Can you save this photo? Photoshop moms to the rescue!

[ciaobella]

I love this photo of my DS - showing off his new big boy hair cut! Unfortantely, it has a sun burst and I don't know any tricks in photoshop to fix it. Any suggestions? I know it needs to be darkened, but I thought that I would probably need to fix the sun burst, if possible, first. Thanks for your help!

Anne

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/32115.jpg

[jasabo]

I don't know how to fix it but wanted to say that your ds is too cute!! Looks like a future pro-football player! :)

Lisa - mom to 2 1/2 yr old twin boys

[s7714]

I would use the burn tool to gradually darken the sun spot area on him. You wouldn't want to darken it too much, because the sun is naturally making his hair and shirt lighter on the side. I'd just darken it enough so that it's not a glaring spot. The burn tool would get rid of almost everything but the very edge of the sun spot, because it's like a lighter line. Then I'd use a variety of tools, from rubber stamp, to airbrush (with skin tone color selected). Maybe even a little smudging or bluring too (just be careful not to blur too much or it'll make the picture streaky.)

I played around with it quickly using above methods. As you can see, using the burn tool fixes most of the area. That edge of the sun spot will require a little bit of patience to get his skin tone all evened out so it doesn't look obvious. You can still see a line on the example I uploaded, but you could easily fix something like that with a little patience. ;)ETA: I'd probably darken his temple just a little bit more than what I have it here too...
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/32116.jpg

HTH,
Jennifer
Mommy to
DD 3/03
DD 6/05

Calling fellow BBB SoCal moms...we'd love to meet you!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/babybargainssocal/

[ciaobella]

Thanks for the tips -- I have never heard of the burn tool. Is it available in Elements? I should have specified that before. :)

I love to tinker though, so I am more than willing to try anything!

Thanks again - your touch ups look great!

[s7714]

Yep, it's in Elements too. In Elements it's down at the very bottom of the tool bar--looks like a hand pinching something (see attached picture). Once you select the tool, you'll want to adjust the settings (at the top of the screen). Start with something light like a 10-20% burn and fairly large brush size (so you don't end up with a bunch of little spots).

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/32117.jpg

Have fun!
Jennifer
Mommy to
DD 3/03
DD 6/05

Calling fellow BBB SoCal moms...we'd love to meet you!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/babybargainssocal/

[ellies mom]

Yes, the burn tool is the one that looks like the pinching hand. In Elements 4.0, you can find it if you click on the "sponge" (way at the bottom). I believe in 2.0 it was just there and you didn't have to hunt for it.

[kransden]

I just used the blend brush in MS Image Pro (same as Photoshop blend),
3 minutes and this is what I got. I also did a color adjustment. I didn't fix the eye area.

Karin and Katie 10/24/02