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This lesson demonstrates how to optimise lighting - utilising Adjustment Curves. To work along, download the start image Here. Unzip the file and open the image onto Photoshop’s workspace.
Adjustment Curves to Lighten Images Tutorial Here.
Adjustment Curves to Darken Images Tutorial Here.
Undo and Navigation Steps
Two ways of undoing steps are from the top menu, Edit then Step Backwards.
Alternatively, click a previous snapshot in the History Palette.
Navigate (zoom in and pan) your image using the Navigator Palette,
or the Zoom Tool. 
Activate The Hand Tool by tapping the Spacebar, keeping the Spacebar pressed, pan your image in the usual way. 
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Open your start image onto Photoshop’s workspace - then expand its grey workspace by dragging out one of its corners.
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Now, to add warmth, press Ctrl then M. This displays the Curves Editor. You will be altering three different Curve Channels. For the first curve, click open the Blue Channel, then drag the curve downwards a little - as illustrated below. Do not click OK.
Note
I am utilising CS3 and the Curves Editor looks slightly different to earlier versions; However, it works in exactly the same way as CS and CS2.
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Now, change the Channel to Red, and drag the curve upwards a little - again, do not click OK.
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Then change the Channel to RGB, and drag the black curve downwards, to darken your image, then click OK.
After you have edited the Blue, Red and RGB (Curve) Channels, your image will be warmer, and darker - and you are ready for the next step.
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Now, from the toolbar, activate the Polygonal Lasso Tool.
And set the following attributes into its Options bar. Note: The Feather setting is dependant on your image’s Resolution - and may need altering, depending on your start image’s Resolution.
My Lesson Here Fully Demonstrates the Polygonal Lasso Tool.
Click-and-stretch a lasso line in the shape of a double light beam, as illustrated below.
 
Quick Mask Tip
To view the area you are protecting, (masking) from the Curves editor; press your keyboard’s Q key to activate the Quick Mask Tool. The following red (rubylith) mask indicates the area that will not be effected in the next step. This means, you will be effecting just the light beams. Press Q to remove the mask.
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Press Ctrl then M to reactivate Curves. And working with the RGB Channel, drag the curve upwards, as illustrated below, then click OK. This lightens the area inside the selection marquee; creating the light beams.
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From the top menu, choose Select then choose Inverse - this inverts the marquee.
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Now, press Ctrl and M. Then drag the curve downwards, to darken the area outside of the light beams. Then click OK.
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From the top menu, choose Image then choose Adjustments then choose Brightness/Contrast. In the subsequent dialogue box, play with the Brightness and Contrast settings to produce a balanced glow - then click OK.
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Press Ctrl then D to remove the marquee - and if you feel it is necessary, Dodge and Burn your photograph to further improve its contrast. Dodge and Burn Tutorial Here.
11/ Optional
From the top menu, choose Image then choose Adjustments then choose Photo Filter.
Apply a warming filter, then click OK.
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Now, apply a Sharpen filter to your image - Sharpen Images Lesson. I chose the Smart Sharpen Filter - Filter, Sharpen then Smart Sharpen.
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Then apply a Texturiser effect, as demonstrated in my Create and Apply Textures Tutorial Here.
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When you are happy with the effect, your work is ready to save.
Wendi E M Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
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