How To Blend Exposures With Luminosity Masks in Photoshop

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

Tutorial - Manually Blending exposures with luminosity masks is the most powerful way to create clean, natural HDRs. Find out how... www.shutterevolve.com/blending-exposures-using-luminosity-masks/ Photoshop Tutorial - Blending Exposures With Luminosity Masks

[@MarkusLandsmann]

Very good explain.

[@davet3530]

Very clear explanation of the values of Luminosity masks and their use in blending exposures. I aim to look more closely at using them in the future. Thanks Jimmy McIntyre

[@RodneyCampbell]

Thanks Jimmy McIntyre

[@oneandonlyjaybee]

Amazing, finally I've learned how to actually take the mask from channels and use it in layers!

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

Glad I could help!

[@oaschbeidl]

I just started going down the luminosity mask rabbit hole. Your videos have been a great help for understanding the process and I'm sure the easy panel will help a lot too!

[@gadsbro1054]

very outstanding!! ,,, sad to say i'm always jealous from other studio photographers who can do these stuffs!! a simple photo into an eye-catchy images !! they are really professional i say,,, honestly i'm a beginner,, completely an amateur in photography and my camera is only a nikon d3100 and bearing with its kit lens an 18-55mm,,, so i guess this is the trick!! i don't need to depend in any good lenses and expensive lightings anymore!!! these tutorials of yours is really a big lift!! thank you so much !! completely appreciated!! :) continue helping amateur photographers the "poor" ones i say,, like me,,thru these FREE , EASY-TO-LEARN tutorials,,,and those whose dreaming of being appreciated "really appreciated" in our works would be possible,,, thank you so much!! Jimmy McIntyre

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

Thank you for the great comment Christian!

[@JunaidHassan-junaidslife]

One of the best tutorial on luminosity masks! Thanks Jimmy! Love your work mate

[@denischurin]

Finally, I found a good tutorial about luminosity masks! Downloaded your panel and installed it. Going to try it in few days! :) Thank you very much Jimmy!

[@johnniewelbornjr.8940]

Very, very nicely done. I am always looking for new PS techniques that I haven't tried before (or have self-taught but perform inefficiently). This is a far cleaner workflow than what I have been using and I gleaned a number of valuable little things from the demonstration. Thanks! :)))

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

You're very welcome Johnnie!

[@armeniocavaco]

@@JimmyMcIntyre perfect except i just dont know how to import the 2 images in the first place ahahaha

[@LuminosityTrails]

Thanks Jimmy absolutely brilliant. I'd looked at luminosity masks before but had difficulty making them, your action makes it so easy. So glad you did a CS6 version.

[@marklawrence8653]

Awesome series of tutorials Jimmy, thank you!

[@malaltdefalles]

Very useful video Jimmy McIntyre! Thanks for it!

[@AhtziriLagarde]

This is one of most useful video tutorial I've seen on Yt. Thanks a lot!

[@jameshenderson2935]

Great Tutorial! Clear and informative!!! Thanks Jimmy!

[@markharris5771]

Thank you, I'm now getting my head round luminosity masks and luminosity blending. I've also downloaded your free panel which is greatly appreciated.

[@georgemclaughlin9001]

Thanks for the tutorial. Your instructions were clear and concise. Thank you.

[@Kenccal]

Photoshop Tutorial - Blending Exposures With Luminosity Masks Thank you Jimmy!

[@subhadeepmanna2936]

Thank You for sharing Jimmy. You a Rockstar!

[@dokola]

Easy panel and your tutorial are excelent.

[@alrichardson8759]

Cracking work. Great tutorial.

[@markharris5771]

Hi Jimmy, thank you far the free actions that downloaded with no problem at all following your detailed instructions. Finally getting my head round luminosity masks and will be buying Raya with the training course next payday. One question though...why does a man with your accent have a black and white chair?

[@MaximilianImaging]

THANK YOU JIMBO! GREAT TUT. KEEP EM COMING.

[@petergreen5319]

Your luminosity mask actions functioned great until the latest Ps CC issue a few weeks ago . Do you have an updated version of the actions available for download

[@paulcomptonpdphotography]

Hi i cant find the easy panel download?

[@AlexWise]

Great tutorial Jimmy, very thorough and well explained.

[@davidjleyland]

Thanks Jimmy Really interesting tutorial. Many thanks David ;)

[@NicolasRao]

Thank you its going into my collection.. I need to learn more about this..thank you.

[@CurtisWiens]

Do your tools rely on at least two exposures?

[@2emokiller3]

Is there a version of the panel for the german photoshop version?

[@acvoto]

Hallo Jimmy, thanks for sharing your knowledge. I have the same prob. like Andy. I started the action and select the channel I want. After I can paint with the brush wherever I want, it seems to the selection has no effect. regards

[@Fukuokanojin]

Hi. Your tutorial is very good but I got a trouble when I used the JM Luminance Mask. When I click on play a message appears " the object Alpha channel is not currently available" . I am using Window8 and Photoshop CC in italian lenguage. Thank you for your advice.

[@emilywong3667]

Thanks for sharing Jimmy. How is different from HDR? HDR also use under exposed and overexposed images to get the greatest dynamic range.

[@441greenleaf]

Hey Jimmy, i have shot 2 raws, with 1 over exposed and 1 underexposed, but somehow i cant do very good blending with luminosity masks, and this is driving me crazy. i am doing every step you are teaching us, but some how it doesnt looks good. how about i send you those 2 raw files that i shot, and you make another tutorial with them? i will be so glad and will learn so much i am sure

[@etlanxlan4531]

Hi Jimmy good tutorial. But may I know which format is good for luminosity masks?either RAW or JPEG?

[@purtroppoitaliano]

Good boy! You just earned my subscription. Saw this on 500px, keep it going!

[@laurent4534]

Thanks you Jimmy, it's very helpfull!!

[@1712sagar]

from where can i download the luminosity masks?

[@Euadam]

Thanks Jimmy, I think I am going to order the Raya Pro and tutorials this week. Much better and more natural look to the shots rather than the eye sore Trey Ratcliff crap.

[@gregcuvy]

Hi Jimmy. Thank you so much for sharing all your knowledge! I went to your blog and entered my email but did not receive a confirmation email or the panel. Is it still available? Thank you again!

[@2candan1]

This has really helped me so far and I'm managing two exposures, but how do I work with three or more?

[@davet4210]

Does the panel work in Photoshop Elements 13?

[@etomiao8401]

Can I use the easy panel on CS6?

[@ncs2000]

I have downloaded the luminosity mask easy panel, how do i get it to work on photoshop?

[@emiljwatson]

Hi Jimmy, Thx for the great tutorial. Ive tried downloading the EP Panel, but get the following message. "This extension can not be installed, it requires Photoshop version 14.9 or lower.". How do I overcome this. Any help woud be appreciated. Thanks In advance.Emil Watson

[@cre8tivity06]

My layer mask is white. How do I change it to black?

[@janusztriks]

Hi awesome tutorial. Could you please give us link to download this easy panel for photoshop cs6 I can't find it anywhere. All the best

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

Hi, the link is above, in the video description. If you can't see it, I've copied it here: www.throughstrangelenses.com/easy-panel-download-for-photoshop/ Thanks

[@janusztriks]

Thank you :)

[@artat777]

Wow great video

[@PAVANZYL]

ow do you get the secons image in the layers?

[@02366ss]

hi jimmy mcintyre, i went into the link for the easy panel but i couldn't get the email that the website suppose to sent back to me, i don't know why? are there any other way? thank you

[@JC-gw4jl]

Hi Jimmy McIntyre For landscape photos, do you prefer to use True HDR with photomatix? or Use luminosity masks?

[@Claudia-bj8th]

Hi Jimmy, first of all I'd like to thank you for your awesome tutorials and inspiring work! I am not very familiar with Photoshop as I process my photos mostly in Lightroom, and for some reason I can't get this process to work for me. Most of the times, when I select the luminosity mask by pressing ctrl + clicking on the brights 1/2/3 channel and then start going at it with the brush, it's as if the selection wasn't there at all. The brush affects any area of the photo I touch, regardless of whether it's selected or not. If you had any idea what I could be doing wrong, I would immensely appreciate your help!

[@magicmountainpercussion3336]

I downloaded and installed the panel and photoshop seems to have removed it. how do i get to the actions now? I see the folder that says actions. thanks.

[@SILBERTOR]

Yes great, but how to install Luminosity mask in cc? Can also install LM in cs5 or6?. Thanks

[@lolwhittingham]

If I download these lum masks .....where do I put them , and how do I put them into p/s ? please

[@maximusekkk]

I get the message "The object "channel "Alpha (1,2,3 etc)" is not currently available.

[@caliallstr]

I wish I could say this is awesome but every time I push play on the action I get the message "The object "channel "Alpha (1,2,3 etc)" is not currently available. What am I missing here? Thanks!

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

This problem has now been fixed.

[@caliallstr]

Yes it has...and the actions are awesome! Thanks!

[@mcgrhorses]

Hi, I've downloaded the easy panel but when I'm going to use it it says The comand is currently not available. What do I have to do?

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

Hi Cristina, you have to install the actions too. In the document I included there's a link to a video that will show you how to do that if you're not sure.

[@mcgrhorses]

Jimmy McIntyre Thanks a lot for your kindness! You've helped me a lot!

[@ogum51]

Fantastic , thanks a lot !

[@George-hl3qj]

How can I select without using the command on my mac

[@jeroen1989]

do you need 3 different actual pictures on different exposures like a proper HDR or can this also be done with just one picture in RAW and using the exposure setting making 3 different photoshop-made exposures?

[@benja1378]

jeroen1989 if you didn't shoot different exposures, that's the best way! 👍

[@02366ss]

Hi people, I know this is a very stupid question but I really need help. I couldn't complete the 1st part where you have to go to the channel panel and do "the ctrl+left click then move that bright3 to the layer panel and there are no selected area as well?" Please help me,

[@pernilla2896]

It doesn't work with the latest photoshop cc.. :( But a very nice turtorial I may add. Love your work!

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

Hi there This works with all version of Photoshop from CS5 upwards. Have a nice day Jimmy

[@SigurdurBjarnason11]

awesome! just what I am looking for in my images!!! :)

[@pms6182]

does this work on photoshop cc ?

[@bensdemosongs]

Is adjusting shadows/highlights in Lightroom similar to this, only with less control?

[@Manicha13]

Yes

[@tempestmagix]

hello i can't seems to find the installation file of the Easy Panel. thanks

[@tempestmagix]

i found the fix thanks

[@Jetkid03]

Vincent L where isit? i can't find it

[@mariogarabetov500]

I am doing everything in the same way as in the video,but when I start painting the mask ( e.g Brights 2 ,3 ,4 ) it transfers the darker exposure for the sky,but in that area the contrast dramatically drops.... and the whole picture looks crappy!

[@hey_miss_false]

Hi Jimmy! I downloaded the Easy Panel, i tried to work with it but i had a big problem. After I use Easy Panel and choose the "Bright 2" channel, I hold down Ctrl and click Left mouse button, the area appear. But then I go back to the black mask layer, I use brush tool to paint the white color on it, the choosen area seems useless and I still paint the whole photo T_T Can you help me? I think my Photoshop cs5 has an error or maybe I have to install the Easy Panel again. Thank you by the way!

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

Hi there, please make sure there is enough contrast in your selection. This article can give more advice on that: www.shutterevolve.com/luminosity-masks-cant-paint-inside-selection/

[@PollameWazzaaaay]

Hi! good work, thanks for sharing. I was wondering how do i align similar layers in PS, in an "easy" way Thanks, best regards

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

Hi there, with both layers selected, go to Edit>Auto-Align.

[@PollameWazzaaaay]

Jimmy McIntyre right. I noticed though that it's not really doing a good job if I dont enable the geometric distortion, which at the end results in a quite noticeble deformation of the image. Are you having the same issue or my images are just not good? Vers: PS CC

[@gsfxmentor]

Thank you for this tutorial

[@dmt99vn]

why dont we merg 2 image ?

[@amitabhmukherjee4954]

Very effective and useful

[@debrakiely4052]

I am following as I do the images. I hold control, click left mouse, go back to layers, there is no mask at all

[@MatsAndersson]

Great. Thanks.

[@AndyBuckner]

Hello - everything appears to be working fine as I follow along, but the luminosity mask selection does not confine my paint brush effects on the mask. I can paint in the whole picture, even when I see the marching ants selection. Advice?

[@oceandrew]

Andy, the luminosity mask does not restrict the brush effect on the mask but the visibility of the layer it is linked to. You need to have an active selection to restrict the brush action on the mask.

[@AndyBuckner]

oceandrew ohhh, thanks!!

[@oceandrew]

Andy Buckner Sorry, I misread your question.... you're saying you do have the selection activated. My mistake.

[@KhmerNinjai]

oceandrew What do you mean by the visibility that the layer is linked to?

[@AndyBuckner]

OK, so I guess I am still confused 😕 :)

[@PeterEsmyth]

Jimmy, Fantastic tutorial - Thanks. Loaded EasyPanel ok but bits do not work. I am using the latest Ps CC 2017 and a top of the range brand new iMac with latest OS. CREATE LUMINOSITY MASKS creates Brights 1-5 then "Duplicate command not available" DELETE BRIGHTS responds "Select Not Available" CREATE MID TONES creates Brights 1-5 then "Duplicate command not available" CREATE DARKS works fine Any ideas on what the cause of this might be ? Thanks Heaps Peter 14/7/2017

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

Hi there, Thanks for the message. This is a problem with the image, rather than the panel. The image doesn't contain enough information for the masks to be fully generated. This link will help you understand what I mean: www.shutterevolve.com/raya-pro-luminosity-mask-help/#Dup

[@eleche2biotech]

i have installed it successfully on windows 10. however, the action are "unclickable". any help?

[@xVGNJIHADx]

Jimmy I am getting lots of errors while trying to run the luminosity masks actions in CS6. Any ideas?

[@maximusekkk]

I have a problem in PS CC.. Alpha channel errors when I start "action"..

[@gypsegrl76]

How do you use the brights/darks/etc., masks with just one image? When I try my image keeps turning magenta.... :-/

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

Hi there, did you follow this video exactly? Make sure your Background layer is unlocked (double-click on it) before you start using luminosity masks.

[@gypsegrl76]

Jimmy McIntyre Yes, i'm doing all of that. I don't know what I was doing but when I tried to add a second (different) layer, when I went back to the Layers pallet and clicked on the background layer (as far as I know that's what I was doing!) the image would turn magenta, and the history would show I'd gone into some sort of quick mask mode. I had to back the history up all the way to before I started with any of the luminosity masks before it would go away. I found if I flattened the image after each one it stopped doing that.... ? lol sorry for the hassle but thanks for all the help! This has opened up a whole new world to me, if I can work out the details. :-)

[@gypsegrl76]

Jimmy McIntyre Hi again, just an update, I've been working with this more and I haven't had the 'red screen' and I've made more than one layer of adjustment so I guess I worked out whatever I was doing wrong. lol Thanks again.

[@SandorMakai]

Many Thanks, for Free luminosity actions but something wrong wiht JM luminance masks actions. Make only alfa channel and not Brights, Darks, and Midtones, but the delete actions try delete Brights Darks Midtones chanels.

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

Hi there, Is your Photoshop in English? You must be using an English Photoshop. However, this translator could help you: www.kyrsoft.com/ Thanks Jimmy

[@shadow479]

Nice method to get a realistic hdr and not one of those "radioactive" looking hdr photos.

[@gemlenz]

Why does my Layer mask start off white instead of black like yours does?

[@tannerbarlow7744]

Reverse the background and foreground color (bottom left hand corner)

[@gavvvvvinrocks]

Can someone please explain to me that when Jimmy starts going at it with the paintbrush, both the areas inside and outside the selection are effected, but the jetty poles which are inside the selection are not effected? Is the effected area defined by the marching ants or whats black/white in the luminosity mask? I cant wrap my head around it lol.

[@Maex__]

The selection goes around the jetty poles so they are not effected by the brush an stay the same while he is brushing over them.

[@gavvvvvinrocks]

So why is all of the sky effected even though its not included in the selection? :S

[@s1mpl3k1d]

Did you say "Press CTRL+H" on 3:44? It's the one that removes the marching ants.

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

That's correct Neil.

[@s1mpl3k1d]

Thanks! I got it working. OS X was asking me what I wanted to do when pressing Ctrl+H. It gave me 2 options. I got confused when it prompted me that window. :) By the way, I encountered difficulty doing the luminousity where my subject has dormant trees(no leaves) in the background and sunset. I'm getting white outline on the branches. I tried choosing Brightness 1 and Brightness 2 from the channel tab and it helped a little. What is the proper approach to this? Thanks again!

[@motebableesports2412]

very much thankyou for this video and mostly for the easy panel.your videos are great.can you make a video on HDR enhancing of sky.

[@stephencarmickle7993]

When I create a mask, my mask is white. I noticed when you clicked the mask button your mask comes up as black...

[@A1n2i3t]

Hi. Does it work for CS5?

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

Yes it does.

[@A1n2i3t]

Ive tryed to install it but the easy panel would not appear.in window menu.

[@chriscarroll5780]

love it thank you

[@userdsp]

Make a CC 2015 version please!

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

***** Hi there, the Easy Panel works with CC2015 too, since the latest update. Thanks

[@scraw188]

I download it, just to realize it's not for mac.... lol is there one for mac by any chance?

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

Hi there, The Easy panel works on both the Mac and PC from CS5 up to the latest Photoshop. Thanks for the comment. Have a nice day Jimmy

[@worship746]

I can;t get it to work on the latest PS CC

[@ClydeJonesTheBitterBuffalo]

Any one having problems with this in Photoshop cc 2014 does not show up at all

[@searchgr]

confirmed

[@rosealeenmccausland889]

Clyde Jones I cant see it in cc either in extensions help

[@riot.9]

Subscribed, but mask actions are not downloading...

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

+riot Hi there, please could you try a different internet browser, like Chrome or Firefox. If it still doesn't work, please email us via the contact form on Shutter Evolve and we'll send them along. Thanks

[@riot.9]

+Jimmy McIntyre Tried Chrome and it works. Thank you.

[@living.my.life.]

I can't seem to hide the selection on mac now, would be great if someone could tell me how thats done because ctrl+h just hides the entire photoshop :D

[@living.my.life.]

+Livingmylife if anyone has the same issue as I its a keyboard shortcut that needs to be changed nice and easy steps can be found on Adobe! Thank you Jimmy for this tutorial, subbed :)

[@LuminosityTrails]

+Livingmylife - Cmd H hides the marching ants on a Mac

[@arkjiang]

Isnt it HDR?

[@siwakorn19]

i have put my email (@hotmail.com) but it didn't work. i don't get the panel

Loaded the easy panel from you but it´s not working. Highly confusing to me. You should update your tutorial with the easy panel.

[@VincentDP]

I tried Easy Panel with Photoshop CC. It installs, but the buttons don't do anything - not even the "Upgrade" button...

[@squeakydaws]

Still no email

[@kevindrennen5704]

Great explanation. However, when I do it I get these outline lines around where the mask just selected and it looks like there is a glow around the area. Like, take this image for example - if this were me the mask would have some clipping around the posts and it wouldn't be entirely seamless. How do I correct this? To see exactly what I mean follow this link: www.flickr.com/photos/89369549@N07/21584614959/in/dateposted-public/

[@AwesomeMuku]

good man

[@paweldebowski98]

Very nice, but I need Photoshop to do it :P Future, maybe... Buying Lightroom is very big event for me, so I don't even think about PS xD My CS2 is not enough :P

[@paweldebowski98]

It's illegal in my country :(

[@MagnusG99]

Great tutorial! However, no email were sent so me after entering my email-adress :(

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

Hi there, could you please check your SPAM folder. I've resent the confirmation email. Thanks

[@MagnusG99]

Jimmy McIntyre No sorry, it didn´t got stuck in my spam-filter. I will try another email.adress.

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

Okay, but let me know if you still don't receive it and I'll send it to you.

[@MagnusG99]

Jimmy McIntyre Still no go. Could you send it to me instead? Thanks Jimmy!

[@JimmyMcIntyre]

***** I've just sent it to you. Keep an eye on your SPAM folder :) Thanks

[@TonyFernandezjkdjedi]

Thats weird, I can't even get past creating one of them black layer boxes.. O.o it comes out white.. dang rookie here :(

[@TonyFernandezjkdjedi]

Figured it out.. (PC- alt key+add layer mask) :)