Re: how do I equalize in PhotoShop
Re: how do I equalize in PhotoShop
- Subject: Re: how do I equalize in PhotoShop
- From: Andrew Rodney <email@hidden>
- Date: Sat, 06 Oct 2001 14:55:30 -0600
on 10/6/01 2:23 PM, Steven Kornreich at email@hidden wrote:
>
In this document Don explains on how to do this but on Page 4 of this PDF
>
file I do not know how to do the Make Mask Layer using the gradient tool.
>
Can anyone help?
First, you might need to convert the bkgnd to a real layer (double click on
it so it specifically says "Layer 0."
You'll still need a bkgnd (or a 2nd layer for the blend to do something) so
make a new layer then make it the bkgnd layer by going to the Layer Menu and
picking "Background from Layer" which will make that your new bkgnd.
Target the layer of the color checker and go into the Layer Menu and pick
"Add Layer Mask." Now you have to decide if you want to hide or reveal what
the mask produces. You will probably want to have it "Reveal All."
Go to the gradient tool and pick a gradient. I haven't seen Don's suggestion
but it sounds like you want to gradate the density so you'll want gradate
from black to transparency. Make sure the foreground color is black. Pick
the gradient (2nd from the left) called "Foreground to Transparency". Now
with the Gradient tool selected, as you click and drag, you'll see the bkgnd
layer (white) coming though. You may need to play with the opacity.
I'm not sure this is the effect you have in mind. It is a way to make a
layer mask with the gradient tool to revel or hide the top image or to blend
into another image. Perhaps you'll want to darken or lighten a copy of the
original file and "blend" gradually the two using this mask. This would make
a lot more sense to me. So if you have a target that varies by one full stop
from top to bottom (say top is 1 stop brighter), the idea is to darken one
layer by a stop (using say levels or curves) and then "blend" into the
bottom of the 2nd layer using this graduated mask. The technique I did above
uses a white bkgnd layer which looks a bit odd. I think you'll want to play
with two image layers instead.
Andrew Rodney