Hello again, Welcome to this new tutorial.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to emulate HDR Effect, in only a few seconds.
At the end of the tutorial, you will get a PSD file. And once you update your image, the whole effect will be applied in a few seconds!
Please LIKE the video, and Let's get started!
Let's start by creating a New Document.
Use any values in both Width & Heights, in between 1000 to 4000 Pixels.
Also, change Resolution to 300 Pixels per Inch.
In my case, I will create a document, 2500 pixels, by 2000 Pixels.
Also, make sure that Color Mode is RGB.
Then click Create.
Now, Let's import our image.
From File, choose Place Embedded. and double-click your image to import it.
Adjust your image size as you like.
After adjusting your image size and position, please go and pick the Rectangular Marquee Tool.
Select your whole canvas like this.
Now, Select your image layer, then, press CTRL+J, to take what you have selected to a new layer.
Keep the new layer, and delete the other 2 layers.
Now, Right-click your layer and choose, Convert to smart object.
Change your layer name to "Base".
Now, Select your layer, then press CTRL+J, and duplicate it twice.
Rename This layer, "HDR Base".
Name the other layer, "HDR".
With the "H D R" layer selected, go and create an Invert layer.
Click on this little icon, to clip mask it.
This way, the Invert layer will be limited only to, the "H D R" layer.
Now, Select the "H D R" layer, then, change its Blend Mode to Vivid Light.
Your final result should be something grey like this.
Now, Select your "HDR" layer. Then go to Filters, Blur, then choose Surface Blur.
Change Radius to 25 Pixels, and Threshold to 30 Pixels. Then click OK.
You should get something like this.
Now, select the top layer, then hold SHIFT, and select the "HDR Base" layer.
Drag on this little icon, to make a group of them.
Name the Group, "H D R".
With the group selected, change the Blending Mode to Overlay.
Now, let's see the Before & After.
That's great, let's move to the next step!
Select the "Base" layer, then press CTRL+J to duplicate it.
Drag it to the top of the Layers panel.
Name it "Tone".
With this layer selected, go and create an Invert layer.
Clip Mask it, to effect only the "Tone" layer.
Create a Hue & Saturation layer, and also clip mask it.
Drag the Saturation slider, all the way down to 0.
You should get a something like this.
Now, Select the "Tone" layer, Then go to filters, Blur, and choose Gaussian Blur.
Change Radius to 20 or 30 Pixels.
Then click OK.
With the "Tone" layer selected, change Blend Mode to Overlay.
This should add a tone like this, to your effect.
Select the first layer, then hold SHIFT, and select the top layer, to select all 3 layers.
Drag and drop to group them.
Name the group, "HDR Tone"
Decrease the group opacity to 30%.
That's great, let's move to the next step.
Now, select the "Base" layer. Press CTRL+J to duplicate it.
Name it "Highlights".
Please make sure that, your Background color is white like this.
Now, with your layer selected, go to Filter, then choose Filter Gallery.
Under "Distort" folder, choose the "Diffuse Glow" filter.
As you can see, This filter adds white Glow to the highlights areas.
This will boost our image highlights a little bit.
Graininess adds noise to your image. You can keep it 0.
Change Glow Amount to 4.
Also, Change the Glow Amount, to a value above 17.
Then click OK.
Make a group from this layer.
Name it, "Highlights".
Change the group Opacity to 40%.
That's great, let's move to the next step.
Again, duplicate the "Base" layer, using CTRL+J.
Name it "Sharpen".
Drag it to the very top.
Now, with your layer selected, Go to Filter, Other, and choose High Pass filter.
Change Radius value to 2 Pixels.
Than click OK.
Now, change your layer's Blending mode, to Overlay.
OR, to a Linear Light, for more Sharpening.
in my case, I will keep it Overlay.
For more sharpening, you can duplicate that layer with CTRL+J.
Now, group both layers.
Name it "Sharpen", and let's move to the final step.
Now, Let's add some adjustment layers.
Select the top group, and go and create a Selective Color layer.
Adjust White, Neutrals, and Black colors.
Let's start by white.
Each color values, should depend on your image.
So, Keep testing your own values, until you get a good result.
Now, Add Levels layer.
Also, Adjust the Levels sliders, depending on your image.
Now, Add a Vibrance layer.
Increase both Vibrance and Saturation, to whatever values you like.
With the top layer selected, hold SHIFT, then select the third layer.
Make a group of them, and name it, "Adjustments".
Now, let's see the before and after.
That's great! Let's test our final mockup.
Now, Double-click your "Base" layer's thumbnail, to open it.
Now, we are inside our smart object. once you import your image here, and save it. all smart layers will be updated, and the effect will be applied in no time.
After importing your image, adjust its size and position like this.
Now, Press CTRL+S to update it.
Get back to your main layer.
Hide the "Adjustments" group.
Let's see the before & after.
That's it!
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And you can leave a comment below, if you need any help.
Thanks For Watching!