Fog in PS

dehno · 26-10-2007, 14:36

Anyone have any tips for photoshopping fog...i've just started dabbing with it and i feel like somethings off......let me know how you guys do it

That's my first try at it...feel free to critique

Geir Andersen · 26-10-2007, 15:43

I'm not one to give photography advice just yet, as I'm just beginning myself. But I've also tried my best at some foggy photos as of late, it's pretty challenging.

I just frame as I'd like the shot, and capture it. Using the histogram on my Canon to evaluate and a quick check on the LCD. The rest of the work I do in PhotoShop.

Hope you don't mind, as I saw you had the ImageEdit checked, I had a little go in PS:

I adjusted the Shadows/Hightlights, added a curves adjustment layer, increased the saturation for colours and finally the slightest touch with the burn tool on the sky.

Hope I managed to lighten it up a bit and still keep the misty feeling of the shot.

**Dabhand16** · 26-10-2007, 15:57

When you say there is something off, I think you mean that it does not look realistic. Geir has improved the flatness of the original, but yet the artificial effect remains.

I think this is because in nature, mist is not uniform. It is patchy and uneven. I don't have much time on my hands at the moment, so can't have a go myself, but I think what is needed is a swirling, uneveness added to the mist.

If it is done on several different layers this will be easier to do.

Geir Andersen · 26-10-2007, 16:23

Graham is absolutely right here. The mist does need to be uneven in order to seem real. I'm not very proficient with that, and my attempts in PS now was no success.

Increasing saturation and the shadows/highlight adjustment will help on the flat look, and some playing to get the mist uneven.

I'm sure Graham or someone else will give you ideas and maybe examples when they get time

.

**Markulous** · 26-10-2007, 18:15

Used a cloudy scene (thanks, Jack!) on a seperate layer. Not too sure of the final result but think I'm on the right track (not tried this before!). so thanks for giving me the opportunity!

**Dabhand16** · 26-10-2007, 19:33

OK - found some time!

Took Geir's pimp - added a new blank layer - put an adjustment layer with a gradient on it and painted in the mask with with 5% opacity with black and white to give the random effect.

With more time, probably could do better.

Dave Canon · 26-10-2007, 20:52

Create a new layer and use a very soft brush to apply the fog where it is needed (more in the background than the foreground). Use the brush at low opacity say 3% to build up slowly. In order to see the fog and place it where needed, it tends to be overdone but this is OK because you can then reduce the opacity of the fog layer. Do not use pure white for the fog. I usually find an off-white colour in the picture which seems to work better. Here is an example:

Rob Barron · 26-10-2007, 23:29

Go the lateral thinking route and you'll find a much simpler approach. Rather than applying fog, take away from the original. Put a blank layer at the bottom, fill with a very light grey, you can also use white, doesn't matter for this technique.

Now, using a very soft and large eraser set to about 4%, erase the picture with smooth strokes, pressing harder and softer as you go as this will vary the effect. You'll see the mistiness appearing before your eyes.

If you do this as a layer mask rather than directly to the picture, just paint on with black to erase areas gently as above and you can paint white back in again if you have gone too far or made a mistake.

Cheers,
Rob

**Dabhand16** · 27-10-2007, 09:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Barron

Go the lateral thinking route and you'll find a much simpler approach. Rather than applying fog, take away from the original. Put a blank layer at the bottom, fill with a very light grey, you can also use white, doesn't matter for this technique.

Now, using a very soft and large eraser set to about 4%, erase the picture with smooth strokes, pressing harder and softer as you go as this will vary the effect. You'll see the mistiness appearing before your eyes.

If you do this as a layer mask rather than directly to the picture, just paint on with black to erase areas gently as above and you can paint white back in again if you have gone too far or made a mistake.

Cheers,
Rob

That's pretty much what I did (albeit explained a whole lot better) but in reverse!

More than one way to skin a rabbit......

Dave Canon · 27-10-2007, 10:23

Rob, good suggestion. I will try that next time.

Dave

JMitchell · 27-10-2007, 18:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markulous

Used a cloudy scene (thanks, Jack!) on a seperate layer.

P-E · 27-10-2007, 19:00

I watched a CD earlier on how to include mist in a shot.

They used the gradient tool along with other things.

Les Meehan · 28-10-2007, 17:15

An early example of mine...(low res, sorry)

Charlotte · 28-10-2007, 17:27

That is my favourite of all your shots that I've seen Les, love it

I've never tried to replicate fog, but may give it a go sometime.

26-10-2007, 14:36	#1 (permalink)
dehno Quite Chatty Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 75	Fog in PS Anyone have any tips for photoshopping fog...i've just started dabbing with it and i feel like somethings off......let me know how you guys do it That's my first try at it...feel free to critique

26-10-2007, 15:43	#2 (permalink)
Geir Andersen Been here a while Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vestfold, Norway Posts: 339	Re: Fog in PS I'm not one to give photography advice just yet, as I'm just beginning myself. But I've also tried my best at some foggy photos as of late, it's pretty challenging. I just frame as I'd like the shot, and capture it. Using the histogram on my Canon to evaluate and a quick check on the LCD. The rest of the work I do in PhotoShop. Hope you don't mind, as I saw you had the ImageEdit checked, I had a little go in PS: I adjusted the Shadows/Hightlights, added a curves adjustment layer, increased the saturation for colours and finally the slightest touch with the burn tool on the sky. Hope I managed to lighten it up a bit and still keep the misty feeling of the shot.

26-10-2007, 15:57	#3 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 8,979	Re: Fog in PS When you say there is something off, I think you mean that it does not look realistic. Geir has improved the flatness of the original, but yet the artificial effect remains. I think this is because in nature, mist is not uniform. It is patchy and uneven. I don't have much time on my hands at the moment, so can't have a go myself, but I think what is needed is a swirling, uneveness added to the mist. If it is done on several different layers this will be easier to do.

26-10-2007, 16:23	#4 (permalink)
Geir Andersen Been here a while Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vestfold, Norway Posts: 339	Re: Fog in PS Graham is absolutely right here. The mist does need to be uneven in order to seem real. I'm not very proficient with that, and my attempts in PS now was no success. Increasing saturation and the shadows/highlight adjustment will help on the flat look, and some playing to get the mist uneven. I'm sure Graham or someone else will give you ideas and maybe examples when they get time .

26-10-2007, 18:15	#5 (permalink)
Markulous Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peak District Posts: 9,691	Re: Fog in PS Used a cloudy scene (thanks, Jack!) on a seperate layer. Not too sure of the final result but think I'm on the right track (not tried this before!). so thanks for giving me the opportunity!

26-10-2007, 19:33	#6 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 8,979	Re: Fog in PS OK - found some time! Took Geir's pimp - added a new blank layer - put an adjustment layer with a gradient on it and painted in the mask with with 5% opacity with black and white to give the random effect. With more time, probably could do better.

26-10-2007, 20:52	#7 (permalink)
Dave Canon Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cheltenham Posts: 505	Re: Fog in PS Create a new layer and use a very soft brush to apply the fog where it is needed (more in the background than the foreground). Use the brush at low opacity say 3% to build up slowly. In order to see the fog and place it where needed, it tends to be overdone but this is OK because you can then reduce the opacity of the fog layer. Do not use pure white for the fog. I usually find an off-white colour in the picture which seems to work better. Here is an example: __________________ Regards Dave http://www.cheltenhamcameraclub.co.uk/

26-10-2007, 23:29	#8 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 5,200	Re: Fog in PS Go the lateral thinking route and you'll find a much simpler approach. Rather than applying fog, take away from the original. Put a blank layer at the bottom, fill with a very light grey, you can also use white, doesn't matter for this technique. Now, using a very soft and large eraser set to about 4%, erase the picture with smooth strokes, pressing harder and softer as you go as this will vary the effect. You'll see the mistiness appearing before your eyes. If you do this as a layer mask rather than directly to the picture, just paint on with black to erase areas gently as above and you can paint white back in again if you have gone too far or made a mistake. Cheers, Rob __________________ Rob Barron robbarron@aol.com If you look down on other people, don't expect them to look up to you!

27-10-2007, 10:23	#10 (permalink)
Dave Canon Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cheltenham Posts: 505	Re: Fog in PS Rob, good suggestion. I will try that next time. Dave

27-10-2007, 19:00	#12 (permalink)
P-E Loves the place Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sheffield, S.Yorkshire UK Posts: 7,502	Re: Fog in PS I watched a CD earlier on how to include mist in a shot. They used the gradient tool along with other things.

28-10-2007, 17:15	#13 (permalink)
Les Meehan Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I conduct workshops in Andalucia, Spain Posts: 778	Re: Fog in PS An early example of mine...(low res, sorry)

28-10-2007, 17:27	#14 (permalink)
Charlotte Loves the place Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Romsey, Hampshire Posts: 5,795	Re: Fog in PS That is my favourite of all your shots that I've seen Les, love it I've never tried to replicate fog, but may give it a go sometime.

28-10-2007, 17:52	#15 (permalink)
Les Meehan Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I conduct workshops in Andalucia, Spain Posts: 778