Using Lightroom’s masking tool, you can bring out details and create depth that makes objects look dramatic. This tutorial will walk you through the process.
Coming to you from Christian Möhrle with Phlog PhotographyThis informative video shows how to use Lightroom’s masking tools to create a 3D effect. First, you’ll need to handle the basic adjustments. Open the Basics panel and change the profile from Adobe Color to Adobe Landscape. This increases the saturation and brightens the darker parts of the image. Reduce the highlights to reveal more cloud detail and increase the blacks to soften the overall look. Adjust the white balance to add warmth, sharpen details with texture, and reduce clarity for a softer look. Increase the vibrance to bring out the colors.
The next step involves masking. Open the masking panel and create a Sky selection. Invert this selection to focus on the foreground. Increase the exposure and shadows to bring out the details in the darkest areas, then increase the temperature for a golden hour effect. Reduce the saturation to balance the colors. This mask improves the foreground but can still look flat.
To add depth, target the bales with an Object mask. Use a rectangular selection mode to draw around the bales. Increase the shadows to reveal detail. For the sky, create a Color Range mask to target the blue areas and refine the selection. Subtract a radial gradient to darken the top of the sky for a dramatic effect. Adjust the temperature and saturation of the warm tones in the sky with another Color Range mask.
Add a radial gradient to the middle of the sky to create a glowing effect. Increase the blacks and whites, and reduce the dehaze to increase the brightness. For the top of the sky, use a linear gradient to darken it further by adjusting the shadows and blacks, increasing the contrast.
To highlight the bale, use the Other Objects mask. Draw a rectangle around the bale and cut it out with a brush. Lighten specific areas to simulate natural light shining on them. Increase the shadows and whites slightly, and adjust the temperature to warm up the lighting effect. This adds depth and makes the bale stand out.
It’s just the beginning, so cCheck out the video above for the full details from Möhrle.
