Adjusting only the background

[SleeveTugger]

I'm not sure I've approached this correctly. What I wanted to do was enhance the background just a bit........it looked so washed out. So, I used the selection brush and used Levels just on the background.
Does it look correct, or unrealistic?
Any suggestions?

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1bSYGOGEKedId7xVtuL4UmfeHOTVGV_thumb.jpg (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/%5BURL=http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1bSYGOGEKedId7xVtuL4UmfeHOTVGV%5D %5BIMG%5Dhttp://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1bSYGOGEKedId7xVtuL4UmfeHOTVGV_thumb.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D)

[karen donnybrook]

Mary,

It looks good to me. Can you post the original so we can see what it was like?

Karen :)

[SleeveTugger]

Sorry.......I should have done that right away....:rolleyes:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1z36tooJFZV5kZK07QPpsKoAa1CoNi_thumb.jpg (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/%5BURL=http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1z36tooJFZV5kZK07QPpsKoAa1CoNi%5D %5BIMG%5Dhttp://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1z36tooJFZV5kZK07QPpsKoAa1CoNi_thumb.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D)

[kimi_boo]

Look at you... all learning how to do stuff!! :D

I think it looks WONDERFUL! It's a shame the cows are there. I would look like a painting. :)

[SleeveTugger]

Kimi.......I'm sloggin' through is all.:D

[kimi_boo]

You are not sloggin... you are learning and doing a great job! ;)

[AngelicKim]

Mary, this is a tip Colleen gave me the other day, it was to lighten a background and not the main image but the must be a way to do the color adjustment too. She said it was from the layers class. Copy the image and change the blend mode, I used screent to lighten, and keep copying that layer till you get what you want. Then use the eraser on the cows to bring them back to the original. It worth a try.

[Rusty]

I think it looks wonderful - great job

Rusty

[Wendy]

Hi Mary ...

I like what you have done and it certainly does bring out the background .. its a very good way of adjusting different parts of an image and you have done a great job of it :)

The only thing is I think that the adjustment is just a little too strong. If you look at the two images side by side then the focus in the first one was the cows but in the second one the cows are now blending into the background. Try adjusting the background in the same way but not quite as much ... and that should give you the best of both worlds :)

Wendy

[nkeevers]

Wow, looks great! Cute calf!

[SleeveTugger]

Well, I've given the various suggestions a try and have come up with this. I think it's better. Opinions??:)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1mjIHHxOEAXXmUqJ2fQ4bztAYysS90_thumb.jpg (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/%5BURL=http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1mjIHHxOEAXXmUqJ2fQ4bztAYysS90%5D %5BIMG%5Dhttp://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1mjIHHxOEAXXmUqJ2fQ4bztAYysS90_thumb.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D)

[msbrad]

I like it a lot! Big difference inthe back ground.
Great view and scenary. don't have that in Florida.
m

[Wendy]

Mary ...

That is just perfect ... all your hard work has turned it into an excellent image :)

Wendy

[Tracker]

Add a duck and three telephone poles:D :D :D
( everybody else----private joke:p )

[Byron Gale]

Mary,

Nice work!! Your next assignment is to remove that wire... :eek:

Byron

[SleeveTugger]

"remove the wire"......and let all the cows onto the road????:eek:


:D

[kimi_boo]

Byron and Tracker... what wonderful ideas!!

Yes Mary, do show us when you are done. :D

[Byron Gale]

"remove the wire"......and let all the cows onto the road????:eek::DMary,

I may be a city boy, but I know it takes more than a skinny little wire like that to keep a cow in line... especially a group of trouble-makers like that one!! :p

Byron

[SleeveTugger]

Tracker........I went to your site, but I couldn't find any lightpoles, sorry:p

Byron..........It's your job now to keep track of those cows.:eek:

Kimi_boo..........thanks for egging them on...........:twisted:

It's far from perfect, but I couldn't resist the challenge.http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1GBD90ju82tqC9JS4WfvjV4YK00160_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1GBD90ju82tqC9JS4WfvjV4YK00160)

[Byron Gale]

Mary,

What an EXCELLENT!!! job of cloning out the wire... :D ...and with luck, "bossy" and her crew will be content to keep grazing right where they are. That grass looks green enough, to me! :p

Byron

[msbrad]

I love it!
so glad the suggestions were there for the removal of the wire.
It gives the image a whole new look.
Now, can cows be trained to "stay"?
m

[SleeveTugger]

Byron.....the grass is indeed green, but not for much longer I'm afraid. Soon the days will be very short and cold. Guess that's when they bring out the hay.....:D I'm no longer concerned with bossies behavior, it's in your hands now. City boy is gonna get a country education in short order......;)
Now keep them out of the road!!

Ever heard of a cow prod??:twisted:

[SleeveTugger]

msbrad.......thank you so much for the compliment. It was really good practice in using the cloning tool, like Byron suggested. I'm pleased with how it came out.

Now.........the cows are no longer my worry, Byron is going to take over handling those cows......:D

[kimh]

Mary the change is excellent.
Great work.
Kimh

[Byron Gale]

Mary -- you were right!!

I ran the wire-less image through a bovine translator program...

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1K6Pu0XABw0kq7UkMMeM0otimQf0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1K6Pu0XABw0kq7UkMMeM0otimQf0)

Byron ;)

[kimi_boo]

I am just soooooooo IMPRESSED!! :D

Mary do post the before and after as part of our POP homework. I aso sent you a PM.

Byron... never pegged ya as a cowboy. :eek:

[SleeveTugger]

Byron........hahahahahahahahaha!!!

Thanks for the laugh!

Out of here for a bit, be back later.:D