Damien Symonds

Yes, but not just the right-hand number. Check all of the numbers. Oh, wait, sorry, I forgot which job this was. Yes, just the right-hand number.

Download the PSD file First, add the Levels layer with the same values I used (on all three channels) and mask it carefully to the stain area with a 100% brush. Then drop to a 5% brush, and gently paint back with black, areas which are now too light. Keep painting very patiently and carefully until you've made it as perfect as possible. But I feel it's impossible to make it completely perfect with the Levels layer alone. Therefore, the next step is to add the blank layer above, and choose your Clone Tool. Make sure it's set to "Sample:Current and Below" in the options bar. Clone with the tool at 20% opacity. Work patiently, blending everything until it looks nice.

Great. Now start very patiently working with The Handyman Method. It will take a fair bit of time, so don't rush it.

Would this be ok?

Great, that's more like it. Lovely photo! You'll find that this problem is harder to fix than it should be, while you've got all that red channel clipping at the shadow end. Can you re-process the raw file without it, then post the photo again?

Did you ever get that info from the printer?

What was the outcome of this, Monique?

Yay! This should be the second one you make: http://www.damiensymonds.net/act_web.html

Right.

Oh yes, do you have the new "Export" instead?

Hi Glynda, can you post the photo again? Something seems to have gone awry, it's really fuzzy.

Yeah, not easy. Did you take any other photos showing hair at different angles? Lying on the side, or even just turned to the side a little? Anything that might provide some hair we could borrow?

There are no "tricks", sorry. Just clone or copy a big chunk of detail from elsewhere, and mask it on.

Oh, good job! She will never know.

You'll find everything a lot easier now

No, you're following the wrong instructions. Go back to this page and choose the correct ones.

Yep, that'll do.

Brush opacity, NOT layer.

Well, it's exactly how it looks. I added a black Solid Color layer, then inverted the mask, then very gently painted on with a 5% white brush.

What? No, it's just to add a bit of shadow. Can't you see that when you turn it off and on?

Oh, sorry! Yes, that's exactly right.

Not here. Post in the class.

Badly wrong, yes.

Oh dear. This won't be easy, but I'm confident we can fix it if we work carefully. First, go ahead and do your raw processing as normal, then post again for me when you're ready for the Photoshop work to begin.

Great!