How to do fake HDR

In Photoshop

By Jade M.

Start

This is the photo we are starting with as an example. Choose an image you like however.

Step 1

The first step is the most important step. It is the base of HDR effect. Use command image > adjustment > Brightness and Contrast and set up values: brightness 50% and Contrast 40%

Step 2

Duplicate the base layer then set to the blending to Color Dodge. This blending gives picture strong colors and cause that light areas turn into pure white. In next step it will be repaired by another layer blending.

Step 3

Duplicate the base layer again, bring it above the first duplicate layer. But instead of color dodge set it to Linear Burn. Now we don’t want any of the black parts so we must eliminate them. So lower the opacity to about 50% which still keeps some of the effects in tact.

Step 4

This is an easy step. Just duplicate the linear burn step and set it to Overlay.

Step 5

This is the last step. Click the circle button that’s half black and half white then click gradient. Make a gradient that you feel will suit the image. Set the gradient layer to soft light.

The End!

You now have a nice image. Again, you should play around with the gradients till you get a color that suits your image. For this image I used a play gradient to match with the blue and green.