Shadow removal help

[MATT]

Hi,

I need help with photoshop. I have an image ( shot on film, I only have the print) which was a school formal picture of a family.

I have a copy of the image but my scanner is crap so is the image. I may be able to get a high res scan if I can work out how to fix it.

Now the guy that did it had his lights setup and arrangement so a nasty shadow fell over one boys at the rear.

My question is how do I repair it?? I tried dodging it but not very successfully. Just need it to be more natural. Also is there a technique for selecting the darker area only??

See crappy attached image.




Cheers
MATT

[Matt. K]

Try this for a starter...in Photoshop make a duplicate (CONTROL+J) and then in IMAGE/ADJUSTMENTS desaturate the image and then go back and INVERT the image. In FILTERS/BLUR/GAUSSIAN BLUR dial in about 3 or 4 and click OK.
Go to the layers palette (F7) and change the blending mode from NORMAL to soft light.
Now alter the opacity of the layer to suit. This should improve the image.

[MATT]

Thats MATT K I'll give it a go.

Cheers
MATT

[hart]

This is a great technique MattK, a demonstration of the before and after of this technique on a Clipsal 500 Grid Girl shot from yesterday:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/allandrick ... 565314245/

Before:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allandrick/407689587/" title="Before"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/185/407689587_f310d5280d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="remembering my name" /></a>

After:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allandrick/407709285/" title="After"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/152/407709285_d03ea55a01.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="remembering my name (reduced shadows)" /></a>