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Have you ever wanted to just lighten the face in your photo? Have you ever wanted to just lighten a part of a photo you did not expose properly?
Have you ever wanted to add emphasis to part of the photo by darkening the surround area but leaving the subject lighter?
If so, I have a special treat for you. It is an action called “Touch of Light | Touch of Darkness.” It will help you achieve this look! I have been getting requests to make and sell an action like this for months. But I have decided as a gift to my loyal MCP Actions Blog Readers to make this a FREE action.
In exchange for the free action, I would love for you to spread the word about my blog -tell your photographer friends to come get the action here too. This is a Blog EXCLUSIVE. This one will NOT be going on my regular website.
Click here to download this action - compatible in Photoshop 7, CS, CS2 and CS3
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Here are step by step details on using this action:
1. Start out by unzipping and installing the action - details available in my video tutorial on how to install and use actions.
2. You can use this action any time in your editing process. Just make sure no solid pixel layers are above this. Adjustment layers can be on top of this however. I usually do all of my editing before using this action, unless I need major lightening help. Then I may run it earlier on. This action works exceptionally in conjunction with my Complete Workflow Actions Set and with the Quickie Collection Actions. When you are ready to use them click PLAY button.
3. The action will run and leave you with 2 layers. One called “Touch if Light” and one called “Touch of Darkness.” Make sure to select the layer you want to work on and that the mask is selected to, as shown.
4. Now select your brush tool - make sure to click back to your default colors (black and white). White reveals the effect, black conceals the effect.
5. Make sure to vary your opacity of your BRUSH as shown below. You do NOT want to use it at 100%. You will want it way lower. You will want an airbrush soft round brush and will want to vary the hardness. Do not use this at 100%. You will want to use the brush at 0-50% hardness. In areas where you want it feathering out, you can keep it at “0.” In areas where you do NOT want a halo effect, for example if you are darkening close to a person to make them stand out, you will want it between 30-50%. I will still feather but there will be less of one, so less chance of a halo around your subject(s).
6. Last step is to actually paint on the Light or Darkness. Often you will want a little of both. This usually is my last step in editing a photo but it can be used anytime. You can see the masks and how I revealed and concealed light to emphasize my twins riding their bikes. This photo was shot in full sun in the middle of the afternoon. Yet with this set and proper exposure it does not have that noon sunlight look at all.
7. Enjoy this action. Please use the SHARE ME button below to share this blog page so your photographer friends can download the action. Also, if you find this tutorial useful and are happy with the action, please leave a comment. Thanks and enjoy the fun freebie.
Stumble It!
May 14th, 20082:25 am at
thank you for the free action… i will share your site!!
May 14th, 20087:20 am at
Jodi ~ Thank you so much for the action and the detailed instructions on how to use it! You da bomb, babe!
May 14th, 20089:10 am at
Thank you, Jodi! I’m off to play with this now!
May 14th, 20089:22 am at
Wow thanks Jodi! Can’t wait to play with this!
May 14th, 20089:24 am at
Thanks Jodi! This is awesome!
May 14th, 20089:42 am at
wow Jodi, this is very cool! Thank you! I will download and share this after I get my dd to school.
May 14th, 200810:08 am at
Thanks Jodi……..I just used them and you are a lifesaver!!! As I have said before….Jodi’s actions are absolutely “the best” out there!
May 14th, 200810:32 am at
Thank you so much, Jodi - you are so generous. I can’t wait to try these out. I’ll definitely spread the word about your blog.
May 14th, 200810:48 am at
Thanks Jodi!! It’s exactly what I needed for photos of our Mothers Day hike.
May 14th, 200811:53 am at
Thank you for sharing this Jodi!!
May 14th, 200812:04 pm at
Thank you so much, Jodi
May 14th, 200812:19 pm at
Another great tutorial Jodi!
May 14th, 20084:13 pm at
Very Cool….Thanks. I’ll definately share your site!
May 14th, 20084:27 pm at
I am always bragging about MCP!! I will continue to do so!
May 14th, 20084:34 pm at
Thank you so much!!
May 14th, 20084:46 pm at
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I can’t wait to try it out! And I’ll share your site too!
May 14th, 20084:56 pm at
Wow, thanks so much! I can’t wait to try this one… thanks for the instructions too!
Tracy
May 14th, 20085:06 pm at
Thank you so much for everything you do Jodi!!
May 14th, 20086:26 pm at
Thanks Jodi! I can’t wait to try it out!!!
May 14th, 20087:16 pm at
What a great share. Thanks so much.
May 14th, 20088:02 pm at
Thank for sharing Jodi. off to try this out now!
May 14th, 20088:09 pm at
Thanks Jodi! You ROCK!
May 14th, 20088:14 pm at
You guys are all so welcome - let me know how you like it!
May 14th, 20089:34 pm at
Thanks, Jodi..what a nice treat for us..
May 15th, 200812:42 am at
Thank you! Very generous!
May 15th, 20081:19 am at
THANKS JODI, You’re the best!
May 15th, 20082:51 am at
Thanks Jodi. Can’t wait to try it.
May 15th, 20087:29 am at
Thanks so much Jodi I love your eye/teeth actions so much!
May 15th, 20088:25 am at
Thank you so much for sharing!
May 15th, 20088:32 am at
Thank you Jodi for another wonderful action. I have your skins, dentist and eyes and love them! Can’t wait to try this one! Thanks again.
May 15th, 200810:43 am at
Thank you Jodie!
May 15th, 200810:52 am at
Jodi you are awesome!!
May 15th, 200810:58 am at
Jodi, Thanks for the action. I have purchased a few of yours. I’m off to your site to check out a few more. You rock girl!!!
May 15th, 20089:40 pm at
Thanks Jodie!! You are da bomb with your actions and tutorials. I’m learning so much from you. Love love love your blog.
May 16th, 200810:50 am at
Thanks for the great action. Off to look at the examples, etc.
May 16th, 200811:07 am at
Thanks Jodie. Appreciate the freebie
May 16th, 200811:50 am at
Thanks Jodi! I have to correct a recent photo and this is just what I needed. You’re awesome!
May 16th, 200812:25 pm at
Jodie - you’re the best! I can’t wait to try this action. I think I’ll write a little blurb about your and your actions on my blog and show some examples of my favorite things that you offer. Is that ok?
May 16th, 20085:19 pm at
I love using your actions!! Thanks for the freebie!!
May 16th, 20085:45 pm at
thanks!!!!!!!!!
May 16th, 20086:33 pm at
Thank you very much for sharing. I’m planning on editing some pics this weekend and will certainly try it out!
May 16th, 20087:51 pm at
Thanks Girl! You are AMAZING!
May 17th, 20084:15 am at
thanks jodi! i purchased your workflow actions - but your crackle examples look so good i might have to get the quickies too!
May 17th, 20089:06 am at
Glad everyone is loving this.
I would love for you all to post examples on my flickr group (link at the top of each post).
And a few of you mentioned “Crackle” - yep - “snap, crackle and pop” but especially “crackle” have become my favorite go to actions for photos that are really good SOOC but need a boost. It is amazing. Sometimes it, plus this free one, complete an already well exposed, well focused photo.
May 17th, 200812:52 pm at
Such an effective action! Thank you for the chance to use it. As with all your products, top notch.
May 17th, 20087:01 pm at
Thanks so much that is great!
May 17th, 200810:10 pm at
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! You are my hero!
May 19th, 200810:09 am at
Thank you for the touch of light/touch of darkness action, I will try it out today!
May 21st, 20081:53 am at
Thank you! Can’t wait to play!
May 26th, 20081:50 pm at
Thanks !!!!!!! I’ve purchased a few other action sets only to go unused(for the most part) I wish I had
found your site before wasting all that money!!!! Your stuff is really great !!!!
May 30th, 200812:53 pm at
Looks so cool. I cant wait to try it out. Thanks a ton for sharing!!!
June 6th, 20086:34 pm at
Thanks so much for all your help, Jodi! Can’t wait to use these actions!
June 12th, 20086:33 pm at
Thank so you much I cant wait to purchase all your actions!