In this column, I’ll explain an easy way to quickly increase contrast in both brightness and color for objects that lack distinct features. Several of the features in Photoshop enhance contrast in layers that are copies of themselves. By far the easiest one to manage is the “Soft Light” blending mode.
A good case in point is an object like NGC 488. This beautiful galaxy has tightly wound spiral arms with intricate dust lanes and details at the smallest scales.
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