Using Photoshop's "Soft Light" layers really enhances the contrast in your photos. Your dark areas will appear darker and more intense. Your lighter areas will be lighter and seem to glow.
We will be
1. creating a layer
2. applying "soft light"
3. playing with the opacity
This is a simple trick to play with vivid colors. The intensity of colors decreases with the amount of white light. That's why some photographers prefer to photograph in the early morning or late afternoon. Soft light filters mimic that effect.
Step 1: Open your photo in Adobe Photoshop
Step 2: Create a new layer with a copy of your image
Shortcut: "Control" and "J"
Step 3: Change your new layer's description from "normal" to "soft light"
You should see an immediate change in your image. To compare the before and after, in your layer's window, click on the "eye" icon to hide and unhide the new layer. Sometimes, it will create parts that are too dark (don't go too overboard). Adjust by changing the opacity of your "soft light" layer or you can use the eraser tool to erase areas(it might appear too drastic) or you can create a mask and use black to paint out areas(little more advanced).
Play-with-it Options: Repeat the steps to see what happens. Create a third layer and "soft light it." I did it with this photo and then lowered the opacity of the top layer just a notch.
Before and After: Notice the change in colors...they go from "eh" to "vavoom."
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