Adding Fill Flash in Photoshop

Bill R from NJ USA, using Photoshop 7 with Win XP, writes in with:
[Quote:] trying to fix a backlit photo and was told there is an auto tool for this but cant find it.... can you help?
-----------------------
Sorry, but only Photoshop Elements has the "Fill Flash" filter. You can do it in Photoshop though...

In Photoshop, create a new layer above your photo.

Fill that layer with WHITE.

Set the layer's Blending Mode to: Soft Light

Reduce the layer's Opacity slider down to around 50 or so.

Watch as the shadow areas begin to lighten.

You may have to do some Burning or Dodging, or if areas have become too light, use the eraser tool set at a very low opacity -- 10% to gently remove white.

You can also do the same process by hand on specific areas of your print.

Hide that "Soft Light" layer for a moment. (Click the 'eye')

Now create another layer and select a soft round brush slightly smaller than the areas you want to lighten. Set the opacity of the brush very low... 15% or so. This way you can gradually add subtle lighting to the areas being lightened.

Set WHITE as the foreground color (Tap D then tap X)

Set the new Layer to "Soft Light" and begin carefully painting in the layer. Watch the dark area you are painting become lighter.

You Photoshop Elements readers reading this:
Go: Enhance > Adjust Lighting > Fill Flash

Photoshop cs readers check out the Image > Highlight/Shadow command.

If you would like a pictorial tutorial of this one let us know. The concepts may be a bit vague from the above text.

Comments

[Pete]

Hi,
I've just found this link which shows a technique to simulate fill flash in a
very precise way using masks and channels in photoshop
http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/18468.html

Regards

Pete