Just about as common as wanting to lighten an image is the need to darken it. When I want to selectively darken an image, most often I reach for the Multiply blending mode.
This blending mode compares the two layers being blended and multiplies each pixel on the bottom layer with its corresponding pixel on the upper (blending) layer, creating a darker color.
The only color in an image that the Multiply blending mode does not work on, meaning darken, is white. You can multiply white with white all you like, and it will still just be white!
By using a layer mask and controlling the opacity of the Multiply blended layer, I can add drama and tonal range to any photo.
For example, high in Death Valley’s Eureka Dunes, I looked across the top edge of a large dune and pre-visualized this high-contrast composition in the late afternoon sun (left). My idea was to exaggerate the demarcation line between the side of the dune in shadow and the side in sunshine. I knew I could achieve this effect in post-processing using the Multiply blending mode, so I planned my shots with this in mind and took them accordingly.
Back at my studio, I started by duplicating the “Background” layer and naming the duplicate “Contrast.” For information about how to duplicate a Background layer, see page 55, step 3.
Then I changed the “Contrast” layer’s blending mode to Multiply. Changing blending modes is explained on page 75.
Next, I added a white Reveal All layer mask (for information on working with Reveal All layers masks, see page 47) and used the Brush Tool with the Foreground color set to black (to carefully paint the line of the dune and the sun side of the dune on the right. (I show you how to use the Brush Tool on pages 51–52).
These steps allowed the brighter, sun side of the dune on the Background layer to be visible, and the darker, shadowed side of the dune to become really dark where the layer mask allowed the Multiply blending mode version of the layer to come through.
Since this kind of high-contrast image works well in black and white, I converted the image to monochrome using Nik Silver Efex Pro. You’ll find information about converting an image to black and white in post-production on pages 167–173.
The final image of the crest of the Eureka Dunes is shown to the right and on page 82.
For another example, in this image of my wife and daughter (left), I wanted to emphasize the glowing expression on the face of my little girl. To achieve this result, I needed to darken the surrounding image so that extraneous details wouldn’t visually clutter the image (original photo below left).
As a first step, I duplicated the background layer that I wanted to darken and named it “Baby Face.” Next, I changed the “Baby Face” layer to Multiply blending mode. This created an effect of overall darkness.
I added a white Reveal All layer mask, and used the Brush Tool to paint out the areas that I wanted to stay bright, primarily the baby’s face (below right).
Finally, I took down the opacity of the “Baby Face” layer to the point where it looked attractive rather than too dark—about 50% opacity.
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