Layer mask fine selection

[pontiac1940]

Background: Yesterday my wife and I took a friend, PM, to the river valley to take photos. PM wanted photos outside with some "natural" greenery. PM is disabled and can only walk a few feet at a time with a walking stick. Otherwise she is in her wheelchair. That's important because options for selecting standing locations were limited because of her limited mobility. In addition, the sun was bright and harsh. I took a flash as I wanted PM to stand in shade to avoid hard shadows in the sunshine. Overall, we are pleased. But ...  She wanted photos at one specific location with a lone poplar tree high on the valley edge in the background. In this location she stood in the shade of a large cottonwood poplar trunk. The "original" image of PM is decent except the sunny background is blown out. This series was at the end of the outing and we were all hot and tired. Perhaps I could have fiddled with the flash output to harmonize levels on PM and the background... but I did not.  

I duplicated the "okay" original image and darkened it to properly expose the sunny background. I then put both images into one file and created a layer mask on the top dark version to "reveal and conceal" the background. The output is suitable. But this took me nearly two hours to "reveal and conceal" around PM and the overhanging leaves. Fussy work...  

QUESTION: Is there a faster way to "reveal and conceal" more precisely in the layer mask using "refine edge" on the mask? Refine edge as described here and I think George has videos as well. 

Thank you, 

Clive 
EDIT. I tried Guided Photomerge Exposure using A and B and it was pretty decent. Not as good but decent. 

A "Original" with decent exposure on PM and the tree and overhanging leaves but with blown out background.



B Darkened image .. a dupe of the above image with levels reduced in ACR  


Final (There is a minor "reveal and conceal" error in this image that has been fixed in the big version.)

[hmca]

Not commenting on your question; just on your results which are fantastic. The only nit-picky thing I notice is the darker blue where the sky shows through the background tree. I have an idea as to how this might be addressed but am on my way out for the afternoon so no time to test it. My thought is that perhaps you could make a selection of the tree and sky and put it on its own layer. Then use a H/S layer clipped to the selection to address the blue. Someone else might have a suggestion as to your original question and how to address the tree.....if you wanted to!

[pontiac1940]

Sept 6, 2024 15:41:09 GMT hmca said:

The only nit-picky thing I notice is the darker blue where the sky shows through the background tree.

Thanks Helen.  Good eye.
That should be easy using "Hue/Saturation." 

[Lillias]

pontiac1940 My approach to this would be...

1. duplicate the original
2. using the quick selection tool I would select the tree and the lady and press Ctrl+J which places the tree and the lady on a layer of their own.
3. select the duplicated layer again and then apply a levels adjustment to adjust the background to more of your liking.

This is a much quicker way in this instance than going down the layer mask reveal and conceal route.

[pontiac1940]

Sept 6, 2024 18:07:29 GMT Lillias said:

My approach to this would be...

Thank you Lillias. 
I will try that when I get back to these photos a day or two. 
Clive 

[srmoment]

Clive, I am interested in the replies to your question. I have done a LOT of masking using the selection tools-select subject on the right. Any mask I have tried (including third party selection masks) don't do a really good job of selecting all of the subject, so I also use the polygonal lasso tool to refine my selections. This can take a lot of time, particularly with hair, fur, branches, etc., so if there is a faster way to do these selections, I would love to hear. I think you did a great job with this one.

[pontiac1940]

Sept 9, 2024 15:17:42 GMT srmoment said:

Clive, I am interested in the replies to your question.

Pat.
Yes, it is the fine things that take time using masks. I recall seeing a video 3 or 4 months ago about refining selections of hair. 
BTW, I tried Photomerge and it was not great. I used one version of a photo in which PM and the tree were correctly exposed. And then a copy of the original image was darkened to correctly expose the background. Photomerge was done in about one minute, but I did not like the results. They were okay but not great. 

The overhead leaves and twigs took too much time. In the example shown, a faster way might have been to clone out the overhanging twigs and then use masks as I did and as Lillias suggested. Leaves could then be added later. 

Clive 

[fotofrank]

Another option is to use luminosity mask. Tony kuyper offers frtee actions for elements to create luminosity mask.



If you believe that one size fits all or a single mask works all the time - good luck.

This is the list of the actions.


What a Luminosity Mask looks like.

[pontiac1940]

"Another option is to use luminosity mask."
Thank you, fotofrank
I'll look into it tomorrow.
Clive

[pontiac1940]

Sept 10, 2024 4:54:05 GMT pontiac1940 said:

"Another option is to use luminosity mask."
Thank you, fotofrank
I'll look into it tomorrow.
Clive

I've downloaded the luminosity masks actions and will check out when it rains tomorrow. 
Thanks, 
Clive 

[richrd]

you guys have helped me a bunch, but this is the first time I've replied to one of your posts. I know you asked about PSE, but just for fun I took your pic over to light room. It was easy to get everything but the sky using masking. And I tried cropping out part of the sky which worked.

But if this was mine, I would be seriously thinking about replacing the sky.

I know these other people would give you good advice in the direction you wanted to go, so I decided to go my own way. (Which is why I'm always in trouble)