Emulate Graduated Neutral Density Filter- Using Paint Shop Pro X
Emulate Graduated Neutral Density Filter- Using
Paint Shop Pro X
On a camera, to help add punch to an image where there is a bright sky and a dark foreground, you could
use a Graduated Neutral Density filter.
But what if the picture has already been taken and you want to add some punch to a washed out sky? If the
sky has enough detail, a Graduated Neutral Density filter can be emulated. This tutorial demonstrates how
to emulate an optical Graduated Neutral Density filter in a photograph. It is based on the following article:
•
Create filter effects by Ben Turner, Practical Photography, March 2006, P. 82
The picture below is one that we want to darken the sky a bit, especially near the horizon so as to bring out
more detail. To select the sky, we will use the Rectangle Selection tool. Once the sky is selected, we will
use Levels to add the punch.
Open the file called Sunset & Sky 218.jpg and make a duplicate of it.
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Emulate Graduated Neutral Density Filter- Using Paint Shop Pro X
Step 1: The first thing we need to do is select the sky. Select Selection from the Tool bar.
Select Selection from the Tool bar.
Step 2: In the Selection options, make the following settings:
Selection type = Rectangle
Mode = Replace
Feather = 0
In the Selection options, make the following settings:
Selection type = Rectangle
Mode = Replace
Feather = 0
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Emulate Graduated Neutral Density Filter- Using Paint Shop Pro X
Step 3: In the upper left corner, click and drag to the other side until you are at the horizon, then release the
mouse button. The selected are should be the entire sky, as shown below.
In the upper left corner, click and drag to the other
side until you are at the horizon, then release the
mouse button. The selected are should be the entire
sky, as shown on the left.
Step 4: Next we need to feather the selection a bit to smooth the transition. Select Selections from the
Menu bar.
Select Selections from the Menu bar.
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Emulate Graduated Neutral Density Filter- Using Paint Shop Pro X
Step 5: Select Modify from the drop-down list.
Select Modify from the drop-down list.
Step 6: Select the Feather from the drop-down list.
Select the Feather from the drop-down list.
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Emulate Graduated Neutral Density Filter- Using Paint Shop Pro X
Step 7: Enter a value between 150 and 250 pixels in the field for Number of pixels. In this example, 150
pixels are used.
Enter 150 pixels in the field for Number of pixels.
Step 8: Then to darken the sky, we will adjust the level. Start by selecting Adjust from the Menu bar.
Select Adjust from the Menu bar.
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Emulate Graduated Neutral Density Filter- Using Paint Shop Pro X
Step 9: Select Brightness and Contrast from the drop-down list.
Select Brightness and Contrast from the dropdown list.
Step 10: Select Levels from the drop-down list.
Select Levels from the drop-down list.
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Emulate Graduated Neutral Density Filter- Using Paint Shop Pro X
Step 11: In the Levels dialog box, drag the middle slider to the right to darken the sky. In the example, the
slider was moved to the right until the corresponding Input levels field read 0.6. Then click on the OK
button to apply the change.
Drag the middle slider to the right until the
corresponding Input levels field reads 0.6.
Then click on the OK button to apply the change.
Step 12: Lastly we need to de-select. Select Selections from the Menu bar.
Select Selections from the Menu bar.
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Emulate Graduated Neutral Density Filter- Using Paint Shop Pro X
Step 13: Select Select None from the drop-down list.
Select Select None from the drop-down list.
Below shows the before and after photographs.
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