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Quite a few people have requested some more information on how to achieve the following effect in your photos. Well, here it is. I should note though, that this doesn't work on all photos (or at least it doesn't look as good as it could). Also the values of radii I have used in this tutorial entirely depend on the size of the image and on the effect you wish to achieve. Less talk, more action. Here we go.

1. Open your chosen photo in Photoshop [CS2 is preferable]

2. Duplicate the layer twice by pressing "Ctrl + J" or by right clicking on the background layer and selecting "Duplicate Layer"


3. Select "Layer 1" and press "Ctrl + Shift + U" to desaturate it and "Ctrl + J" to duplicate it (you will now have 4 layers in total, two color and two black and white).


4. Set blending mode of "Layer 1 copy 2" to "Overlay".


5. Set blending mode of "Layer 1 copy" to "Color"


6. Select "Layer 1 copy 2". Go to "Filter > Other > High Pass..." and set your radius to 50 pixels. Press "OK".


7. Duplicate "Layer 1" and drag it above "Layer 1 copy 2". Set it's blending mode to "Overlay".


8. This is where the process gets kind of repetitive. Go to "Filter > Other > High Pass..." and this time, set your radius to 30 pixels. Press "OK"


9. Duplicate "Layer 1" and drag it above "Layer 1 copy 3". Again, set it's blending mode to "Overlay"


10. While having "Layer 1 copy 4" selected, select "Filter > Other > High Pass..." and set your radius to 10 pixels. Press "OK"


11. Apply "High Pass" filter four more times (while duplicating "Layer 1", moving it above the previously adjusted layer and changing layer blending mode from "Normal" to "Overlay") using 5, 2, 1.5 and 0.5 pixel radius.

12. Flatten your artwork by pressing little round button, right above the "Opacity" slider.


13. Bring up "Hue/Saturation" window by pressing "Ctrl + U". Drag the "Saturation" slider to -30 and press "OK"


14. Now bring up "Shadow/Highlights" panel by going to "Image > Adjustments > Shadow/Highlights...". (Make sure the "Show More Options" box has been checked) Input the following values:


15. You are done!

Now, if the results aren't what you desired, feel free to play around! Try applying fewer High Pass filters, or play with the Shadow/Highlight sliders. You can achieve many different effects just from these basic skills.

The original tutorial can be found here and is the property and creation of 350 Designs.

I believe you have to have at least CS2 in the way it's put down here. CS2 is the only version that features the High Pass filter.