[Leica] How to fix this image

[firkin at ncable.net.au (Alastair Firkin)]

thanks for such a clear answer, I will work on this later, sound very  
useful

Cheers
On 19/11/2006, at 11:51, Eric wrote:

> Alastair:
>
>> How do I clean up the distant mountains without affecting
>> the foreground?
>
>> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alastair/album184/ 
>> album119/2004NepalLge9.jpg.html
>
> Photoshop Masking & Compositing by Katrin Eismann:
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Photoshop-Masking-Compositing-VOICES-Eismann/ 
> dp/0735712794
>
> The easiest way to create a mask for an image like this is to go to  
> the
> channels display.  Duplicate one of the channels.  Doesn't matter  
> which one.
> Call it mask or foreground mask or whatever descriptive name suits  
> your
> fancy.  Now, with only that channel selected, call up the levels  
> dialog.
> Slide the left-most triangle to the right.  You'll see the shadows  
> block up.
> Drag the right-most triangle to the left.  You'll see the  
> highlights blow
> out.  Keep doing this until you're left with mainly a black  
> foreground and a
> white background.  It won't be perfect, but it will be easy enough  
> to clean
> up the area with a large paintbrush.  The border between the two is  
> what you
> want to make look good.  Might want to do a small blur to this mask  
> just so
> there isn't an abrupt cutoff between black and white.  Then, you  
> can use
> this channel as a selection.  If you select this channel and then  
> add a new
> fill or adjustment layer, this selection will automatically be part  
> of the
> layer mask.
>
> That should get you started...