Old Gritty Post-processing

[erwinlazaro]

Hi all! Doing this long overdue tutorial for one of my posts here about the gritty effect. The image I posted before is located at this link http://digitalphotographer.com.ph/fo...g+Danny&page=2

So the post process that I used was a fusion of Dragan Effect using burning and Dodging and Dave Hill Effect using some High Pass and Adjustment Layers.

This will be the look of the final output of the tutorial.


A bigger image can be found here http://www.flickr.com/photos/xlazarus/4013694023/

1. Ok to start off load the image you want to edit on Photoshop (Fig. 1).



(Fig. 1)

2. Duplicate the current layer. this will be the layer that you'll be working on. (Fig.2)


(Fig. 2)

3. Sharpen the image by clicking on Filter > Sharpen > Unsharpen mask. This will further enhance the grittiness of the image. (Fig. 3)


(Fig. 3)

4. Then we need to adjust the Shadows/Highlights by clicking Image > Adjust > Shadows/Highlights. This will further enhance the depth of the image. (Fig. 4)


(Fig. 4)

5. Next we use the Burn Tool for further enhance the depth of the skin by darkening the wrinkles of the subject. (Fig. 5.1 and Fig. 5.2)


(Fig. 5.1)


(Fig. 5.2)

6. After using the Burn Tool we will now use the Dodge Tool to enhance the highlights of the subject, in this case the eyes. (Fig. 6.1 and Fig 6.2)


(Fig. 6.1)


(Fig. 6.2)

7. Duplicate the current layer and add a High Pass to it by clicking on Filter > Others > High Pass then change the blending option to overlay. After adjusting the blending option you need to also adjust the opacity because if a 100% opacity will result to an over sharpened image. (Fig. 7.1 and Fig 7.2)


(Fig. 7.1)


(Fig. 7.2)

8. Create an adjustment layer and select Levels on the selection menu and adjust the settings of the levels. (Fig. 8.1 and Fig. 8.2)


(Fig. 8.1)


(Fig. 8.2)

9. Next create an adjustment layer for the Brightness and Contrast and tweak it to adjust. (Fig. 9.1 and Fig. 9.2)


(Fig. 9.1)


(Fig. 9.2)

10. After the adjusting the brightness and contrast we need to adjust the Hue / Saturation and adjust only the saturation to make the skin tone a bit more dramatic. (Fig. 10.1 and Fig. 10.2)


(Fig. 10.1)


(Fig. 10.2)

11. Last is we need to add and adjust the Exposure adjustment layer. This will add more of a dramatic depth for the gritty effect and still further adjust the brightness and shadows of the subject. (Fig. 11.1 and Fig. 11.2)


(Fig. 11.1)


(Fig. 11.2)

So after tweaking the image further to your taste your image will have a Sharp and Gritty effect like this.



Hope you guys like my tutorial

[robertalmario]

Thanks for sharing...

[johnaguihap]

thanks erwin...!! at last im waiting for this...!!!

galing talaga...!!!!

[willy_palacios]

thanks for the effort & keep it up

[sonnymiranda]

Thanks for the step by step instructions!

[Byron Hipolito]

Thanks for a detailed step by step instruction.

Now I know that what I'm doing is correct.

[Jordan Chavez]

Great tutorial! Will give it a try later.

[Michael Paglalunan]

nice workflow! will give it a try too...

[carl.clasio]

Cool.. thanks for sharing! I'll give it a try then.

[Russel_Ariola]

oh man this is perfect when i shoot homeless people. It would make them look more homeless.