Photoshop Tutorials

Description

Step 8 – Brighten the seagulls

We’re finally done the mask and we can move on to the fun stuff just after we fix the exposure of the seagulls. Right now, the seagulls are underexposed making them look gray.

• Photoshop CS3 or newer: Add a brightness/contrast adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Brightness/Contrast). If you’re using Photoshop CS3, click OK to exit out of the brightness/contrast settings. If you are using Photoshop CS4, the Brightness/Contrast setting is in the adjustments panel (Window > Adjustments).
• Photoshop CS2 or older: Add a levels adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels. Click OK to exit out of the Levels settings.

Position the adjustment layer as the top layer.

With the adjustment layer selected, choose Layer > Create Clipping Mask. Your layer is now using the layer mask from the layer below and should look like the image below:

Depending if you added a Brightness/Contrast or Levels adjustment layer, you will see an or icon in the layers palette. Double click on that icon to bring up the settings.

• Photoshop CS3 or newer: Increase the brightness until the seagulls are white.
  
• Photoshop CS2 or older: Move the white input slider towards the left to brighten the seagull.
  

Step 9 – Create a simple sun burst

We will now create a sun burst using a gradient fill layer. Before you add the gradient fill layer, make sure that you have the top layer selected so that when you add the gradient fill layer, it will be positioned as the top layer. Choose Layer > New Fill Layer > Gradient.

In the gradient fill settings, edit the gradient setting to the settings shown below:

Apply the following settings:

• Style: Diamond
• Angle: 45º
• Scale: 130%

Click and drag the gradient in the document window and position it where the sun would be.