the eyes have it

[tegan]

With freehand selection circle the first eye, then hold down the space key and circle the second eye. Go to Contrast and brightness in the pull down menu and you can brighten the eyes and bring out the highlights.

Tegan

[mindforge]

Tegan's idea is good. There is another way too, the way that I do it. There are lots of ways actually.

I use a curves adjustment layer to lighten the entire image then hit command +j (ctrl + j on PC) (been using that command so long I don't even know what it is called when it turns black )

Zoom into the eye, change the brush size to something that fits in the eye, big if you just want to do the whole eye, or small if you want to create a catch light which is possible too. Make sure your hardness is down for the whole eye and up to create a catch light.

Then flatten it.

Okay, I like to paint and draw. I love sketching, I think that is why I like this method compared to Tegan's. They both pretty much achieve the same effect and mine takes longer... but I like the way brushing feels when I have my stylus and sometimes I get the pen really small on different adjustment layers for lighter and darker parts of the eye to pop eyes.

[tegan]

By the way, I just adore boxers! I grew up with one that was part of the family and very energetic and funny.

Tegan

[Marko]

Tegan and MF have good suggestions for the brightness, but your instinct was bang on TT, the dog image and the dog's eyes are blurry.
For me, that means it's an image killer.... or it's time to play and turn it into something vastly different.

GORGEOUS dog though - ooooozing sweet cuteness.

[tegan]

Tegan and MF have good suggestions for the brightness, but your instinct was bang on TT, the dog image and the dog's eyes are blurry.
For me, that means it's an image killer.... or it's time to play and turn it into something vastly different.

GORGEOUS dog though - ooooozing sweet cuteness.

Sorry, to contradict you, but you are both wrong. After being brightened, they do not look at all blurry.

Tegan

[Marko]

Sorry, to contradict you, but you are both wrong. After being brightened, they do not look at all blurry.

I disagree. Still blurry to me. Better, but still blurry. That's it for me on this point tegan.

I'd just like to add that getting the eyes sharp and bright in camera is far superior and a better practice to artificial brightening and or sharpening.

[tomorrowstreasures]

I can't thank you all enough for such good tips/advice. I will post something after a shoot this weekend of a pre-schooler and baby... Hopefully, I will have learned something! And, thanks for the sweet comments on my grandpuppy! Marley and Zoe (Zoe is Marley's sister - a golden retriever that the kids adopted along with Marley, the boxer) are both adorable, precious and make their parents very, very happy...Just for fun, here is a picture of Zoe, Marley, my daughter Paige and her honey, Eric at their new little house that they just bought ... *they are nesting!!!*: This shot is straight form the camera, so no picking on it. LOL

[tegan]

I disagree. Still blurry to me. Better, but still blurry. That's it for me on this point tegan.

I'd just like to add that getting the eyes sharp and bright in camera is far superior and a better practice to artificial brightening and or sharpening.

No one can tell the difference between in camera exposure and brightening in post processing particularly when it comes to the eyes so it can hardly be characterized as superior.

So, TT, would you like to see your boxer with brighter, sharp eyes?

Tegan