Using the burn tool to enhance detail

[Neon Rosell II]

Since I don't have any new photos to PP I've been looking around on my HDD and found this photo of an OBS with good lighting and nice pose but it was a little off focus and due to some overexposure on the yellow feathers the details were almost lost. So, I played around with USM and burn tool to salvage this photo.

I might have over did the sharpening, but I just wanted to show how a little use of the burn tool could get some of the details back. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

30D + 300 mm f4 IS + 2.0x Kenko TC, f8, 1/250, ISO 800, Manual Exposure in available light, Hand held, Raw Capture

Original just cropped and converted to Jpeg.



Processed with USM, Neat Image & Burn tool



Now, looks like the soft shots from the Sigma 150-500 mm can be salvaged after all...he he he, Cheers!!

[tina mallari]

Wow Neon, that's a really big improvement

A little sharp for me but a very welcome improvement compared to the first photo which was really soft.

[mantarey]

That's a very good recovery technique Neon, the hottish parts are gone.

[Ding Carpio]

Great technique, Neon. Can't recall myself which one's dodge and which one's burn but will experiment.

[Neon Rosell II]

Thanks Tina, Rey and Ding!!

You should try it, it's great. Just use 0% hardness and click on the part you want to burn, if it is not good enough then click again and again until you are satisfied with the outcome.

[Teddy Regpala]

Hhhhmmm, I have lots of soft images to experiment on. ;D
Thanks Neon, will try it next time.

[Bob Kaufman]

Great improvement on the shot, Neon!

Can you give us photoshop-challenged guys a more detailed procedure?

Thanks!