How to improve photo exposure

Since my enlarger long is packed in a box, and most of the films scans would like to share some useful techniques for digital imaging -based layers ( called layers) . Work in layers allows most modern image manipulation software , and their use makes each effect can at any time change or delete , and the effects can also be applied to one another ( sharpening should be the last ) .

    Brightening .
    When the image is too dark duplicate it on a new layer and change the blending mode of the top layer to Screen. Adjust the layer opacity to get the desired effect. Repeat the process if the image is still too dark.
    Dimming picture.
    When the image is too bright duplicate it on a new layer and change the blending mode of the top layer to Multiply . Adjust the layer opacity to get the desired effect. Repeat the process if the image is still too bright.
    Wrównywanie contrast ( contrast masking ) .
    When the picture are both very bright and very dark parts of the image , and the details in them are not very well put it to adopt the technique of contrast equalization . To equalize the contrast in the picture duplicate it on a new layer , get rid of its color information ( Dasaturate - layer will be commissioned in shades of gray) and turn the picture ( Invert - layer will look like a negative ), change the blend mode of the top layer to Overlay , then apply a blur filter on it gausowskiego ( Gaussian Blur ) . Adjust the settings of the filter radius (Radius ) and transparency layers to get the desired effect .
    All treatments are designed ago that the upper layer was blurred negative terminal, containing only reverse a distribution of light and shadow . Thanks to the layer blending mode Overlay , bright parts of the image are thus dimmed and brightened the dark .
    Convert to grayscale ( black and white photo ) .
    This technique may not work in each program, since it requires so . layer correction ( Adjustment Layers) and the corresponding modes of mixing , and yet the most universal way to convert color images to grayscale , taking into account the simulation of photographic filters . To convert an image into its version of the black and white you must first add a new layer of corrective tint ( Hue ) in Normal mode and another that regulates saturation ( Saturation) Color blending mode and set to the minimum saturation (Saturation -100 ) . By adjusting the slider hue ( Hue ) in the bottom layer of the options we can simulate a variety of photo filters ( darken the sky, clear green , etc.) , the second layer converts it to shades of gray. More about converting color photos to black and white can be found here .
    Improving the appearance of the skin .
    For smoothing the skin model in the photo portrait duplicate it on a new layer , change the blending mode of the top layer to Overlay , and then apply the filter to blur gausowskiego ( Gaussian Blur ) . Adjust the settings of the filter radius (Radius ) and transparency layers to get the desired effect .
    Sharpen the image.
    To sharpen the image duplicate it on a new layer , change the blending mode of the top layer to Hard Light , then apply to the High - Pass filter . Adjust the settings of the filter radius (Radius ) and transparency layers to get the desired effect .
Please note that here the order of execution of each step is slightly different from indicated in other such advice . I ask , however, that the smoothing or sharpening contrast , the best first change the blending mode of the top layer , then apply a specific filter . In this way, once we see the final result of our operations and is already adapting the filter option .