Iris #1 - Contrast, Saturation & Clarify
Original ---- Enhanced

How I did it...

Using PSP8:   Iris - #1.

• 1. Objective: Explore the one button fix and auto enhancement effects and creating a sharper, brighter, almost luminecent iris.
• 2. Often initially using the auto enhancement features may correct and/or enhance photo's satisfactorily.
• 3. Illustrations Using Enhance Photo Toolbar: View || Toolbars || Photo ...
  • A. One Step Photo Fix: Often this script will sharpen and enhance a photo. Try it first and see if the result is what you like. In the Iris Photo, the result is much too bland even though a bit sharper.
  • B. On separate duplicated Layers of original photo, experiment with each of the Auto Enhance effects. Frequently as you experiment, use the 'Proof' button to return to a previous level or result.
       1. Auto Color Balance: Found this too dull and too Orange even when slider moved all the way right to a blue cast.
       2. Auto Contrast: I found this effect more to my liking and then experimented with its values setting on:
         Bias = Lighter
         Strength = Mild
         Appearance = Bold
  • Comment: More to my liking though wanted to see if I could sharpen it more.
• 4. New Duplicated Layer and Auto Saturation: I liked the addition of a bit more color and used these settings:
       Bias = More Colorful
       Strength = Normal
       Skintones present = Unchecked
• Comment: Better to my liking but still wanted to see if other auto effects enhanced photo in additional ways.
• 5. New Duplicated Layer and Clarify: Increased the color and sharpness particularly at a Strength of Effect level of 5.
• 6. New Duplicated Layer and Adjust || Sharpness || Sharpen More.
       Comment: Very subtle sharpening of the photo. Tried it twice but did not like the second sharpen as it made leaves a bit grainy.
• 7. Final Check: I promoted the bottom background layer and then moved it to the top layer so I could more easily compare the resultes of each lower layer. I found my final enhancement to my liking.

Prof