Fixing Red Eyes & Copying and Moving Selections

[KevinStecyk]

I have a technique that I use for fixing red eyes as listed below:

1. Imported photograph to Photoshop
2. Copied red pupils and a slight bit of surrounding irises to 2 (two) separate layers. We have three layers now, a) background (original image), b) red_pupils1, and c) red_pupils2
3. Select red channel of the top layer (red_pupils2)
4. Use command: Image | Apply Image...Layer red_pupils1, Channel Green, Blending Normal, Opacity 100%...OK (image fixed now)
5. Layer | Flatten Image
6. Save picture

Red eyes have too much red in the red channel. By copying the green channel into the red channel, I eliminate the red eyes. Moreover, pupils are black, so the red channel should equal the green channel. The end result looks very natural. Catchlights show properly and pupils are beautifully black.

Step 2 demands that I start by selecting one pupil area and then move to the next. What I'd like to do is start with with Elliptical Marquee Tool, position a proper sized selection circle over a pupil, say camera left pupil, and then copy the selection circle over to the right pupil, now with both pupils selected. In effect, I want to create the proper sized circle once, and use it twice, once on each eye. Am I able to do this?

What I do now is create a selection circle over the left eye. I then center it over the left eye. Then while holding the shift key down, I create another selection circle over the right eye, usually a little off center unfortunately. I find that I am not able to properly center it without affecting both selections over both eyes.

So ideally, I'd like to create a proper sized selection circle over one eye, copy the selection circle (but not actual content) to the other eye and have it properly centered.

I hope my challenge is understood and someone is able to suggest a solution.

[DougAxford]

I do a quick selection of the red section, feather very slightly, then Ctrl+U and move Saturation to 0. It becomes grey which is just fine in most cases.

[Johan_Elzenga]

Originally Posted by DougAxford

I do a quick selection of the red section, feather very slightly, then Ctrl+U and move Saturation to 0. It becomes grey which is just fine in most cases.

I disagree. Grey is unnatural in many cases. Pupils are black. The least you should do is also lower the Lightness.

Kevin, your method is fine, and the problem is easily solved by recording the method as an action, and then running it pupil by pupil rather than trying to do it on both pupils at the same time.

[Jerry Skrocki]

Originally Posted by KevinStecyk

Step 2 demands that I start by selecting one pupil area and then move to the next. What I'd like to do is start with with Elliptical Marquee Tool, position a proper sized selection circle over a pupil, say camera left pupil, and then copy the selection circle over to the right pupil, now with both pupils selected. In effect, I want to create the proper sized circle once, and use it twice, once on each eye. Am I able to do this?

What I do now is create a selection circle over the left eye. I then center it over the left eye. Then while holding the shift key down, I create another selection circle over the right eye, usually a little off center unfortunately. I find that I am not able to properly center it without affecting both selections over both eyes.

So ideally, I'd like to create a proper sized selection circle over one eye, copy the selection circle (but not actual content) to the other eye and have it properly centered.

I hope my challenge is understood and someone is able to suggest a solution.

Kevin,

I think the using the quick select tool instead of the elliptical marquee would alleviate the problem you are having with centering. Since it is dependent on the adjacent pixels, it makes a much more accurate selection which can be further refined if needed (refine edge button).

Jerry

[DougAxford]

Originally Posted by Johan_Elzenga

I disagree. Grey is unnatural in many cases. Pupils are black. The least you should do is also lower the Lightness.

Sorry, I guess I wasn't clear. When you change Saturation it will not alter the black of the pupil, just change the iris to grey when the red is removed. The only time I ever have red eye is a shot of the Bride coming up the aisle of a very dark church. In that case, the colour of the eyes do not even show.

[KevinStecyk]

Originally Posted by Jerry Skrocki

I think the using the quick select tool instead of the elliptical marquee would alleviate the problem you are having with centering. Since it is dependent on the adjacent pixels, it makes a much more accurate selection which can be further refined if needed (refine edge button).

Jerry,

That might depend upon how pronounced the red-eye shows in the photo? Sometimes, the red is there, but not overly so.

I've used the Lasso tool, and that works well. I'd prefer, though, to use elliptical tool.

Originally Posted by Johan_Elzenga

I disagree. Grey is unnatural in many cases. Pupils are black. The least you should do is also lower the Lightness.

Kevin, your method is fine, and the problem is easily solved by recording the method as an action, and then running it pupil by pupil rather than trying to do it on both pupils at the same time.

Johan,

From your message, I get the strong impression that I am unable to use the same elliptical area shape for selecting both eyes. That is, I need to do each separately.

I rarely get red-eye. I recently helped someone else who had a picture posted on Flickr. I removed her red-eyes and, while doing so, wondered if there was an easier way to select both eyes simultaneously.

Thank you for your reply.

Originally Posted by DougAxford

I do a quick selection of the red section, feather very slightly, then Ctrl+U and move Saturation to 0. It becomes grey which is just fine in most cases.

Hi Doug,

This isn't something I do frequently or very many of. So I can take the time treat each separately as Johan suggests or use the Lasso tool to nail both eyes in one step.

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Thank you everyone!

Regards,
Kevin

[Jerry Skrocki]

I mention the quick select tool because it was new to Photoshop CS3 and many people have not ventured to try it. In my opinion is was one of the best features added to Photoshop and continues to be a part of CS4.

What was not mentioned is Photoshop's built in ability to correct red eye.

The Red Eye tool removes red eye in flash photos of people or animals, and white or green reflections in flash photos of animals.

Select the Red Eye tool . (The Red Eye tool is in the same group as the Spot Healing Brush tool . Click the triangle in the lower right portion of a tool to display additional tools.)
Click in the red eye. If you are not satisfied with the result, undo the correction, set one or more of the following options in the options bar, and click the red eye again:
Pupil Size Increases or decreases the area affected by the Red Eye tool.
Darken Amount Sets the darkness of the correction.