Luminosity Masking versus Blend If in Photoshop

[@reefhugger100]

My head just exploded. I have a glimmer of an idea what you are describing, but will have to watch this several more times. I am so grateful for your channel as it has the most clear and comprehensive instruction in Photoshop.

[@f64Academy]

Thank you so much 😁 that means a lot to me!

[@randydietmeyer5883]

The single best tutorial on luminance masks I have watched yet. Even skipping the 2nd half where you get into the Blend If stuff, you showed me how to create them (masks other than 50/50) without going into the Channels section and going through all the "click on RGB while holding down this key then click while holding down that key" stuff -which I can never remember.

[@f64Academy]

+Randy Dietmeyer I know, I avoid channels at all costs! Glad I could help.

[@bl4841]

some of this is some incredibly genius info. the curves adjustment to protect different tone ranges blew my mind!

[@f64Academy]

Awesome! Glad to teach you something new 😁

[@DalsPhotography]

Even though there are tons of tutorials on luminosity masks, there are very few showing how they are built, and how to use them with a photo in order to make different selections, plus masking, and creating different effects. On the other hand, you are one of the best ones, explaining clearly different photoshop techniques (and On1, and many others) . Thanks for another great video, Regards from Uruguay.

[@f64Academy]

Wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to share that with me. I sincerely appreciate it. Your compliments are well recived here! I am just glad I can help.

[@elldesignz]

I had been studying both Apply Image and Blend If for a long time, and I understood the operation of both but I really could not see the difference, and I did not know exactly when to use one or the other... and this had been terrible to me! Most of times, I ended up always using Blend If because I thought I had more control over this method. Now I understand each one even more, and I will can use the two methods to further refine the post-editing of my 3D architecture scenes. I have no words to express how grateful I am. Thanks, man !

[@karlthefirst8690]

Hey man, thank you for this. Granted, I’ve only been using luminosity masks for a few months now, but I still had no clear idea of that major guiding distinction between BlendIf and LM’s. Very good, clear, remarkably concise explanation, well done.

[@f64Academy]

Thank you very much! I really appreciate your feedback :) You rock! Keep at it!

[@hashemsuleiman8345]

One of the best videos describing luminosity masks and blend if, thank you 🌹

[@f64Academy]

Woohoo! Thank you, sir!

[@bobm2410]

Great info, Blake. You use the term "hybrid" to describe BlendIf. I like to think of BlendIf as an "organic" control--sort of a living selection that changes as the organism (composite image) below it changes

[@f64Academy]

Good point!

[@chepo1956]

Hey Rudis, Jose from Puerto Rico. Hope you're doing well bro! Mind blown my friend. I've been using your method in my edits to see how far I can get away with Blend-if, though I have to admit that (being totally transparent and honest here) I'm not using your panel. It's a bit too hard for me to get used to. But your method of Blend-if or bust I'm definitely using and embracing it. Like I said before, you're a gifted teacher and even though you go at 100 mph, the message gets thru!

[@loriendavy3248]

Blake, I give you full credit for helping me to understand "Blend If." I have studied all of your "Blend If" tutorials several times each ... and I am actually starting to get it! But this one -- OMG. At 10:38 you terminally blew my mind. Whodathunk? "Blend If" and Luminosity Masking combined -- Yikes! You have opened up a whole world of flexibility and capability for me. Thank you! Question: At 8:01, where you disabled the LM layer, and re-enabled the "Blend If" layer, it only made a small correction in the image; because you had already totally blown out the highlights, leaving nothing for "Blend If" to rescue, right?

[@f64Academy]

+Lórien Davy I aim to please :) You are very correct. since the image was so blown out there was only a very small amount of increase for the Blend If settings. The biggest takeaway is how the Blend If selection fluctuates (the magenta overlay) as the tonal values underneath change.

[@Ronin760]

Great instruction as always. The hotkey for luminosity mask - wow! Game changer. I never knew it until now. That alone was worth watching the video. Thanks!

[@pedzsan]

Being a computer geek, I would use the terms "static" and "dynamic". The luminosity mask is a static mask while the blend if is a dynamic mask. I need to play with these things. I generally don't tweak my photographs much. I publish, more or less, what I shoot. But my question (which I'll probably need to find out for myself) is if I can have a blend if over just a selection of the image. For example, the subject is a person and I can now quickly create a selection of the person in the image. Can I now do blend if and constrain it to what is selected -- in this example, constrain it to just affect the person.

[@f64Academy]

Definitely better wording 😉 yes you can do that. You can make a mask for the subject, then use Blend if on that layer or use a layer above it with blend if in a clipping mask to only target that specific area.

[@pbziegler]

I was just watching Steve Arnold use the RGB created luminosity mask to protect his darks and I thought to myself, Blake taught me to protect my darks (or lights) with blend if. Wonder if anyone has done a You Tube video comparing the two approaches. Naturally, Blake you have it covered. Great tutorial.

[@f64Academy]

Everyone does it differently. It just depends on whose teaching.

[@ksemi]

Combining Blend If and Luminosity masks is really another level ! Thank you for sharing those actions for free ! It will save me some money buying a plug-in. Suscribed.

[@f64Academy]

Ain't that the truth! Raw power right there!

[@TimYounkin]

Great tutorial. Keep up the good work. Hoping to find some free time on the zone system that I had purchased over Thanksgiving weekend. Looking forward to it.

[@f64Academy]

Thank you very much. I do appreciate it and the purchase of the ZSE, my baby! If you need anything feel free to email me.

[@viswanathanshanmugam2003]

very nice & Informative. Most of the tutors doesn't think in this aspect of comparing two strategies. keep going.

[@f64Academy]

Thanks! Will do, I like to do this with everything to see why one way is better than another, or where one way is a better use than another.

[@john3Lee]

Loads of really useful stuff, and very clearly presented - Thank you 😊

[@f64Academy]

Awesome! Glad you liked it.

[@rickb6029]

I guess that LM's add to the file size since each mask is a bit map of the entire image, whereas blend-if adj layers add very little to the file size. Thanks for the tutorial.

[@greenteablogger5873]

Superb video. I would like to see more in depth tutorial like this.

[@f64Academy]

Take a look around the channel, there are a lot of in depth tutorials!

[@FREDFILHOFOTOS]

Very very very good man, thanks!!!! Brazil

[@f64Academy]

My pleasure!

[@marcherrmann9635]

Thanks, Blake, for an amazing tutorial that is opening the eyes of plenty of us, I'm sure. After having watched this already two or three times now... and having definitely become thrilled by the power of the blend-if option, I'm starting to wonder: why the heck do we then still use luminosity masks? In theory I could imagine two reasons: 1) The LMs can be altered individually by, e.g., painting inside with a brush. But why would you do that? 2) The LMs fix and protect the mask. But I'm lacking imagination for a case where it would be necessary... Maybe you could point out another example, or refer to an existing video in which this supposed advantage of LMs is already described. Given that both tools can be easily prepared by applying a respective action, are there really practical benefits in using LMs compared to blend-if? Thanks, Marc

[@f64Academy]

You bring up two very valid points. Luminosity Masks or any masks that select something in your image are great to have to ensure nothing can be affected outside of them. They can be moved around the palette and still make their effect only happen on what is selected. Blend If, on the other hand is dependent upon the luminance values below it or within it. It is powerful, extremely powerful, but it can be unpredictable if you change anything under it. The true potential of LM's and Blend If is when they are used together. The possibilities are endless and what the Zone System Express is based on.

[@Gee-Wizz]

Great vid with exceptional teaching. Thank you.

[@ngodinhhoang]

Thank you very much!

[@f64Academy]

Anytime!

[@PAULFROCCHI]

Thanks Blake!

[@70dega31]

Really great tutorial! Very good explained! Thank you very much for that.

[@f64Academy]

Thank you so much! You are very welcome! Glad I could help.

[@effinyess9536]

I like how you make your luminosity mask based on a curves adjustment layer. Dynamic selection of a static mask. If I understand correctly the Blend if filtering is updating its masking in real time. So we make a luminosity mask based on an image and the luminosity mask stays the same regardless of altering the image. The blend if mode on the other hand actively filters throughout any changes being made on the image. If we make another luminosity mask after having changed the image we would again end up with a similar mask as the Blend if one, right? Heck I'll try for myself. Why am I just thinking out loud!?

[@f64Academy]

I like the way you think! You are also correct in your assumption. Did your test workout for you?

[@philippeb5485]

Thanks man! Understood thanks to your very clear explanation. Will try that in the future!

[@shiftingfocusphotography3525]

New subscriber and signed up for those actions! Incredible tutorial.

[@f64Academy]

Thank you :) I really appreciate it!

[@guseppe6934]

Best tutorial ever!

[@f64Academy]

+Giuseppe Baarh why thank you very much!!!

[@entra55]

Splendid !

[@matthewbrooks1589]

I definitely learnt something new here. Great vid

[@f64Academy]

Sweet :) my job is done

[@massimociarafoni9339]

Excellent tutorial , very well explained . Thank you

[@f64Academy]

Thanks for watching!

[@angelgarciahdz3768]

Muy interesante !! Muchas gracias por los recursos descargables !!!

[@sylviastagg-giuliano6229]

Thank you! Love your style of teaching! This one was amazing.

[@f64Academy]

Thank you so much! I appreciate it, I really do!

[@pedzsan]

One suggestion (even though this is a 5 year old video). When you say "and it is just affecting our mid-tones" and you made adjustments, go a bit slower or point out what I'm suppose to be looking at. I can eventually figure it out but I generally need to repeat that bit four or five times to really make sure I see what you are talking about AND (cause I don't trust anything) you are telling me the truth (nothing personal I assure you).

[@f64Academy]

All good and I do get it 😁 there are some videos where some knowledge is assumed based on the content. This video is intended for more advanced users of PS, therefore I don't go into every nuance of detail or this would be a 45 minute video and then the KZbin community would throw daggers at me for its length. It's always a push and pull on this platform 😁

[@sadagus]

You are the man...! really good explanation... Love it. I have to start practice, practice, practice...! Thanks a lot.

[@f64Academy]

Experimentation is the key!

[@jensvielmann7662]

Do you see any difference when using those techniques for blending multiple exposures?? I have only done this with lumi masks... but i asking myself if the feathering capability of blend if could be an advantage (for example). And Thank you for the great video. Finally someone that doesnt stop at "white reveals and black conceals" ;)

[@f64Academy]

Haha! Yeah, I like to dive in deep! You certainly can use it to blend exposures. In this tutorial, I show how to use it for sky replacements, which is similar in nature. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fojdepmanZugq6M

[@andylowman5530]

Very cool video man, always love learning new techniques for my speed art!

[@f64Academy]

Sweet! I'm just glad I could help.

[@toanvo8734]

Thanks you very much !

[@Bicslife]

perhaps a silly question, but by working in PS, aren't you limiting your information since you're no longer working with the RAW image file? Wouldn't it be more appropriate to work with color and/or luminance range masks within LR on your RAW?

[@celsoaz2]

amazing tutorial!! thanks!!

[@f64Academy]

You are welcome, thanks for taking the time to watch it.

[@adilsonm.2690]

I can not see an action to download :/

[@fenraven]

Bummer. "This file can't be previewed." Meaning I can't download it. :( Can't even look at the PDF file. Just thought you'd want to know.

[@simfor]

Very inspiring and valuable! Thanks so much!

[@monafriel4851]

One question: How does Color Range / select Highlights - Midtones - Shadows fit in with that?

[@acousticsong-guitarco964]

I clicked on the link for the actions, but once on the page, the download link is dead...

[@niclis]

this is like advanced Phlearn

[@sylviastagg-giuliano6229]

My head is exploding, in a good way! Thanks.

[@f64Academy]

Woo hoo! Glad I could help with this one.

[@prakkari]

A bit off topic. It seems to me that you are left handed. So am I. I am a pc guy, so I do not know if my problems apply to you. Being left handed can be a handicap regarding when doing comlex shortcuts like ctrl shift etc. The alt gr key on the right side of the keyboard does not have the usual Alt functions and is copleatly useless in PS. Thus I have to reach over to the left side of the keybord with my right hand to do these shortcuts, since I am holding my mouse or pen in my left hand. If you have the same problem, how have you tackled it? Is there a way to change the dunction of this Alt gr key so I can use my right hand for these shortcuts? Is there even a way to tell PC to accept this key as a proper Alt key?

[@f64Academy]

That is interesting. I am left handed mouse but right-handed everyhting else. It has been helpful when using the pen with the right hand and the mouse with the left, ambi-editing :) Aside from that I haven't noticed any issues with the way I use the ALT and Control keys. Maybe I am not paying attention to them, or maybe it is my keyboard. I'm not quite sure. I will try to be more present of mind with them and see if I can be of more help.

[@davebhianco4748]

Thanks so much!!

[@jacobtorch2168]

Thank you!!!!

[@pradoshjoshua4968]

Ctrl+Alt+2 to get the mask didn't work for me. Is this a custom shortcut?

[@cptbrncls7050]

your sign up form isn't working

[@f64Academy]

It works on my end, I am trying to troubleshoot it. I did have to click the button twice once. It seems it is sporadic and only acts up every once in a while. Here is the direct link to download: f64.tips/2lnx0o3

[@cptbrncls7050]

Thanks, good explanation of the differences too, though I think you could've used the term dynamic in place of hybrid for even more clarity.

[@f64Academy]

Probably. I usually don't write scripts so anytime I turn it on it is a stream of conscience. I probably didn't sleep much the night before, so my word choice was way off!

[@CPUBound]

Thank you for the link Blake. The sign up form doesn't work for me either. And thank you so much for this epic comparison between blend if and LM.

[@pbziegler]

this is the first video of your's where at a certain point my eyes glazed over. All good until you showed how luminosity mask is fixed and blend if is dynamic. Oh well. I do use both even if I don't get that distinction.

[@steveh1273]

how did you create the masks for darks, midtones, and highlights in your action? I noticed when you run your action, the masks are already created.

[@Nissan_Lev-Ran]

The Action file "can't be reviewd" why?

[@sayedmohdsalman]

Hi Blake, I am not able to download the actions from your website

[@leedavenport2169]

I get your emails but not a link to any actions

[@nixland]

blend if can not give midtone only isolation. am I right?

[@f64Academy]

+nixland it can if you move in the whites and blacks

[@nixland]

+f64 Academy Sorry, I mean if I want to do adjustment only to midtone area, how can I do it using blend if?

[@nixland]

+f64 Academy Aah, I just realized that the highlight and shadow slider can cross each other, which that can isolate the midtone area. Case closed

[@Nazareth434]

are the actions no longer available?

[@f64Academy]

No, go to this page and you can get them. f64academy.com/lmblaction/

[@Nazareth434]

@@f64Academy Ah Thanks, that worked-

[@humblepie3472]

The so-called link for the actions is only a link to the same video above, not to any actions. What's up with this?

[@f64Academy]

+Humble Pie there is a window to enter your email. Once you do a download button appears and you can download the actions

[@humblepie3472]

Thank you, however the window that's there now wasn't when I posted and I tried two different browsers.

[@Mrcherrardcohen]

Do you have a book for Photoshop tutorials?

[@f64Academy]

I don't. But I do have a ton of courses that are much more in depth: f64elite.com/f64-shop/

[@Mrcherrardcohen]

Cool I will check it out. I need to push my photoshop skills to the next level!

[@Mrcherrardcohen]

Just became a member!!

[@Lengo67]

Ya lost me! I think the two should be separated out. I'm in aisle 1. Come find me. I'm lost.

[@f64Academy]

One technique at a time :) Try one for a while, then move onto the other, then put them together. No need to take it all in at once. Do you go to the grocery store and climb to the ceiling to find what you are looking for? Nope, you go aisle by aisle :)

[@scotthill2567]

If I knew the hot keys as well as you appear to, I probably wouldn't need to watch this video. Great for reproducing your keystrokes, not so great for understanding what you're doing. Associate menu items please.