Photoshop Smart Objects: intelligent blending using one raw file

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In our latest Raw Tuesday post on using the raw format, discover how to work these sliders in a different way to produce pleasing black and white photo effects. Raw format files processed through Adobe Camera Raw can be opened as Photoshop Smart Objects. This means that you have the option to bring the image from Photoshop back into Camera Raw at any time, simply by double-clicking the Smart Object thumbnail in the Layers Panel.

There are several advantages to working this way. First and foremost, it means you can change your mind about any edits made in Camera Raw, such as a crop or sharpening settings. But it also opens up more creative possibilities.

By duplicating a Photoshop Smart Object layer, you can combine different treatments made in Camera Raw using Blend Modes. Don’t worry if this sounds complicated, in practice it’s very easy.

Our before image

Within minutes you can transform a flat scene into a punchy, detailed landscape. Here’s how it’s done.

01 Open start image
Open your start image into Camera Raw then set Temperature to 5000, Tint -7, Vibrance +50.

02 Remove chromatic aberration
Go to the Lens Correction option in the menu and then check ‘Remove Chromatic Aberration’.

03 Graduated filter
Click on Graduated Filter tool. Hold Shift then drag a line from sky to land. Set Exposure to -1.35. Hold Shift and click ‘Open Object’.

04 New Smart Object
In the Layers Panel, right-click the layer and choose New Smart Object via copy. Double-click copy’s thumbnail to go back to Camera Raw.

05 Tonal tweaks
Set Exposure -0.40, Contrast +60, Highlights -100, Shadows +80, Whites -50, Blacks +50, Clarity +100, Saturation -100.

06 Make tone curve panel adjustment
Go to the Tone Curve Panel. Under Parametric, set Highlights +10, Lights +25, Darks -25. Click OK.

07 Luminosity blend mode
In the Layers Panel, click on the Blend Mode drop-down and then choose Luminosity.

08 Removing edge halos
To fix unwanted halos, press Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Alt+E to merge a copy of the layers, then grab the Burn tool. Set Range: Highlights, Exposure 10%, and brush carefully over the edge halos.

Posted on Tuesday, November 6th, 2012 at 7:00 pm under Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials.