Using Gradients Within Layer Masks

This method allows for some dramatic effects. Use it to alter the way the lighting looks in your photo by masking out some of the brightness.

With your image open select your curves layer (one that you have used to lighten your photo to your liking). Make sure the mask is selected.


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Then select the gradient in your tools on the left side. At the top of the screen open the gradient and make sure you have foreground/background selected and that your colors are white and black. Click ok....

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First be sure you are using the second gradient option, the circle, at the top of your screen. Put your pointer at the center point of where you want your lighter area to be and drag it down, doesnt matter which direction. Play with it over and over again, no need to undo, just try again, till you like it. Be sure that in the layer mask the black area is the majority and the white is a smaller white circle, if it is opposite then switch your colors and try again.

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The finished product. It should be brighter in the center and darker towards the edges. I started using this method originally with landscapes. You can use this method with the linear gradient and make a Photoshop Nuteral Density Filter! Make the sky darker while keeping the ground brighter or vise versa.

Have fun!

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Fixing White Balance Issues with a JPG Image - Fast!

To correct white balance in Photoshop on a JPG image simply follow these two steps. Doing this can possibly save you lots and lots of time editing.

Open the curves layer mask. Select the gray eye dropper (circled) and then click on the white of the eye. Click around the white until you have the WB you want and say OK.

Thats it!



Now the top photo is much closer to the bottom photo by comparison. It only took two seconds!

How to make a photoshop brush/eraser

I thought this was the coolest thing ever when I learned it. Now you can include handwritten things in your photos, cards, or whatever!

Step 1
Take a picture of something you drew, wrote, or had your child draw for you and get it into photoshop. You can also take a picture of a particular pattern you like and use that.



Step 2
Select the magic wand tool



Step 3
With the magic wand select everything you want to be a part of the brush. You might have to hold the shift and keep selecting if it doesnt get it all at once



Step 4
Then go to edit, define brush



Step 5
Name your new brush and preview what it will look like



Step 6
Your new brush is at the bottom of your list of brushes



Step 7
Use it!

Making Blacks Black

Sometimes even when you think you have all your blacks black enough when you get a print back there may be a few white spots or colored spots on your background. How aggrevating! This has happened to me before so I asked someone on Flickr a while back how to fix it and this is what I was told to do. It is so beyond perfect you'll do it everytime!

Here is how to do it.... There may be some highlights hidden in there and they will show when you go to print. The best way to make sure all the highlights in the black are black is to show the clipping... This will get rid of any white spots that your monitor may not show you.

To make blacks black open the curves and select the show clipping box



When you select the box it will turn the photo white



Select the black dropper and start clicking on the white places in your background



Keep going until all the white spots are gone



Click ok when you are done and you can see your photo again with the blacker background.



With a soft black brush you can paint over your subject in the curves layer mask (circled) where they got too dark and lighten them up again.