Blue sky to grey?

[terrypin]

I have this image showing the view from an Inn restaurant. It's a low-res web download, as I took no photo.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/401 ... Grey-1.jpg

However, when we had breakfast there it was a dull grey drizzly morning. How would I best edit the image in that way please? (I'm using PSP 8 but I expect the tools in later versions won't be significantly different.)

What I've tried so far is drawing a freehand selection around the windows like this:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/401 ... Grey-2.jpg

I then used the air spray tool set to grey, but it's a poor result and I'm sure there are better techniques.

Ideally I'd like the whole window to be 'dull', not just the sky, but that's an even greater challenge.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[LeviFiction]

Dramatically different? No, but it's possible some of the newer tools might be helpful.

The shadows are obviously from a stronger distant source than overhead lights so the effect won't be believable.

Anyway, I used vectors to give me that little bit of greater control around the flower. So that I could select everything in the window. Then used "Selections -> From Vector Object" is this available in PSP8?

I then duplicated the selection to a new layer. I reduced the saturation to go grey-scale using the HSL command in the adjust menu. Then darkened the whole layer slightly. Finally I duplicated this layer.

I set the first layer to Multiply, then I set the second layer to Darken.

Finally I erased the green foliage from the top layer. This darkened the sky, and left the outside world relatively dark.

And it still didn't look good. So I have no idea.

[photodrawken]

Hi Terry,

Well, I'll give you credit for a unique request -- most questions relate to trying to make a dull sky more blue....

There are three things that need to be done:
1. Desaturate the colours.
2. Reduce the contrast.
3. Remove the yellow colour from the sunlit parts of the image.

So, here's my attempt (using PSP X5):
1. Make a selection of the window areas and save that selection to an alpha channel. (Sorry that I was sloppy around the flower, this was a quickie....)

2. Add a Hue/Saturation/Lightness adjustment layer for the window selection and reduce the saturation to -30 and the lightness to -20.

3. Add a Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer for the window selection and reduce the brightness to -11 and the contrast to -37.

4. Add a HSL adjustment layer for the window selection and adjust the "Blues" range by dragging the markers in the colour wheel to affect the blue sky:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

5. Invert the selection so that the interior is now selected, and apply a HSL adjustment layer with the saturation set to -23 and the lightness set to -15.

6. Reverse the selection so that the exterior is selected, and apply a HSL adjustment layer to the yellows with a lightness of -13.

7. Reverse the selection again so that the interior is selected, and apply a HSL adjustment layer to the yellows with a saturation of -81.

8. Apply a Levels adjustment layer to the whole image to get some good blacks and contrast.

The layers look like this:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

And the final image:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[terrypin]

That looks great, Ken, thanks a lot. I'll step through it carefully tomorrow to see if I can get close to replicating it. I've no experience with adding layers like that so it will be a good learning exercise.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[terrypin]

Dramatically different? No, but it's possible some of the newer tools might be helpful.

The shadows are obviously from a stronger distant source than overhead lights so the effect won't be believable.

Thanks LeviFiction.

I should have added that this image will appear for a mere 6 seconds or so in a holiday DVD. So, as well as being comfortable with such a low resolution, I'm pretty confident that none of my very small target audience will spot the unrealistic shadows!

Anyway, I used vectors to give me that little bit of greater control around the flower. So that I could select everything in the window.

Although an experienced PSP 8 user, I'm way behind you guys in my experience of vectors and layers, etc. Could you amplify on 'used vectors' please? Do you mean you drew a shape with the line tool around the window and the flower?

Then used "Selections -> From Vector Object" is this available in PSP8?

Yes.

I then duplicated the selection to a new layer. I reduced the saturation to go grey-scale using the HSL command in the adjust menu. Then darkened the whole layer slightly. Finally I duplicated this layer.

That's typical of the sort of step I'd never have thought of. Can you briefly explain the reasoning that prompts you to do this please? I suspect it presupposes a depth understanding of all these 'modes' like the two you mention below, and is a pre-requisite to using them?

I set the first layer to Multiply, then I set the second layer to Darken.

Finally I erased the green foliage from the top layer. This darkened the sky, and left the outside world relatively dark.

And it still didn't look good. So I have no idea.

That sounds broadly similar to Ken's steps? What was unsatisfactory about the result?

I'll have a crack at both yours and Ken's methods asap, as I'm determined to grasp some of this stuff.


--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[terrypin]

Ken,

So that's what Adjustment Layers are for! As I'd hoped, your example taught me all sorts of new stuff, thanks a bunch.

However I floundered at the final hurdle:

"8. Apply a Levels adjustment layer to the whole image to get some good blacks and contrast."

I know I should really have pored over the manual. But time was pressing (it always seems that way when I'm tackling new stuff in PSP 8!) so I used trial and error, moving the four diamond sliders around, somewhat blindly. I didn't alter anything under General or Overlay. The closest I could get was with these settings:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/401 ... Levels.jpg

But as you see that still lacks good black and contrast, and the sky still has a little blue in it.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/401 ... arison.jpg

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[photodrawken]

Hi Terry,

So that's what Adjustment Layers are for! As I'd hoped, your example taught me all sorts of new stuff, thanks a bunch.

Glad to help. Yes, Adjustment Layers are also great tools for two more reasons:
1. They leave the original image untouched, so if the adjustments get really screwed up, you can simply delete the offending layers and start again.
2. They let you come back to the image the next day with a fresh eye and make some final tweaks.

moving the four diamond sliders around, somewhat blindly.
...
But as you see that still lacks good black and contrast

That's because of moving the "Output" slider. It controls the amount of black in the result. Return the slider all the way to the left (its default position). My "Input Levels" sliders are at 14, 136, 255.

For the exterior, you can adjust the Brightness/Contrast settings as well as the HSL for the Adjustment Layers of the windows.

and the sky still has a little blue in it.

Use the "HSL Blues" adjustment to expand the range of blues affected by moving the markers in the colour wheel. You can also move the center dot slightly toward the greens:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

My sky still has a trace of blue in one area, but I left it like that. My thinking is that if the sun is just able to break through a thin area of overcast to illuminate the table, it makes sense that some areas of sky would have thin enough areas of overcast to seem a little blue.

Your image is looking great. Congrats!

[terrypin]

Thanks Ken, much appreciated.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK