Photoshop is amazing, isn’t it? Every once in a while, I learn a trick that is quick and easy and works in Photoshop Elements too. And it reminds me of what powerful technology we all use.
The first cool idea arrived in my inbox from Helen Bradley’s Project Woman blog, which has all sorts of fun photography ideas. She calls it her “3 Step Photoshop Every Image Quick Fix.”
- Duplicate the background layer of a flattened image
- Add a Gaussian blur to the top layer. I used 10 for the image below. Use less if your image is low resolution.
- Change the Blend Mode of the top layer to Soft Light or Overlay. (I used Soft Light.)
- Adjust the new layer’s opacity, if needed.
A member of the Flickr PSE group suggested the 2nd tip in a discussion about giving impact to landscape shots.
- Duplicate the background layer of a flattened image.
- Convert the new layer to black and white.
- If your black and white conversion creates a new layer, merge it down onto the second layer.
- Change the Blend Mode of the new layer to Multiply.
- Adjust the new layer’s opacity.
I like all three versions. And I love collecting ideas to pop images that need a little something. There are going in my notebook! And Helen Bradley’s website is going on my Best Resources page!
That picture, by the way, is the Mausoleum of the Duchess of Kent at Frogmore in Windsor. It was built by her daughter, Queen Victoria.
If only I could make a living taking pictures of my family at royal history sites in England, I would be in perfect heaven!
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