Correcting Underlit Side of Headshot

cityanimal wrote on 3/18/2006, 7:54 AM

I'm trying to correct a headshot where one side of the talent's face is underlit. I duplicated the shot on another track, used pan/crop masking to cut out the underlit side and then color curves to improve the exposure. The problem is now I have a clearly defined line/edge where the two images meet.
Can anyone offer any tip/techniques on how to deal with this problem and improve the image?
Thanks,
Charles

Comments

rmack350 wrote on 3/18/2006, 8:41 AM

When I do this in Photoshop I use a menu option to select dark areas and then I slowly bring up the levels. When it starts to affect the edges I stop.

Maybe you can get the same effect in Vegas with the secondary color corrector.

Rob Mack

Spot|DSE wrote on 3/18/2006, 9:15 AM

You can create a duplicate track, use a Bezier to cut the darkened area, feather it, and raise the exposure using curves or using Secondary, and blend them to suit.
This tutorial should help you, although it uses Cookie Cutter instead of Bezier.
Additionally, Glenn Chan's color correction for Vegas DVD goes deeply into this very question.

cityanimal wrote on 3/18/2006, 9:17 AM

I did some research on the VAAST website and found Spot's article/tutorial on using the cookie cutter filter with feathering to cut out the dark area, plus color curves, it's looking better, but I'm still working on it.

cityanimal wrote on 3/18/2006, 9:20 AM

Thanks for the post SPOT, I didn't see it before I posted.
Where is the feathering control for Bezier? I can't find it

Spot|DSE wrote on 3/18/2006, 9:39 AM

In the Bezier dialog, look to the left, you may need to expand the attributes view. You'll see Feathering and can choose In, Out, Both. I'd start with "In" and enlarge the mask to fit.

cityanimal wrote on 3/18/2006, 10:10 AM

Thanks Spot, I found feathering under the Path tab. Adjustments made, image improved.

johnmeyer wrote on 3/18/2006, 11:42 AM

I haven't had to do a correction like this, but another thing to try would be to generate a grayscale gradient in Photoshop, and combine this (using another track) so that it would control the amount of blend from your exposure-corrected track and the track that contains the original media. I assume you want to apply more correction to the darkest side of the face.

GlennChan wrote on 3/20/2006, 3:57 PM

One thing that might trip you up is the order of the filter and the masking. In this situation, Vegas will apply color curves after masking. This can sometimes lead to the appearance of 'halos' on the edges of the mask.

To fix this, go into the video FX window. In the bottom left, take note of the little triangle. This determines the order of the filters and pan/crop/masking. Click the little triangle. The FX will be applied BEFORE masking, which is what you probably want.

2- You can also try Levels instead of Color Curves. You can get a little less color shifting that way. Lower the Input start setting.

And Spot is correct, I have a DVD on color correction/enhancement coming out that will cover topics such as these. :)