Adobe Photoshop CS4 for Photographers Tutorials
Techniques / Digital Split Neutral Density Filter
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Subtitles of the Movie (Adobe Photoshop CS4 for Photographers / Techniques / Digital Split Neutral Density Filter)
If you take scenic shots the chances are good that you've encountered situations where the correct exposure for part of the image makes another part of the image too light or too dark. This is often the case when shooting reflections where the reflection is almost always darker than the subject and the sky, and sunrise and sunset skies which are considerably lighter than subjects on the ground. In this image, where we've used non-destructive Dodge and Burn to add depth to the foreground, the sky is still quite light and needs some density to bring out the tonal variations. One solution is to use a Split Neutral Density Filter in front of the lens while taking the image, but there are times you may not have one with you or it's too strong or too light, or not the right shape. We can create a similar effect in Photoshop. To do this we use an empty Adjustment Layer similar to what we used when creating the Dodge and Burn Layers, but this time we'll only need one layer and we'll use the Gradient Tool. To begin, I'll create a new Adjustment Layer and again, I'm going to use Exposure since it's not one I use for many things. I'm not going to adjust the Sliders at all. I'm going to come back to the Layers Panel and change the Blending Mode to Multiply. That's going to make the entire image get one stop darker and, as you can see, that's often too dark for much of the image. Go back to the Masks Panel and click Invert. That makes the Mask completely black and hides the effect entirely from the Layer. We're going to double-click on the text and call this Split ND, so that we know that this is the layer that we used to create the Split Neutral Density Filter. If you don't take the time to label your layers you're going to get confused, especially when you see three somewhat similar looking layers. Next we're going to choose the Gradient Tool. From the Gradient drop-down menu, make sure that you've selected the third one in. That's the black to white Gradient. The first one may look similar but it's actually Foreground to Background, so if the Color Picker isn't set to black and white you may get some unpredictable results. Next make sure that you've got the Linear Gradient selected. Make sure your Split Neutral Density Layer Mask is selected and click on the image where you want the Gradient to begin and then drag to where you want it to end. Remember it starts at black and is going to white, so I'm just going to drag a little ways over the area that I want the transition to occur. If I had drawn that instead all the way up then the transition would occur over a much greater area. If I wanted some place in between there then I'd draw someplace in between. If you need a different shape to your virtual Split ND, for example, if you want to hide the effect from the buildings you can select a soft brush and I would make sure it's soft, change my color so that black is the Foreground color, and set the Opacity up as much as you want. If you want to partially have the effect then have partial opacity; if you want to completely hide the effect then put your Opacity all the way up. In this case I'll do it part way and come over here and perhaps from the trees decrease the effect 100 percent, and you're not going to see a dramatic effect because the Gradient was just beginning there, but this gives you the idea that you can customize the shape of the Gradient by using the Brush Tool and the Layer Mask. If a one-stop neutral density filter isn't enough you can easily increase the intensity of the effect by dragging the Layer to the New Layer Icon, right here, and creating a copy of the Layer. In essence, what you've done now, is create approximately a two-stop virtual Neutral Density Filter. You could repeat the process for a three-stop effect, et cetera. If what you really need is a one and a half stop Split Neutral Density Filter, then on the second Layer go to the Opacity Slider in the Layers Panel - not up here on the top of the menu bar because that controls the brush, or whatever tool you're on, but over here in the Layers Panel - and reduce the Slider so that you see the amount of effect that you're after. You can create just the right amount of darkening for your image by varying the Opacity of the final layer and controlling how many copies of the Split ND Layer that you make. If part of your image is acceptable in tonality but another part is too dark you can create an opposite filter by following the same process as I just described, but instead of choosing the Multiply Blending Mode, choose Screen. Now you can lighten part of the image. Virtual Split ND Filters are extremely flexible and allow you more control than using the filter in the field.
Tutorial Information
| Course: | Adobe Photoshop CS4 for Photographers |
| Author: | Ellen Anon |
| SKU: | 34036 |
| ISBN: | 1-935320-74-2 |
| Release Date: | 2009-09-23 |
| Duration: | 8.5 hrs / 112 lessons |
| Work Files: |
Yes |
| Captions: | No |
| Compatibility: |
Vista/XP/2000, OS X, Linux QuickTime 7, Flash 8 |
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