YAPT: darkening an image

[SarcasticDwarf]

I am trying to print this image (reduced to about 300 pixels wide) out on paper in greyscale. The problem is, the background faded text and the book on the left are almost invisible. Does anyone know of any Photoshop techniques I can use to bring them out more without altering the other objects?

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Try the dodge tool.

 

[notfred]

Select the whole background and turn up the contrast.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: notfred
Select the whole background and turn up the contrast.

How can I split the background off? I don't have the original.


And it is the burn tool that darkens, not the dodge.

 

[OffTopic1]

Try decreasing contrast & increasing brightness to compensate. Then the last step is try burning in if needed.

[Edit] I mean increasing contrast & decrease brightness.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts

Originally posted by: notfred
Select the whole background and turn up the contrast.

How can I split the background off? I don't have the original.


And it is the burn tool that darkens, not the dodge.

To isolate the background, you need to carefully select, or use the extract tool.

You could also futz with the levels.

 

[mryellow2]

I would make a new layer(copy background)and bump up the brightness until you can use the magic wand to select just the background. Turn off that layer and switch to the original and adjust the levels from there.

 

[OffTopic1]

Originally posted by: mryellow2
I would make a new layer(copy background)and bump up the brightness until you can use the magic wand to select just the background. Turn off that layer and switch to the original and adjust the levels from there.

That would work, but it might take a bit too much work.

Could try adjusting contrast/brightness level then copy the foreground on to a new file. Then create a new layer using word/text & print screen, and lower the opacity of the layer to help when using the eraser tool. Adjust the opacity of the text layer to the desire level once you have completely erase the unwanted area/text.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

I used the burn tool on this a bit. Tell me how bad it looks.

 

[Dufman]

e-mail me the psd file. i will mess with it

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Dufman
e-mail me the psd file. i will mess with it

That's cool and all, but there are two problems.

First, I only have the jpg, no original psd
Second, I don't have your e-mail

 

[screw3d]

Use Select->Color Range to pick the color of the text in the background. Then, go Image->Adjustments->Levels... Adjust to however dark you want it to be.

You can play with the selection before adjusting the levels.

 

[Dufman]

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts

Originally posted by: Dufman
e-mail me the psd file. i will mess with it

That's cool and all, but there are two problems.

First, I only have the jpg, no original psd
Second, I don't have your e-mail

Its in my profile, but thats a moot point now.

Edit: never mind, i dont have my profile turned on.

 

[ThePresence]

Select the books, make them a seperate layer (Command+J, or CTRL+J for PC) go to your background layer and bring up the levels (Command+L or CTRL+L) darken the background. Then select layer 1 and and play with the levels.

 

[OffTopic1]

iblist_logo_retouch_opacity_63.jpg

iblist_logo_retouch_opacity_33.jpg

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: OffTopic
iblist_logo_retouch_opacity_63.jpg

iblist_logo_retouch_opacity_33.jpg

oooh, nice and sexy