In this video I’m going to share how to create precise and smooth highlight masks in Photoshop that can be used in landscape, portrait, wildlife or just about any photos where you want total control.
Click here to download the free action mentioned in the video.
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
Hi. How do you regard this approach vs using a Blend If approach?
Two different ways to do the same thing. There is no right answer and both have their place. Give both a try and see what you like. Thanks!
Very interesting technique and seemingly useful as I sometimes get that variegated/vignetted sky. Question though, what if I wanted to lighten the dark part of the sky rather than darken the light part? I get dark patches/corners in some of my images. Thanks
Where did you get that T-shirt…I want one!
Ha! I got it from Cades Cove Jeep Store in Townsend TN. Though… some one did unfollow me because they felt it was offensive to animal lovers 🙂 (True story)
Good grief.
The world is indeed a crazy place 🙂
But it’s BACON–I’m 98% vegan but when bacon is involved….hard to resist! People need to lighten up…
Ha! Yep they really do. For some reason people forget… even if I don’t wear a shirt that says I like bacon – guess what? I still like bacon 🙂
Super. Very useful solution to something I have fought with many times.
As always, great video. Thanks so much Matt.
I love this tutorial! Had no idea you could refine selection with multiple keystrokes in the Channels. Thank you 🙂
Excellent video
Hi Matt. Great tip! It solves a lot of issues for me.
But when I double click on the 2nd Smart Object layer (after having done the “Ctrl+Alt+Shift” thing on the RGB Channel), the ACR window won’t open. It just opens the image in a second window (the file appears as “Layer 0.psb”).
I’m sure I must be doing something wrong. Any thoughts?
Thanks a lot!
Hi Pedro. That means at some point you didn’t follow the tutorial to start with the raw file and open it as a smart object. If you open a photo in to Photoshop and then convert to a Smart object it will not work the same. Thanks!
Thanks so much for this smart object channel-highlight mask editing option. I had quite a few of these landscape images with similar effects. Your option gives me the best and quickest result by playing with the highlights and shadows within the RGB channels. Thanks!
Hi Matt, Thank you for teaching this topic. Looks to be a simple fix to a complex problem. Thank you for sharing.
Thank’s Matt this will definitely make my images better i’ll be trying this out later
Just a second to the note about “gradation” vs “gradiation.” The former is the correct word (there is no “gradiation” in the English language. Sorry, Matt, to point this out, my ears are sensitive to such things.
Thank you Matt. This was a great tutorial. Keep up the good work. I ordered your compositing tutorial an learned a great deal from them!
And I’m sensitive to people who don’t have the decency to correct people in private.
Great tutorial as usual Matt. Thank you.
Thanks Matt as always great tutorial.
Thank you Matt with the tutorial, as photoshop get even more complex please show use more, I have to photograph commercial properties and have to photograph then in a set time, no waiting the right moment.
This way of masking may get me there.
At last Matt, a way to use luminosity masking I can understand and get my head around. Cant wait to give it a try.
Thanks.
Why not use the sky replacement for a blue sky? Maybe a far better result.
Thanks Matt, this has been the best tip I have benefitted from in ages. Thanks heaps.
Thanks Matt for taking for informing/reminding us of some of the neat features available for editing our photos. Regards.
Thanks, Matt! Love that you think to show us the less complex methods as well as the other approaches. We don’t always have the luxury of time (or skills) to step through the more involved processes. Good to know/learn them, too, but sometimes it’s nice to be able to just turn the key and go.
I instantly saw a few that I could apply this technique to. Thank you, I am going to write down the steps.
There are pixel peepers but even worse are pronunciation peepers. See the following FYI: https://wikidiff.com/gradation/gradiation
And the only thing worse that that… the people who correct them 🙂
My English major brother says to tell you nothing personal was meant as it “takes a village”. It has been a hard 76 years living with him in the family.
Thanks, this is a great quick way to get quality changes in an images. Where did you get that shirt?!
Awesome Matt, thanks! I have many pictures I can use this on.
Very helpful technique, thanks.
I often wonder how you discover these tips.
Do you have any suggestions on the best way for me (your followers) to save this video for future reference.
Thanks
Sorry Matt, I didn’t see the download link at the top of the page. You think of everything.
When I go through the process and click on the mask icon, it creates an Alpha channel, and does not create a mask on the selected layer. I’ve watched the tutorial several times to make sure I am following the steps properly and always get this same result, an alpha channel and not a mask.
Hi Ric. If you see an Alpha channel you are in the Channels panel not the Layers panel. And a Mask will ALWAYS create an alpha channel as well too.
Just watched you Highlight Masks in Photoshop and it was very educational. I also have the TK Panel but I use it so seldom, I forget everything. For this video what you did was perfect and I think I can remember this. Thank you, you rock!
I love this! So much easier than luminosity masks for working on minor edits. Thanks a bunch!
Thanks Matt, this is Great tutorial and easy to follow.
Thanks. I too have the TK Panel but it is too complex. This makes it easy for the kind of thing you are showing.
Matt, I just watched Powerful Highlight Masks in Photoshop. Good job. I like the energy you bring to your tutorials. Your illustrations and explanations are clear, precise, and easy to follow. In the video, you went through the process you were describing twice — very useful for me.
Thanks,
Jim
Matt – Your a Wizard
This is GREAT, Matt. Anxious to give it a try. I do have the TK Panel, but have not mastered it yet. Thanks!