I love to add a bit of contrast pop to my images and I wanted to share one method that I use quite often in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. I called this action CoffeeShop Lustrous because it makes your images "shine".
Isn't Maple the doggy cute? I need to post a new photo of her because she is already so much bigger. If I could only get her to stay still and pose for me. ;-) To quote Duke, "I love my little doggy!".
This action allows you to individually adjust both the highlight and lowlight contrast/brightness and does a lowlight contrast boost so you get a nice color "pop" in the process. This action really saves you so much time compared to doing it by "scratch" and it is completely adjustable.
Run this action on an image that has white balance correction. When you start the action it will flatten your image and then ask you to do a lowlight and highlight adjustment (see below). Just adjust the sliders to taste.
This action also sharpens your image for the web or print. Simply adjust the radius. Don't worry about over-sharpening at this point because you can dial down the opacity of the sharpen layer at the end.
After the action runs you will have three layers (background, sharpen and color pop). You can adjust the opacity of the color pop and sharpen layer and use the white layer masks to "paint out" enhancements you don't want (use a soft black brush in NORMAL MODE on the white layer mask).
Download the free CoffeeShop Lustrous Pop Photoshop and Photoshop Elements action HERE!
I will be posting Perfect Portrait 2 and also a little tutorial on making fun little buttons using free icons like the ones I have on the top of my blog. Plus plenty of other goodies! Thank you so much for visiting my blog.
Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures. For complete info on installing all of my actions, click here.
oh I like it, but then I love anything that adds color. I'll definitely be trying this one.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
... And I like the new 'look' of the CoffeeShop blog.
Rita,
ReplyDeleteYou're my first blog stop everyday! I am learning so much, thanks in no small part to you! Just wanted you to know that...Thanks
Thank you so much! I love this one:).
ReplyDeleteThanks for this actions, I'm going to try it.
ReplyDeleteYou do a big job and neve thaks about it.
Hey,
ReplyDeleteI'm a new fan and I would just like to say that I'm in love with the new action.
yay! Rita...I so love you..I'm addicted to checking in on ya. thanks so much for sharing your tips, actions, photo and stories with us....and I diggin the new look too!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful action....and can I just say the eyes on that dog are hypnotic! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your freebies. Link on your post was added to PickleMouse freebie list
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to try this out!! Thank you!!
ReplyDeletei enjoy looking around your blog...so many things to learn, so im adding you to my inspiration list. :) and your doggie is a certified cutie!! thanks for your freebies Rita!
ReplyDeleteLove this action! Just downloaded it and cannot wait to play around.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
Again,
ReplyDeletethank you
thank you
thank you.
Your site is very helpful..I was wondering if you can share some wedding invitation templates too?
ReplyDeleteThanks
Thank you so much
ReplyDeleteur blog is great
Rita,
ReplyDeleteI stumbled across your blog about a year ago. I'm very shy online, and do not generally leave comments. However, I really want to thank you for your actions, talents, and writing. You have inspired me!
I've been looking for a way to add that "shiny" look!! I couldn't quite figure it out -- you always have the answer ;-)! Thank you so much, Rita!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely awesome. I am new to actions and run them using PSE 8.0
ReplyDeleteI love all of your actions and find that I never have problems getting yours to run.
That's a beautiful action. Can't wait to try it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteFirst off how cute is that Puppy! Love the name Maple, will have to remember that in the future if I ever get a girl dog. Secondly love the action. I just got photoshop elements 8 and was really excited about actions but every site I went to the actions would not work, Yours is the first that actually work thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! You are awesome!
ReplyDeleteYour actions and blog in general are just amazing! I love everything. Thank you for providing everything you do!
ReplyDeleteI am sad. This looks like it could be my fave action of your yet and it tells me "layer via copy currently unavailable". I use PSE 5. Any idea why? Again, it looks like an awesome action!
ReplyDeleteBecca, many of my actions don't work in PSE5. It is time to upgrade! Rita
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing this action! I love your blog. I am just learning PSE and enjoy reading all the tutorials you have.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, neighbor. I'm in Texarkana, not too far from you. Can't wait to try out the action!
ReplyDeleteHi Rita,
ReplyDeleteWhen you run this action, it pops up with a lowlights and highlights adjustment layer.
My question is, how do you (in PSE) select the lowlights or shadows in an image? I am looking to select only the shadows like in the beginning of this action, so I can add a tint to them, but can't figure it out.
Thank You!