1. Export the chosen RAW file with anything up to 5 exposures approx 1 stop apart.
2. Generate HDR image from the multiple files in Photomatix or similar.
3. Tone map HDR image in above program paying particular attention to haloing and noise.
4. Bring Tonemapped image into CS3
5. Clone/Heal dustbunnies and check the horizon using the measure tool (under the eyedropper) rotate abituray and crop levelled image.
6. Duplicate layer and adjust the curves to bring out the detail in the foreground – adjust the opacity to soften the effect.
7. Create a new layer and hold down the Alt key whilst selecting merge vsible to create a hybrid layer from the bottom two.
8. Duplicate original layer and move it to top – adjust curves to darken and add mood to the sky – fade opacity and repeat merge process.
9. Delete all but the top and original layer to reduce file size.
10. Finalize any curves tweaks on top layer
11. Duplicate layer and selctively dodge to bring out the highlights – fade opacity to soften effect to suit – repeat merge process.
12. Duplicate layer and burn the dark areas – fade and merge as above.
13. Duplicate top layer add a hard curve making very dark layer select eliptical marque – feather 150 pixels delete to create vignette – fade to suit and merge as above.
14. Delete all but top and bottom layer
15. Adjust colour to suit using colour balance and channel mixer (velvia action is worth a try, but go easy!)
16. Finally adjust the opacity to reveal a hint of the original to lessen any “overcooked areas”
17. New layer, Alt + Merge,
18. Duplicate New layer
19. Delete all but top two new layers
20. Select top layer sharpen a few times(will look awful, don’t panic!) then resize to 1000pixels on the longets edge(looks much better now!) sparingly use smart sharpen.
21. Add a layer mask and paint out the sky revealing the softer version below whilst keeping a sharp foreground.
22. New layer, Alt + Merge, add border and title
23. For a less saturted look, rather than just desaturating, I sometimes like to duplicate the final layer, covert to black & white using the red filter preset, then fade the opacity to let a minimal amount of colour through from the colour layer below.
