply lightening the foreground a bit, I should extend the shafts of sunlight between the trees' shadows, bringing them to bottom edge of frame.

#1 is my effort, futzing with blend modes, luminosity, color and dodging. #2 is the original for you to show me a better way

Many thanks!

Create a new empty layer over the image.

Draw straight lines beyond the ends in dark grey or dark brown.

Play with blends. If you get anything you like, flatten and you're done.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

bleirer wrote:

Maybe a little, but keep it subtle, I think, so it doesnt look 'photoshopped.'

Another way that gives a lot of control is a layer with a 'hide all' mask above the base. Brighten this whole layer then white paintbrush with small flow to reveal just the 'rays'.

Will try, thanks!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

l-fox wrote:

Create a new empty layer over the image.

Draw straight lines beyond the ends in dark grey or dark brown.

Play with blends. If you get anything you like, flatten and you're done.

For the rays, or is this for the tree shadows?

L-Fox

Linda From Maine wrote:

For the rays, or is this for the tree shadows?

Trees...were it mine I wouldn't mess with the rays.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

bleirer wrote:

Another way that gives a lot of control is a layer with a 'hide all' mask above the base. Brighten this whole layer then white paintbrush with small flow to reveal just the 'rays'.

I realized that the way I'm used to - and currently prefer - is to change opacity and selectively mask, if needed. Just personal preference and familiarity.

I did a bit of hard brush on the edges of the bright areas, filled in between those "lines" with soft brush. Subtlety seemed key, as you suggested.

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I decided to try Larry's suggestion for extending the shadows while also doing the brightening to the sunlit areas. Note that most layers have some masking, and I also adjusted opacity. People will see differently depending on their monitors and will probably also have different preferences re the amount of color and brightness. These adjustments are easily changed with layer opacity and/or the blend mode.

As a last step, one I realized was needed after posting, is to add Nik glamour glow to the sunlit section of foregroud. Then I brightened a little, but now it looks a skosh too bright

Time for a break! Thank you all for your time and interest.

(Download)

twosummers Loc: Melbourne Australia or Lincolnshire England

Luminar has this function built in - very easy and flexible. Give it a try

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

twosummers wrote:

Luminar has this function built in - very easy and flexible. Give it a try

Thanks, but no more software for me - a New Year's Resolution