Help on how to remove a flare, please?

[Laurie Solle]

Hi there!  I'm fairly new to Photoshop and very eager to up my game.  I asked for help in another group with this photo, and someone messaged me and directed me here...to you!  I am thrilled to have found you and intend to check out all that you have to offer!

In the meantime, any suggestions for removing this flare?

[Damien Symonds]

Hi Laurie, thanks for posting.  Yes, it should be feasible, but it'll be tricky.

Did you shoot this in raw format?

[Damien Symonds]

@Laurie Solle?

[Laurie Solle]

Yes, I shot in raw.  Sorry for the delay in responding...I didn't get a notification like I expected. 

[Damien Symonds]

Ok, terrific! May I see your SOOR?  ("Straight out of raw" - that is, the raw processing done but no Photoshop work)

[Damien Symonds]

@Laurie Solle?

[Laurie Solle]

Yes, I shot in raw.  Sorry for the delay in responding...I didn't get a notification like I expected. 

[Laurie Solle]

Here is the SOOC before Ps...how do I know when you reply?  I haven't figured this out.

Edited September 17, 2017 by Laurie Solle

[Damien Symonds]

3 hours ago, Laurie Solle said:

how do I know when you reply?  I haven't figured this out.

I always reply, don't worry.  Just come back.

However, I've changed a setting in your profile, so now you should get an email.

[Damien Symonds]

3 hours ago, Laurie Solle said:

Here is the SOOC before Ps

I need the SOOR - the raw editing done, but no Photoshop work.

Also, you must NEVER crop.  I cannot stress this enough.  https://www.damiensymonds.net/2011/09/cropping-tutorial.html

I know it's a hard habit to break, but it's SO important.

[Laurie Solle]

I do not know what "raw editing" is to understand what you need me to send you.  Do you mean the editing I did in Lightroom only?  The image that I sent above was imported from my camera into Lightroom and then exported to a jpeg.  I've attached the file with Lightroom edits only.

[Damien Symonds]

Yep, that's the one I needed, thanks.

(PLEASE don't wait too long to take the Raw Class.  This edit makes me cry a little.)

Now, from that file, can you follow these instructions to show me a 100% crop?

Of the problem area, I mean.

[Laurie Solle]

I do not know what "raw editing" is to understand what you need me to send you.  Do you mean the editing I did in Lightroom only?  The image that I sent above was imported from my camera into Lightroom and then exported to a jpeg.  I've attached the file with Lightroom edits only.

Here is the jpeg of the problem area.

[Damien Symonds]

3 hours ago, Laurie Solle said:

I do not know what "raw editing" is to understand what you need me to send you.

Yes, I know, and this is catastrophically bad.  You're wasting all the potential of your photos   Please consider the class.

[Laurie Solle]

I didn't mean to send you that comment again; I don't understand how this conversation deal works to know how to start a new box, so I just added it to the last one.  

I only meant to send you the jpeg of the problem area as you asked.

[Damien Symonds]

This is the best I can manage.  Will it be good enough?

[Laurie Solle]

Ha, ha, yeah.  Good enough.  But I was hoping for suggestions on how to fix it so I can learn to do it myself next time it happens...perhaps that's not what this forum is for??

[Damien Symonds]

Yes it is!!!  I'm about to show you!  I just didn't want to take the time if you didn't like it.

Give me a minute ...

[Damien Symonds]

First, add a Channel Mixer layer.  On the Red Output Channel, enter 0, +60, +60, +12 for the four values.

Then mask that layer to the flare area (and a little more around, to blend it in to the surrounding skin).

Then add the two layers of the Handyman Method, and start patiently working to finalise the fix.  Take your time - work with low opacity brushes.  This is slow work if you want to do it well.

This is what your layers panel will look like:

[Laurie Solle]

Wow...okay.  Channel Mixer layers are brand new to me, as is dodging and burning, although at least I've heard of that...will have to add it to my list of Ps things to learn.  Thank you.

Since I first wrote to you, I ended up fixing the flare problem with a hand swap from a similar photo and delivered the gallery.

[Damien Symonds]

You're welcome.

[Damien Symonds]

There's more info about dodge and burn here: https://www.damiensymonds.net/simple-dodge-and-burn-tutorial.html

And it's included in this video: https://www.damiensymonds.net/liquify-demonstration-cloning-dodge-burn.html

And you can learn about Channel Mixer here: https://www.damiensymonds.net/channel-mixer-class