File this one under both "gay" and "geek." I've been puttering around with Photoshop for years and recently realized I had gotten to the ends of my play-with-settings-and-see-what-happens style of self-training. So I've started picking up "how to" magazines.
My first project was safely in the beginner category: playing with adjustment layers, and gaining a better understanding of the uses of the various tools Photoshop has to offer.
I suppose it could've used the standard type of image they use in these magazines — something like a house by a lake — but I decided to go with something a little more interesting. Fewer things are more interesting than semi-naked men.
ORIGINAL
hot pic but washed out
NEW & IMPROVED
3 Brightness/Contrast layers and 1 Color Balance layer later, we have a picture that's much friendlier to the eye. As always with Photoshop, the hard part was the selection. Separating the background from the foreground took a little work and the right tool (the Quick Selection pen) but it was worth it, I think.
Now on to bigger and better projects involving houses and lakes and stuff...
