I have specular highlights on a subject that I cannot reshoot.

Just wondering if I could use, for example, the Magic Wand tool to select those highlights and then simply darken them using a Brigtness/Contrast Adjustment Layer?

If yes, then how do I set the Magic Wand tool parameters?

If no, then which tool, if any, should I use?

Many thanks.

D.

Have you tried the Shadow Highlight tool? I find it can sometimes pull a bit back into the really bright specular highlights.

Alternatively, perhaps try using the "Blend If" function in conjunction with an adjustment layer, rather than a simple mask/selection.

Could you not just use the levels slider and simply pull back on your brightest values. If you use it on an adjustment layer you could use a mask and paint back in the other highlites you wish to keep.

John

Use the burn tool with a low exposure tagetting the highlights. Small soft brush over the affected area to soften the specular highlights.

You could add a layer and fill it with a tone of 250 swop it with the back ground layer (so put the back ground above newlayer) then in the layer props blend if grey is above 249.

Whatever one's views on polarizing gels/filters, here's a technique that I've worked out that works very well for removing specular highlights if you can't/don't want to use the gels/filters.

1. Create new background copy.

2. Enlarge image to about 700%.

3. Choose Select/Colour Range.

4. Set Fuzziness slider to about 30 - though you will have to experiment a bit.

5. Using the eyedropper tool, select a pixel from a highlight. Click OK.

6. Restore image to full screen.

7. Open new Brightness/Contrast Adjustment Layer.

8. Reduce the brightness to taste.

That's it!

If the overall reduction in highlight isn't adequate, repeat steps 4-8 but increase the value on the Fuzziness slider.

Alternatively, do it once and then do it all again using a different eyedropper selection so that you build up an effect by stages.



D.

Try the patch tool

Duplicate the background, use the patch tool to repair the area, and then reduce the layer's opacity to blend in the result - sometimes opting to alter the layer blend mode to luminosity.

I use the quick selection tool as it is quick and accurate! Experiment with the selection, sometimes making it slightly bigger than the area concerned.

The patch tool method is just one tool and will not work with all subjects. Experiment with various sections of the image that you select with the patch tool, even if they are not of the same hue as you can alter the layer's blend mode to luminosity.

You also have the option to add a layer mask to the patch tool layer to brush in/out the pixels with a soft brush.

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