STEP BY STEP

Behind the mask

1 Improve the tonal range

Import the start file, TYLR12.dng, into Lightroom’s Library and click on Develop. In the histogram window you can see that the graph doesn’t quite stretch to the far left. Drag the Blacks slider to -24 and Whites up to +18. Push Clarity up to +30 to increase the midtone contrast. The colours are rather weak, so push Vibrance up to +49.

2 Get specific

To tackle the under-exposed rocks, press K to select the Adjustment brush. Click on the Effect menu and choose Dodge (Lighten). Set Exposure +0.43, Contrast +34, Shadows +24 and Clarity +26. Push the Flow slider up to 100. Use the Navigator to zoom in to 1:2 magnification. Click to put a pin on the rock and paint to reveal detail.

3 Activate the mask

Hover the cursor over the Edit pin to see a red mask overlay indicating the edited areas. To turn the overlay on permanently, tick the Show Selected Mask Overlay box at the bottom-left of the photo. Some of the Adjustment brush’s strokes may have strayed over the background; fortunately you can tidy up the mask.

4 Erase the untidy areas

Go to the Brush section and click on Erase. This gives you a new cursor with a minus icon inside it. Set Size 10, Feather 21, and Flow 100. By default the Auto Mask box is ticked. This enables the Erase brush to understand changes in contrast. Paint on the edges of the rock. The Erase brush will protect the lighter background from the adjustment.

5 Use Auto Mask

In the Brush section, click on A to access your original Adjustment brush settings. Tick the Auto Mask box. Paint around the edges of the dark rock – Auto Mask will stop it selecting lighter background details. Keep Auto Mask active as you paint around the edges, but turn it off when painting inside the remaining sections of the rock.

6 Add the finishing touches

Turn off the mask overlay to see the lightened rocks. Boost the Shadows to 44 to reveal even more texture. Click on Done when you’re happy. Click on the Before and After icon to see the effect of your adjustments. Lightening the rock has revealed some sensor spots. Use the Spot Removal tool (see issue 60) to replace them.