washed out highlights

[fndooley]

Dear PaintShop pro experts.... novice here. I have a ton of pics that I am editing my way through. Most do not have RAW availability. In your experience what is the best way to handle washed out highlights? I have tried the burn tool, the highlight adjustments, etc., but never really satisfied with results. Anybody picked up on any tricks they like to use? Thanks in advance. Fred

[hartpaul]

Use the eyedropper tool and sample in the washed out areas .
If the RGB values are above 250 then there is not much you can do as the information has been lost.
If the washed out areas are shy then there are a number of turorials available for replacing washed out skies.

[ehume]

Hi Fred

I had some issues with extreme contrast. My first efforts involved a flood fill -- one of the tools in PSP. The lighting was off. I ended up doing partial corrections in my raw converter and finishing up in PSP. Up on my toolbar, where I can get at them easily, I have the Flood Fill, Fill light, and Adjust shadows, midtones, and highlights. But don't expect miracles.

But nothing really rescues blown highlights. This is famous on photography boards. Those extreme contrasts I found? The light coming in the windows was properly exposed, which left the subject in the dark. And those were my least bad pics.

I too would like to see what additional advice you get. Good luck.

[leahcimi]

If the washed out highlights are the sky, you could replace it, either within PSP or via something like LandscapePro:
https://www.anthropics.com/landscapepro ... gKxvPD_BwE
If elsewhere in the image then low opacity cloning from another area might help.