Overlapping techniques (Question)

[izso]

I don't have the sample now, I'll post it when I get back home.

My question is say you have one shot that has a really overblown sky but the object is clear.

I managed to make the sky really nice but the object turned out dark and murky.

So I tried to layer the two and delete off the bits of the object that I wanted to keep but I can't get the edges of the object clear and crisp, there's an "aura" feel and very clear distinct differentiation between the foreground and background.

I tried burn / dodge / sponge and even smudge. Can't la.

Can someone teach me how to overlap two pictures and delete only the bits that I want to highlight without affecting the edges of the object?

[ShaolinTiger]

Use layer masks, gradient layer masks and if you want real accuracy get a tablet.

You can do it just fine with a mouse though, the technique is called DRI - it's similar to HDR but different.

Here's one tutorial:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tu...blending.shtml

This was put together using DRI from a single RAW.

[izso]

I was gonna post my picture but you gave me some fantastic tips ST. Thanks! Now i don't have to show my embarassing picture. LOL!

[alicialph]

i never use DRI..

for this kind of pic.. i have 1 shot

1. duplicate the pic (if you want to have the ori intact)
2. add curve editing... use curves to make the pic brighter or dimmer .. dpending on which area you want to fix. eg. if my foreground is too dark... i push the curve up.. so that it is brighter
3. mask the area you don't want to have it fixed
4. voila.. your nicely exposed pic... (merge visible)

[ShaolinTiger]

Originally Posted by alicialph

i never use DRI..

for this kind of pic.. i have 1 shot

1. duplicate the pic (if you want to have the ori intact)
2. add curve editing... use curves to make the pic brighter or dimmer .. dpending on which area you want to fix. eg. if my foreground is too dark... i push the curve up.. so that it is brighter
3. mask the area you don't want to have it fixed
4. voila.. your nicely exposed pic... (merge visible)

That IS DRI. Just doing it with Jpeg rather than RAW, which is possible..it's just likely to induce more noise in underexposed areas.

[alicialph]

Originally Posted by ShaolinTiger

That IS DRI. Just doing it with Jpeg rather than RAW, which is possible..it's just likely to induce more noise in underexposed areas.

ok.. my bad.. cuz i didn't bother to read the whole page.. saw the purchase DRI action thingy only...

[drexchan]

Chris, send me a sample see what I can do about it.. try try...

[izso]

Originally Posted by drexchan

Chris, send me a sample see what I can do about it.. try try...

I can't remember what I did already or which pic I was referring to!