{"id":10608,"date":"2012-04-09T05:33:35","date_gmt":"2012-04-09T09:33:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/?p=10608"},"modified":"2025-02-15T00:18:37","modified_gmt":"2025-02-15T04:18:37","slug":"easy-photoshop-effect-for-more-punch-to-your-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/easy-photoshop-effect-for-more-punch-to-your-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"Photoshop tip – easy effect for more punch to your photos"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Photoshop tip – easy effect for more punch to your photos<\/h1>\n

Here is a well-known Photoshop technique – one that I like and use on occasion. It desaturates the photograph, while also compressing the tonal range. It creates a modern look that also looks quite trendy. It is also quite easy to apply, by dragging the layers from a reference image once you’ve set it up.<\/p>\n

Starting with the original image, I add these two layers:<\/p>\n

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The important layer here is the Gradient Map adjustment layer. You select it by right-clicking on the icon shown below.<\/p>\n

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The Gradient Map layer creates quite a nice B&W image. But by changing the Blending Mode to “Soft Light”, the color returns, and the image is quite contrasty … and under-exposed. For this, we add another layer – Levels – to help lift the exposure.<\/p>\n

Adjust the opacity of both layers.<\/p>\n

Here are the two images in succession – the original, and the effect – so you can see the change.<\/p>\n

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As you can see from the screen-capture of the layers there, I did use the Portraiture plug-in for some initial skin softening.<\/p>\n

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