HELP! Advice on editing an image...

[theMusicMan]

Hi All

I don't really use Photoshop, well not to any serious extent anyway - I am happy using it to add borders etc, but I need to edit an image to remove a small amount of spurious lens-flare within it. I'd like to simply tint an area under the brush and make it match the colour of the surrounding area, which will have the effect of removing the flare. The thing is, I have no idea how best to do this, or if this is the right approach to removing the flare! So, is anyone here able to offer advice as to how I could do this please...?

It's not something I can see an automated way of achieving, and I'd have to actually edit the image in order to remove the small amount of flare.

Anyone any ideas?

[Guest]

Re: Advice on editing an image...

Without seeing it is difficult to advice.

However my tendency is to use a clone tool from an adjacent area. Watch out though, even areas of uniform appearance actually tend to get lighter/darker in one or two directions - so your choice of area to clone from should mimic the area you are cloning to.

Nick

[theMusicMan]

Re: Advice on editing an image...

Hey Nick

Ta for the advice. The thing is, I don't think I need to use the clone tool as the area under the flare still contains the content I desire; it's just that it is tinted with an orange'ish flare colour. I want to re-tint this area to the green hue of the adjacent tree colours.

I see some good potential in a specific image I took on the weekend when we were up in the Brecon Beacons, and am trying various post processing formats to get the desired end result. One thing that jumps out of the page at me is the small lens flare - I really need to get rid of it.

[f2uk]

Re: Advice on editing an image...

Do you use Lightroom?

If so, you could use the brush tool to alter only the part of the image you want to affect. There is a section lower down the list on the right hand side (can't remember the name of it sorry) that will allow you to only affect certain colours.

Never tried this, to remove lens flare, but I have to darken the sky in a landscape shot (similar to the demo here Local corrections) it might do what you need.

[theMusicMan]

Re: Advice on editing an image...

Yes, I do use Lightroom... will look at that now. Thanks for the pointer.

[PaulE]

Re: Advice on editing an image...

There are afew things that might do what you want. The easiest would be to use the clone tool but set the brush mode to colour or even hue then sample off the unaffected green around the flare. Another possibilty would be to sample the green colour with the eye dropper tool then simply paint over the flare with a soft brush with it's mode set to colour. Even the healing brush tool will work with it's mode set to colour. You can either make the adjustments directly onto the background layer or if you prefer on a duplicate layer (with blend mode set to colour or otherwise). My guess is that it would be a combination of the above that would give the best results but it's just a matter of trial and error IMO.

[stevednp3]

Re: Advice on editing an image...

Hi John, can you post the image, as its hard to vision what you need to do

[theMusicMan]

Re: Advice on editing an image...

Sure, but this is only a jpg copy of it... I'd need to do the editing on the TIFF I've created from the RAW. The flare is just left of center.

[Guest]

Re: Advice on editing an image...

That'll go with a straightforward (at least in The GIMP) use of the clone tool, just choose areas with roughly the same branch pattern, increase the magnification (I'd use 400 so you can see/copy the pixel pattern) and use a smallish brush.

No different from getting rid of blurring artifacts left by Photomatix when foliage moves.

Nick

[stevednp3]

Re: Advice on editing an image...

yeah Same as Nick I'd use the clone tool or another way would be to create a blank layer above and use the clone tool to draw from the layer underneath and then you can mess with the hue and blending modes to get the texture and colour perfect.

Hope that helps

[theMusicMan]

Re: Advice on editing an image...

Hmmmm, though I am no expert and will try suggested methods, I am not sure I agree with you here. The thing is... I don't need anything 'cloned', the detail is all there. All I need to do is amend the colour/tone of a small area. Is there not a way to do this...?

[stevednp3]

Re: Advice on editing an image...

Try copying that area onto a top layer and play around with the hue and the blending mode of that top layer until it blends in and looks right

But I have to say cloning from another part of the tree would be easier and just look as good. you would know what you did, but other viewers wouldnt have a clue

[Jim Ford]

Re: Advice on editing an image...

How about using the 'Burn' tool in Photoshop, with an appropriately sized brush? I'm assuming the detail is still under the flare.

Jim

[theMusicMan]

Re: Advice on editing an image...

How about using the 'Burn' tool in Photoshop, with an appropriately sized brush? I'm assuming the detail is still under the flare.

Jim

Won't that just make the pixels under the brush darker though Jim...? I want them turned the same colour as the surrounding foliage.

[Jim Ford]

Re: Advice on editing an image...

Won't that just make the pixels under the brush darker though Jim...? I want them turned the same colour as the surrounding foliage.

Ermm - I think you're right!

Jim