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cherylj70985193
Participant
July 8, 2017
Question

[How to apply graduated] neutral density filter [effect in PSE13]?

  • July 8, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 2109 views

Hi

How do I apply neutral density filter in photoshop elements 13?

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

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    cherylj70985193Author
    Participant
    July 9, 2017

    Thanks for your response. Yes, I did mean graduated neutral density filter often used for landscape shots. I heard Lightroom has this feature, just wondering if i can do on Elements 13 and how to do it?

    MichelBParis
    MichelBParis
    Legend
    July 9, 2017

    cherylj70985193  wrote

    Thanks for your response. Yes, I did mean graduated neutral density filter often used for landscape shots. I heard Lightroom has this feature, just wondering if i can do on Elements 13 and how to do it?

    Here is one way in two steps:

    1 - add an adjustment layer (brightness / contrast) and move the brightness contrast left (something like -30%)

    2 - in the layer palette, be sure the adjustment layer is active and Alt click on the mask on the right of the adjustment icon

    You should see a blank screen. Then draw a linear, black to white gradient from bottom to top (3rd gradient choice in the gradient tool)

    Alt click on the same mask icon to alternate on mask and image visibility.

    The original image is saved in the background layer. You can play on the settings of the brightness adjustments, on the adjustment layer opacity. The gradient can be drawn fully from bottom to top or from a middle point to the top.

    In this example, the upper part of the image is about 2 - 3 stops darker than in the original.

    Ask if you need more help for the gradient tool.

    MichelBParis
    MichelBParis
    Legend
    July 9, 2017

    What effect are you expecting from such a 'neutral density filter' ?

    Such an optical filter is used in front of your lens when the luminosity of the scene can't be reduced enough by the shutter speed or lens aperture. It's equivalent to reducing the luminosity of your image file.

    Several ways to reduce the luminosity of your file:

    - menu Enhance >> adjust lighting >> levels

    - menu Enhance >> adjust lighting >> brightness contrast

    - in 'Quick mode' : Exposure

    - opening in the ACR module and setting the 'exposure' slider

    However, if all you want is to correct an overexposed shot, that wont help much, since the overexposure will have lost a lot of the luminosity information recorded on your file.

    If you mean a graduated neutral density filter, that's another situation which can be handled with the help of layers and gradients. Is that what you mean? There are linear or circular graduated filters.

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