Photoshop Shadows & Highlights

[Bruce - GRB]

Does anyone use photoshop's shadows & highlights tool for adjusting pics that are a bit dark or a bit bright?  I've tried this with only limited success.  I can't seem to get the right combination of radius, amount, and tonal width.  What happens is I get halos around objects.  Are there any guidlines for what settings to use?

Bruce

[Carswell Dude]

I use it only as a last resort.

[GeoffS]

I use it quite a bit for "quick and dirty" processing.  I think it's mostly a matter of trial and error to get it right (ex. no halos).  I don't mess with the radius, but I generally set the "Tonal Width" to around 20%-30% and don't crank the amount very high (10 units, I think).  If you need more than that, you probably need another tool...

Sometimes I'll use middle control in "Levels" to get a nice look that's a bit too dark, and then use S/H to pull some of the detail out of the shadows (again, this is quick-n-dirty work).

I have found that the highlight control in S/H is great for making water spray and sailboat sails look good.

Cheers,

Geoff S.

[PVNick]

I've always had a little better luck in selecting 'shadows' in the Color Range menu, feathering 10-20 pixels, then adding a curves layer and adjusting that. I can then adjust the opacity of the layer for a little extra control.

2 cents...

nick

[Comet]

I use levels instead

[GeoffS]

I've always had a little better luck in selecting 'shadows' in the Color Range menu, ...

That sounds useful.  I'll have to give it a try.  I've become a big fan of using Curves or Levels adjustment layers with masks for dodging and burning in color images for my "careful" shots.  I didn't know about the using the Color Range menu like that.  Thanks! 

Cheers,

Geoff S.