Polarize (Multiply)

Brush the Polarize adjustment on an image

You use the Polarize Quick Brush adjustment to deepen colors in a specific area of an image by darkening the shadows and midtones without affecting the black and white points. The Polarize Quick Brush adjustment uses a Multiply blend to create an effect similar to that of a polarizing filter.

Figure. Image before and after a Polarize Quick Brush adjustment.

Selectively polarize an image

  1. Select a photo.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • In the Adjustments inspector or the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD, choose Quick Brushes > Polarize (Multiply) from the Add Adjustment pop-up menu.

    • In the tool strip, choose Polarize (Multiply) from the Quick Brush pop-up menu .

    The Polarize Brush HUD appears, and the Polarize adjustment controls appear in the Adjustments inspector and the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD, if both are shown.

  3. Specify the brush stroke settings using the controls in the Polarize Brush HUD.

    For more information, see Apply Quick Brush adjustments and Work with brush strokes.

  4. Brush the adjustment on the area of the image that contains shadows and midtones you want to add contrast to.

Modify the Polarize adjustment after it has been applied to an image

  1. Select a photo with the Polarize adjustment applied to it.

  2. In the Polarize area of the Adjustments inspector or the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD, use the Intensity parameter controls to modify the strength of the adjustment.

    Figure. Controls in the Polarize area of the Adjustments inspector.