Damien Symonds

Download the PSD The initial combo of Channel Mixer and Levels was almost enough by itself, but to polish it off, I found it needed the addition of the two Handyman Method layers as well.

Ok, may I see a screenshot of it? Your whole screen, including toolbars and stuff, thanks.

And have you made doubly sure your watermark file is RGB?

Ok, great, then you shouldn't need to change the Fit Image step at all? My default setting should already be 720x720, yes?

This is the best I can manage. Do you think it's ok?

Great. And have you jotted down all your relevant info, the way I did here? http://www.damiensymonds.net/images/actions/wmact16.jpg

Hi Emzy, which one of the four actions are you using?

I just want a nice raw edit. Not too dark. Backdrop extensions and stuff, don't matter right now.

Please please PLEASE take the Raw Class. This needs to be SO much better, if you want to have any chance of achieving the look you desire.

No, white would be too stark, I think. It would be better to go black. Simply add a black Solid Color adjustment layer, and mask it carefully around. Don't forget the Shift Key.

Right. And that's what I want to see.

Well, yes, by re-scanning it. But if that isn't an option, I suppose you'll have to try gentle desaturation. One does not simply "remove" a background. One "replaces" a background. So, you need to tell me what you want to replace it with.

Oh darn If this ever comes up again, follow these guidelines. Anyway ... You actually wrote the answer in your question The wonderful Dust and Scratches filter

Which is why I beg you to take The Raw Class before too much longer. It will make everything make a lot more sense. Correct. That's why your raw processing must be PERFECT before moving on to Photoshop work, because there is no going back. Because you only sent me the raw file, not the accompanying xmp file, I can't see what you've done. But that's ok, I just need you to save a jpeg version of what you've done, and post it right here in the thread.

A bit more info here as well.

See under the histogram, there are three sliders? A black one, a grey one in the middle, and a white one? The numbers I gave you, as I said, are for the black one on each channel.

Oh, great!!!

Right. So try again for me. On the actual raw file.

So, earlier, when I said: ... you didn't actually go back to the raw file?

It will end with ".CR2" if you have a Canon, or ".NEF" if you have a Nikon, or ".ORF" if you have an Olympus, etc, etc.

Whoa, no, that's not right. I want the actual raw file that came out of your camera.

Hmmm ... do you mind sending me the raw file?

Yes, I'm happy to have a go, but you'll need to give me a raw edit with much more light in the shadow areas.

Now, add a Hue/Saturation layer and clip it to the Levels layer. Then slowly lower the Saturation slider to your taste.

Hi Cathy, have you found this one? http://www.damiensymonds.net/tut_white.html