[MrsStuartD]

Here's the image we are using this time. Please download it, save it and open it in photoshop. We'll start this one soon.
http://www.outnumbereddesigns.com/sc.../MainImage.jpg

Step 1.
Zomm in (I went to 200% you may need to zoom in more depending on your monitor/resolution).
Make sure you can see the eyes.
Choose your Polyganol Lasso Tool and set it to "Add to selection" as shown here:


Step 2.
Now you want to make a selection around the eyes (by choosing the add to selection option for you lasso tool you can select the first eye and move on to select the second eye and it will select both)
Then right click your mouse over the selection and choose "Layer via Copy"


Rename your new layer "Eyes" and duplicate the layer (Ctrl + J) 3 times.

You should have the following layers (from top to bottom)
Eyes copy4
Eyes copy3
Eyes copy2
Eyes copy
Eyes
Background


Select your layer named Eyes copy4
Set it as follows:


Select layer named Eyes copy3
Set it as follows:


Select layer named Eyes copy2
Set it as follows:


Select layer named Eyes copy
Set it as follows:


We do nothing to the "eyes" layer. I keep this as a safe layer in case I screw up and need to start over lol

Now if you zoom in again (200% or more) you'll see that there are some unflattering lines around the eyes as shown here:


This is caused by an imperfect crop. Yours may look different than mine. I just did a quick selection to show you how to fix it.

Select your eraser tool using a soft edge brush and the following settings:


Select the layer named Eyes copy 2 and with your eraser tool gently remove the glowy edge. I do this by erasing the glowy edge.
It should look like this when you are done:

Do this for both eyes

And you're done. Now these settings are a matter of taste. You may want the eyes brighter or darker. It's up to you to play with the opacity and layer order until you find the look that suits you.

Please save this image to your desktop. Close up everything in photoshop and we are going to start new with the photo you just edited.

Duplicate your layer Ctrl + J (you should only have 1 and it should be named Background)
Rename the duplicated layer to B&W


Now we are going to be making the B&W layer into a black and white layer. We do this by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Alt + B or you can go to Image > Adjustments > Black and White Or for those who don't have access to do this you can desaturate in what ever way possible in your program) Just skip the black and white settings step)
A screen will appear. Set it as follows:


Now we are going to duplicate our B&W layer. 3 times (Ctrl + J)
It should auto name them B&W copy (1 and 2)
Select the B&W copy layer and set it as follows:

Do this with the following layers and set the settins accodringly:



Again this is a matter of taste. You can make the contrast darker or lighter depending on your personal taste

Here's the final image:


Hope you liked our first technique session (Part 2)!

[alilangel7]

I'm here for a bit. Do I have to do the other one first or can I hop on in this one?

[MrsStuartD]

Originally Posted by alilangel7

I'm here for a bit. Do I have to do the other one first or can I hop on in this one?

Feel free to hop in on what ever interests you Glad to see you!

[.Brandi.]

Okie dokie....

[alilangel7]

When I went to erase, I could only erase the bright when I was in "Eyes Copy 2." I couldn't do it in Eyes Copy. Did I do something wrong?

[MrsStuartD]

Originally Posted by alilangel7

When I went to erase, I could only erase the bright when I was in "Eyes Copy 2." I couldn't do it in Eyes Copy. Did I do something wrong?

Hmmmm was the layer selected in the layers palette but not selected in any other way? The reason we chose that layer is because it is the bright one that is causing that line you see in my example.

[.Brandi.]

Originally Posted by alilangel7

When I went to erase, I could only erase the bright when I was in "Eyes Copy 2." I couldn't do it in Eyes Copy. Did I do something wrong?

Same here!

[MrsStuartD]

I guess so long as you're erasing the bright part that's what's important. Hmmm maybe I named them incorrectly. let me check.

[.Brandi.]

Here is mine:



I couldn't adjust my black and white setting the same...so I did the best I could!

[MrsStuartD]

Originally Posted by .Brandi.

Here is mine:



I couldn't adjust my black and white setting the same...so I did the best I could!

Wow nice job! Do you like the result you got? Did you learn any new techniques to use?

[alilangel7]

Brandi, may I ask what you did in PSE? I am using it too.

[.Brandi.]

I really like the results I got, and I learn a lot of new techniques....when I convert to B&W...I just use the default settings which is way too dark so the way you showed us helped me learn to tone down how dark it is!

Originally Posted by alilangel7

Brandi, may I ask what you did in PSE? I am using it too.

Hang on Hun, I'll get you some screen shots1!

[MrsStuartD]

Thanks for helping Brandi! Wish I knew other programs so I could help more

[alilangel7]

Here is my color one:

Here is my B&W one:


Thanks for doing this! I am going to try on my own pictures. Do you always use those same levels on the eye brightening steps or do you change it based on the pictures?

[MrsStuartD]

Originally Posted by alilangel7

Here is my color one:

Here is my B&W one:


Thanks for doing this! I am going to try on my own pictures. Do you always use those same levels on the eye brightening steps or do you change it based on the pictures?

Nicely done!!

I adjust the levels and tones based on each photo. Every eye is different and needs different adjustments done to is and the same goes for the whole photo. But the steps are pretty much the same.

[.Brandi.]

Okay, this is what I did....

I followed all the way up to converting to black and white...since Natalie is using a different program...this is what I did.


I went back to where she set her settings for the black and white...I used the same numbers for the colors that I had present on my screen (Red is set to +31; Green is set to +41; and blue is set to -6):


Then I copied the b&w layer just like Natalie said and set them all to the layer settings that Natalie used, except for the "B&W Copy" I set the Opacity to 9%.

I hope that helps you!

[alilangel7]

Originally Posted by MrsStuartD

Thanks for helping Brandi! Wish I knew other programs so I could help more

You are helping a ton! Thanks!

[.Brandi.]

Originally Posted by MrsStuartD

Thanks for helping Brandi! Wish I knew other programs so I could help more

No problem...together, we'll all make it work! Most of the time, I can figure out a way to make it work for the program I'm using!

[MrsStuartD]

Well ladies it's 20min to midnight and I'm heading to bed! See you in the morning. I'll be checking the threads to answer any questions along the way. Thanks for playing along!

[.Brandi.]

Thank you again Natalie. Sleep tight!!!!