Using Healing Brush to correct photos - Digital Photography News, Reviews & Forum

Queen Josephine · #1 July 6th, 2004

My photo of Burney Falls had 2 streams of really blown out waterfalls. The 2 falls in question were like laser beams in the sunlight. Since I didn't have an exposure that correctly captured these waterfalls, my only option was a photoshop correction. Using the healing brush to capture the texture of existing falls, set to multiply, and fading the result, a somewhat better version of the photo was produced. Results below.

gparr · #2 July 6th, 2004

Nice job. Makes the image much better. I've never used the healing brush (not even sure I can find it on the tool bar) but I have some images that likely would benefit from its magic. Thanks for sharing the tip.
Gary

Queen Josephine · #3 July 6th, 2004

It's the band-aid

I've found it usefull in a number of different situations so far. BTW, I just got Photoshop CS and I can't rave enough about it. The upgrade was definitely worth the money. The shadow lifter tool under adjustments is absolutely a great addition, browser function improved DRAMATICALLY, and filters under Image Adjustments were the first things I noticed. I haven't played with the composite function yet, and I don't quite understand how it differs from using the History and Layers pallettes. Oh, just not enough time...

nhfirefighter13 · #4 July 6th, 2004

Nice work.

CS has more stuff than you can shake a stick at.

I use the shadow/highlight quite frequently but you have to be careful with it as it does tend to add quite a bit of noise/grain to the pic.

FredG · #5 July 6th, 2004

Nice job! You mentioned something worth repeating: many people do not understand the blending modes and the fading capability, so bypass some very useful tools. They only take a little experimenting to understand, and they can create some excellent results, as you have shown here.

dbevis · #6 July 6th, 2004

I'm not clear on what you did. The "existing falls" - was that from another shot altogether or from elsewhere in the same frame?

Don

Quote:

Originally Posted by Queen Josephine

My photo of Burney Falls had 2 streams of really blown out waterfalls. The 2 falls in question were like laser beams in the sunlight. Since I didn't have an exposure that correctly captured these waterfalls, my only option was a photoshop correction. Using the healing brush to capture the texture of existing falls, set to multiply, and fading the result, a somewhat better version of the photo was produced. Results below.

Queen Josephine · #7 July 6th, 2004

Both pictures are of the same shot. "Existing" is the original without any PS editing. The second shot is in fact the same picture, but edited in PS. Using the Healing brush, I selected portions on the LEFT side of the photo (where the waterfall had details) and used it to fill in the RIGHT side of the photo (which was blown out). AFTER applying the effect, I selected "EDIT, FADE" from the drop down menu. Also, I ALWAYS work on layers, never the original. This way, you also have the option to blend layers by changing the opacity of each layer.

dbevis · #8 July 6th, 2004

OK, got it. I'm a PaintShop Pro user, so I have only passing familiarity with the healing brush. I was not sure if you filled in from another shot or (as I suspected) from the same shot.

The PSP "clone" brush is similar but not quite the same thing (i.e, harder to get the same effect).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Queen Josephine

Both pictures are of the same shot. "Existing" is the original without any PS editing. The second shot is in fact the same picture, but edited in PS. Using the Healing brush, I selected portions on the LEFT side of the photo (where the waterfall had details) and used it to fill in the RIGHT side of the photo (which was blown out). AFTER applying the effect, I selected "EDIT, FADE" from the drop down menu. Also, I ALWAYS work on layers, never the original. This way, you also have the option to blend layers by changing the opacity of each layer.

nhfirefighter13 · #9 July 6th, 2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbevis

The PSP "clone" brush is similar but not quite the same thing (i.e, harder to get the same effect).

The difference between the two is that the clone tool copies a selected area exactly, ie: clone.

The healing brush, on the other hand, looks at differences between your selected area and the target area then takes out the different parts...one of these things aint like the others...if ya know what I mean.

rjgleason · #10 July 6th, 2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by FredG

Nice job! You mentioned something worth repeating: many people do not understand the blending modes and the fading capability, so bypass some very useful tools. They only take a little experimenting to understand, and they can create some excellent results, as you have shown here.

Fred G. Welcome back!!! Did I miss your return???? Pics? Hope you had a ggreat vacation!

BG

FredG · #11 July 6th, 2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjgleason

Fred G. Welcome back!!! Did I miss your return???? Pics? Hope you had a ggreat vacation!
BG

Hi Bob! Had a great time and played hard. Got home from southern Utah Sunday and collapsed. Gave the Mark II a good workout. I promise to post some pix as soon as I cull out a few of the better ones. I felt like I was peeking inside my head - there were rocks everywhere!

rjgleason · #12 July 6th, 2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by FredG

Hi Bob! Had a great time and played hard. Got home from southern Utah Sunday and collapsed. Gave the Mark II a good workout. I promise to post some pix as soon as I cull out a few of the better ones. I felt like I was peeking inside my head - there were rocks everywhere!

Glad you had a great time......welcome back!

lecter · #13 July 8th, 2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by FredG

Hi Bob! Had a great time and played hard. Got home from southern Utah Sunday and collapsed. Gave the Mark II a good workout. I promise to post some pix as soon as I cull out a few of the better ones. I felt like I was peeking inside my head - there were rocks everywhere!

Fred, I trust you'll cull the bad ones......

gparr · #14 July 8th, 2004

Welcome back Fred. More than anxious to see your shots.
Gary

FredG · #15 July 8th, 2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by gparr

Welcome back Fred. More than anxious to see your shots.
Gary

Hi Gary! Well, I have over a thousand snapshot memories, and hopefully a few photographs found their way in there. I've targeted this weekend to get some ready for prints and for my Dphoto album.