I posted this in the December Eight thread and Betty asked about processing. I took this inside the church, available light (tungsten) and the image was pretty flat with little contrast. You can see the glow from the three lit votive candles at the top center row...

DSC_9187 SOOC.jpg (141.81 KiB) Viewed 826 times

Then I used unsharp mask to try to make it pop...

DSC_9187 USM.jpg (120.01 KiB) Viewed 826 times

Don't remember where I got it, but I wrote down five suggested USM settings; the one called Pop was 500-0.1-0 with the note to adjust the center number to suit. I used 500-0.5-0

Then I applied Topaz Simplify at the default setting for Buzz Sim...

DSC_9187 Topaz Sim.jpg (93.32 KiB) Viewed 826 times

Rusty

Russ & Rusty, thanks so much for sharing your steps. Love your art

Courtney, your raking image has real nice tones & colors. Adjust & Simplify are a nice combo to achieve fantastic art. Looking forward to more !

wow what awesome art this week. How do you all achieve such awesome colors?

wow what awesome art this week. How do you all achieve such awesome colors?

Judy,

As for my photo, one of the layers is in either Multiply or Overlay mode... I think for this one it was Multiply. That will definitely deepen the colors.

Courtney

Courtney thanks so much for the tip.