Thanks, everyone.
What I tend to do with images after i open them in photoshop is to duplicate the image layer and set it to overlay at 50% (adds contrast), then duplicate this new layer and set it to multiply at 50% (darkens). After that I use a big fat eraser brush set to 30% opacity and brush away parts of the new layers to reveal the original layer. In the image above it's pretty obvious that the sky and foreground were darkend and that was the method I used. Also, after I get that sorted I merge the layers into one layer. the I do some sharpening exercises. Step on is to use Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp mask at 20%/250 radius/2 threshold: this sharpens the image gently and boosts saturation and contrast. Next I apply Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen which is quite a coarse sharpening, but I then go to Edit > Fade Sharpen and set it to 50% normal, sometimes 50% darken...if you do too much sharpening you get ugly high contrast pixelation and the image can look 'bitty'. There's a couple of other things I do now and again, but the above is what I usualy do to heighten the visual punch of an otherwise dull unappealing image.

13 Nov 2007 8:01pm