Photoshop Elements and CS
Local Correction Using Adjustment Layer Masks

Technique One

  1. Open the file “NaturalBridge.jpg”
  2. Create a duplicate layer using the command “Layer – Duplicate Layer” and name the new layer “Base”.

Create Adjustment Layer for Under the Bridge

  1. Using the Lasso Tool outline (select) the area under the bridge.  Be sure to keep the feather value at zero.  Also be sure to stay well inside the area under the bridge.
  2. Create a levels adjustment layer with the command "Layer -- New Adjustment Layer -- Levels"
  3. Use the levels dialogue box to adjust the lighting of the area under the bridge.  Note:  This will act only on the selected area.  It will also create a hard line between the selected area and the unselected area.  Don't worry about this.
  4. Also note that the mask in the adjustment area is white in the selected area and black in the unselected area.

Blur the Adjustment Layer

  1. Make sure the levels adjustment layer is active.
  2. Go to the command "Filter -- Blur -- Guassian Blur"
  3. Adjust the blur upward until the line between the selected and unselected area disappears.  It will likely be above 100 in this case.
  4. Note:  You are blurring the mask, not the picture.  This has the effect of softening the area between the selected and unselected areas.

Technique Two

  1. Open the file "SnowMaderaCanyon.jpg"
  2. Create a duplicate layer using the command “Layer – Duplicate Layer” and name the new layer “Base”.
  3. Create a levels adjustment layer with the command "Layer -- New Adjustment Layer -- Levels"
  4. Adjust the image with the levels dialogue box so that the shadow areas are properly exposed (or even a little light.)

Use the Layer Mask to Turn Off the Effect

  1. On the tool bar make sure that the foreground and background are black and white respectively.  (See the symbol at the right hand side of this page.)  If other colors are choosen click on the symbol in the lower left-hand corner of foreground/background selector.  You can switch the foreground and background colors by clicking on the curved double-arrow in the upper right hand corner of the selector.  The foreground color (upper left) should be black.
  2. Select the paintbucket tool.  Make sure the levels layer is active.
  3. Click somewhere on the Madera Canyon image.  This will replace all of the white in the levels layer mask with black.  This has the effect of turning off the levels layer completely since black turns off the effect while white turns on the effect.

Paint the Layer Mask to Selectively Turn on the Effect

  1. Switch the foreground and background colors so that the foreground is white.
  2. Select the brush tool.  Make the brush a soft brush.  Also make the opacity of the brush to about 30%.
  3. Make sure the Levels Adjustment Layer is active.
  4. Sizing the brush as needed paint over the dark areas of the image to lighten them.  This paints the adjustment layer white (30% at a time) and thus has the effect of the layer show through.
  5. Paint over dark areas repeatedly to continue to lighten them.  Some areas you will want to paint more than others.

Finish Up

  1. Make a Brightness/Contrast Adjustment Layer.
  2. Adjust the brightness and contrast as needed.
  3. Make a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer.
  4. Increase the Saturation until most of the image looks well saturated.  This should cause the grass that is in the sun to become over saturated.
  5. Make the foreground color black and choose the brush tool.
  6. Paint the over saturated grass to turn off the saturation effect on the grass.





Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
Near Payson, Arizona












Madera Canyon in Winter













Foreground/Background selector.