MerryGoRound

[mikemeister_admin]

First try. Started with a quick shadow/highlight correction in PSE. In CM lab mode set shadow, highlight and neutral. Adjusted brightness curve. Increased saturation. Applied unsharp mask.
Thomas

[ggroess]

Some of the upper shadows are still locked up at least in the version I see on the web. 

Did you try the lizard tail on the shadows??

Greg

[mikemeister_admin]

No I did not. Never used it. Here is a first try. Question. Is there a fast way to enlarge the curve window you want to adjust?
Thomas

[ggroess]

Much better.  The shadows are better in the top of the image...

Hmm, I usually just drag the center bar across the screen with the selected curve in the curve window.  Maybe Mike could give us a 30, 60 , 90 window and keystroke combo....


Greg

[mikemeister_admin]

From this weeks assignment I understand that this picture preferably to be done in RGB. I did it, as above, in LAB by routine. Now I tried in RGB but lizard curve was in LAB as I did not manage in RGB. I must say I prefer LAB version as it was easy to increase colour but maybe missed something!
Thomas 

[ggroess]

No miss there the LAB color space is certainly easier to manage things like brightness. 
the separation of color information from brightness is key to these kinds of adjustments. 

Don't get me wrong LAB can be awful for many images...especially if you need more than 1 neutral.

Greg