Black and White Eagle

[coupekid]

Re: Black and White Eagle

Hi Ben
Sorry didn't get back to you last night, I was out at a workshop on profiling at Smethwick Photo Society. A guy called Bob More an ex president of the Royal.

Anyway here goes

Select image> Channel pallet on the RGB left click +Ctrl a selection will be made > Layer pallet>go to the B/W circle symbol at the bottom and click curves, a curves layer is created, now drag that layer to the symbol like a page with the corner folded at the bottom of the pallet this creates a copy, with this copy selected Ctrl+I this will invert the copy.
you should now have two curve layers one positive one negative.
Select the positive and bring the line down to brighten the image to what you want keeping the input at 50 don't be afraid of over doing it a little and don't be tempted to make the traditional S curve. Now select the negative curve and do the same thing but this time slide the line upward to darken usually to about 55 is enough, again keep the input at 50. Experiment to find whats best for you.
If you now have the odd burnt out bit on the positive curve layer select the eraser say at 25-50% and gently erase to bring back detail in those areas.
You can reverse this procedure for a very contrasty image by darkening the positive layer and lightening the negative layer. If there is any detail in burnt out areas this method will find it.
If you have overdone a layer simply change its opacity to the way you want it.

In the case of your eagle I selected the eye area with the lasso feathered and then adjusted with another layer using levels.

I think I have covered it all any queries just ask.

Patrick

Patrick,

Very decent of you to post such a detailed explanation. I really appreciate it.

I will certainly be giving this ago over the weekend

Thanks again,

Ben