How to Fix Dark Shadows with Photoshop Elements

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Photos
Shadow Girl: https://pixabay.com/en/caribbean-palms-sea-tropical-1732141/

Project File: lighten shadows 2024.zip

YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/eMdqsBDFnTI

We will be using 3 tools to lighten the shadows in a photo.

Duplicate your background layer and hide, this is a safety layer, just in case.

Next make a selection around  your subject using whatever tool you like, in the video I used the Select Subject option in the Select menu. Use Refine Edge around the hair and Output to New Layer with Layer Mask. Everything will be done on this new layer.

Start with Shadows/Highlights which is in Enhance Menu/Adjust Lighting. Move the Lighten Shadows slider to the right to lighen up the shadows. Don't worry about the highlights or midtones.

Next add a Levels Adjustment Layer which is in Layer/New Adjustment Layer/Levels. Move the top black slider a bit to the right to bring some values back into the dark areas, but don't add too much. Now move the white slider to the left a bit to lighten up the highlights. This increases the contrast in the subject in a very controlled way.

Finally add a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer which is in the Layer menu under the Levels Adjustment. Move the Saturation  slider a bit to the right to increase the amount of color in the subject, don't add too much of this or it begins to look cartoonish.

And that's it!