Expert: Evgenia (Jenny) Grinblo - 12/16/2011

Question
Hi Jenny

I take a lot of photographs of landscapes and I find that if one exposes for the foreground, the sky and other light patches such as a waterfall completely washes out and loses all detail and definition. I used the magic wand tool in Photoshop CS 4.0 to select the washed out area and then I adjusted the contrast and darkness of the selected area. However, I find that a distinct and unacceptable line is left where the selected area meets the bordering area. How can this line be prevented or eliminated? (Like fading the adjustment towards the edges).

I know almost nothing about Photoshop

Thanks.
Nico Smith

Answer
Hi Nico,

There are a couple of things you could try with this.

1) My first instinct is that when you make you selection with the magic wand tool, you can make it a bit less rigid even before applying any effects.

Just as you have your selection and the "running ants" are doing their magic, go up to Select > Modify > Feather. The value you enter in there will ultimately make the edges of your selection fade out a bit, like a gradient, when you apply your effects. You will need to experiment with just how much feather you can use and still retain an acceptable effect.

Also, note that your selection will be feathered all around (unless it ends at the edge of the image).  After you apply your initial feather, you might want to re-select the area you don't want feathered. You can do this by clicking shift and making another selection with the Rectangular Marquee Tool. You don't need this step if the the sky you are adjusting reaches all the way at the edges of your image. But this will be useful if you have other elements outside of your selection.

2) The second approach I would try is a bit more advanced but also gives you far greater flexibility. Ultimately, you will apply the effect to your entire image and then work back to get rid of the parts that don't to be darker.

Do this by copying the layer you are working with (your image). Apply the effects you desire to the entire layer copy. You can go back and add more if you need. Then, in the layers panel, create a layer mask while your copy layer is selected. To do this, find the little icon on the bottom of the layers panel which looks like a circle inside of a rectangle (tip: if you hover your mouse long enough over anything in Photoshop, it will show you the name of that tool).

At this point, you will see another layer-type thing appear next to your copied layer. It should be entirely white. If you click on this new layer mask and use any tool (brush, fill, etc) with black or gray, you will be able to hide (mask) that part of the layer and reveal the parts of the layer right below. Effectively, you will work to hide the parts of your adjusted layer to all the sections of your image that don't need darkening.

I really recommend learning more about layer masks because they are EXTREMELY useful for flexible and easy photo retouching. Here is a good video tutorial if you want to learn more: http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/tools-tips/masking-photoshop

Layer masks are a bit of a learning curve. They seem really different from everything you've done in Photoshop at first, but once you get comfortable with them, you'll ask yourself how you ever worked differently.

Good luck with everything and let me know if you have any other questions!

Also, I really do apologize for the delay. Your message got lost in my inbox. Hope this finds you well.

Evgenia