How to Use Elements+ Selections – Load Luminosity as Selection

Ready to get into some pro-level selection tricks using Elements+? Let’s talk about how to load luminosity as a selection. This is an awesome technique when you want to create a selection based on the brightness levels in your image, perfect for advanced dodging, burning, and tonal adjustments.

What is "Load Luminosity as a Selection"?

When you load a luminosity selection, Photoshop Elements+ selects areas based on how bright they are. Brighter areas get selected more strongly, while darker areas get less or no selection. This is great for subtle, natural-looking edits that target highlights, midtones, or shadows.

How to Load Luminosity as a Selection in Elements+:

  1. Open Your Image
    First, load the image you want to work on in Photoshop Elements.

  2. Launch Elements+

    • Go to the Effects panel.
    • Scroll down to the Elements+ section and click on it.
    • Choose Selections from the list of available options.

  3. Select "Load Luminosity"

    • In the Selections section, look for "Load Luminosity" and click on it.
    • Elements+ will automatically create a selection based on the brightness (luminosity) values in your image.

  4. Refine Your Selection (Optional)

    • If you want to adjust the selection further, you can use options like Feather (to soften the edges) or Modify > Expand/Contract (to increase or decrease the selection area).
    • These options are available under the Select menu.

  5. Apply Your Edits
    With the luminosity selection active, you can:

    • Apply adjustments like Levels, Curves, or Brightness/Contrast.
    • Use the Dodge and Burn tools to subtly enhance highlights and shadows.
    • Create a mask from the selection for non-destructive editing.

Pro Tip: Targeting Specific Tonal Ranges

Want to target just the highlights or shadows? Once you’ve loaded the luminosity selection:

  • For highlights: Go to Select > Modify > Expand, then Feather slightly.
  • For shadows: Invert the selection by choosing Select > Inverse, then refine as needed.

Give it a try, and you’ll see how powerful luminosity selections can be for enhancing your images in a beautifully natural way.