dodge tool used...can I fix it more?

[rward78]

From Kaitlyn and Shelby

the above picture is my original. I am teaching myself how to use photoshop 7 using tutorials and basically playing with the program. Please keep this in mind if you reply.

I used the wrong settings when taking the picture (obviously) However, I really like it and am trying to save it. I have used the dodging tool/highlights/@48%exposure with a 127 brush to get the below results...

From Kaitlyn and Shelby

1. is there a better way to lighten it?
2. is it possible to pull enough "natural" color into the picture and still make it look like it hasn't been worked on?
3. should I make another layer and lighten it more? etc.?

Sorry if I have this posted in the wrong place...couldn't decide if it should be in the before&after forum. Thanks for any pointers you can provide

[sk66]

pse 7?
enhance>adjust lighting>shadow highlights

[jdepould]

I'd use a combination of exposure and shadow/highlights. OR fill light and recovery in ACR.


But this one looks like it's pretty far gone.

[edbayani]

as sk66 says ps7?
anyway, to your question, use shadows/highlight, then levels, adjust the color. but this one is too underexposed and i think even with the hi res image, will produce some noise.
here is the sample which is noisy

[mikerob2334]

This is about the best I could get using ACR, adjusting exposure.

1_20110325_99056 by mikerob2334, on Flickr

[rward78]

yes, I am using photoshop elements 7....since I didn't know how to do PP I didn't want to invest the money just yet and this copy was given to me ....figured if I could figure out how to use it then I could decide to upgrade. :-)

[rward78]

This looks a lot better and I understand now what you are talking about with the noise....and unfortunately I didn't shoot these in RAW - so I guess this is as far as I can go. Sorry for the dumb question but what is ACR...another PP program? Not familiar with the term and don't know what applications are out there for PP work. Thanks.

[mikerob2334]

Originally Posted by rward78

This looks a lot better and I understand now what you are talking about with the noise....and unfortunately I didn't shoot these in RAW - so I guess this is as far as I can go. Sorry for the dumb question but what is ACR...another PP program? Not familiar with the term and don't know what applications are out there for PP work. Thanks.

ACR=Adobe Camera RAW
I have it with my PSE8, not sure if it is available with PSE7

[rward78]

Thanks....not sure either, but if it's included I can't find it - LOL- will be asking my sis-n-law about it this weekend when I see her.

[mikerob2334]

Originally Posted by rward78

Thanks....not sure either, but if it's included I can't find it - LOL- will be asking my sis-n-law about it this weekend when I see her.

Don't know if you found out but PSE7 does include ACR. I looked on my wife's laptop and if you click File>Open As then you can choose your photo and at the bottom select Open As: Camera Raw