Instead, she created a new layer, filled it with 50% gray, and set the blend mode to .

Leo leaned back. "A client sends this. They want it to look like 'a timeless, golden-hour portrait.' What's your first step, and don't say 'unsharp mask.'"

Leo swiveled the monitor back. He opened a second file: a product shot of a white handbag on a white background.

Maya knew the trap. Most beginners would use a Hue/Saturation adjustment, turning the whole image into a purple blob.

"Yes?"