Contrast Mask - v5.2  
© 2007 Martin Vicanek. 
Release date: 24.11.2007 
Updated: -


DESCRIPTION:

The Contrast Mask plugin helps improve images with high dynamic range by brightening underexposed areas and dimming too bright regions.


INSTALLATION:

Simply unzip "contrastmask.zip" and copy "contrastmask.8bf" to your "\Photoshop\Plug-Ins\" folder, or whichever plugin folder your host program uses. Load your program, open an image, go to the plugins menu and select the plugin.


64-BIT SYSTEMS:

If you are using Photoshop CS4 or CS5 on a 64-bit edition of Windows (XP, Vista or 7), then there are two editions of Photoshop installed on your computer: a 32-bit edition and a 64-bit edition. Contrast Mask will run on the 32-bit Photoshop edition.

Please copy "contrastmask.8bf" to the 32-bit Plug-ins folder: Its default location is 
C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS5 or CS4\Plug-Ins. 
The (x86) part is important!

To use Contrast Mask, make sure you are running the 32-bit version of Photoshop! The default location is
C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS5 or CS4\Photoshop.exe.
Again, the (x86) part is important.


USAGE:

Image preview area: 
Right-click to view unprocessed image.
Right-click and drag to move the image.

Zoom control: 
Use + and - to zoom in and out.

100%: 
Press to show actual pixel resolution.

Fit: 
Press to scale the image so it will fit entirely in the preview area.

Brighten Shadows:
Use this slider to brighten underexposed areas.

Keep Saturation:
Amount of saturation applied to brightened areas. Sometimes it is necessary to reduce the saturation. A value of 70 will be appropriate in most cases.

Darken Highlights:
Bring back blown-out highlights.

Blur Mask:
Amount of blur applied to the contrast mask. You need to blur the contrast mask to preserve local contrast.

View Mask:
Displays the contrast mask.

Suppress Halos:
Slider to suppress halo artifacts sometimes produced around dark objects.

View Halos:
Display a halo map. Areas where halos might occur are coded white. Halo suppression is applied to the yellow regions.

Cancel:
Press to exit the plugin without modification of the image. 

OK:
Apply filter with current settings to the original image.


KNOWN BUGS:
none


FIXES:
v5.2 adds Vista compatibility.


HOMEPAGE:
http://www.vicanek.de
