How To Edit Using Photoshop. Tips and Tricks.

Photo Editing Tips Tricks

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1. Flattening out the Image in Raw

This is actually the groundwork for my editing and enhancing. You can't build a house without a solid foundation; you can't revise an image without one either. It really is in Camera Natural where you create image to be edited in Photoshop. The very first thing you do whenever you open up your images in Camera Natural is modify color temps or exposure easily if you need to. You then place the features slider between -30 to -80. Set the shadows slider between +30 to +80. You like highlights, to be always a little dull and shadows to be very flat and almost in the same tonal range as mid tones. This flattens out the image quite somewhat the image, “will look pretty boring and ugly”.  For images to be really smooth, toned, even, or chiseled once you entering Photoshop, really. Flatten images out when open it into Photoshop, all the toning and techniques gives it the right amount of contrast you want. Every one of the techniques and toning gives it the right amount of distinction and compare you want. In case the image has a lot of natural contrast entering Photoshop these techniques will ruin the image, and give it way too much contrast. 

 

(Image exported from camera raw with adjustments)

2. Applying the Healing Brush

You will really like, prefer the healing brush as opposed to the area healing brush because you pick your own source points. Using the brush will cover; remove any pimples, inconsistencies on skin, or any distractions on the setting. Use this on landscapes or activities shots as well.  Go through and get rid of any small distractions with this. It is actually amazing a big difference when getting rid of distractions on backgrounds. Attention to details important here.

3. Clone Stamps Set to Lighten or Darken Color

Frequently, use clone stamps to adjust lighten.  Use this as will on backgrounds and sometimes even skin. Now, before everyone goes crazy, put it to use at around 15% opacity. Put it to use on areas that already no longer have much detail. Also, usually only use this with natural light shots since they are likely to not have much detail. Only try this when you avoid find it worth the time to use consistency separation. It can be very helpful to combination transitions in the sky or on patterns that don't have a great detail.

4. Learning How to Dodge and Burn

Dodge or burning will set the light more to your liking. There are plenty of ways to dodge and burn. To be the least destructive, use one curve realignment and modification layer set to a brighter exposure and one set more darken exposure. Then using the layer masks and tooth brushes you will dodge and burn where you see fit. Sometimes you will also, use the genuine dodge and burn tools in Photoshop. You will like these because, set them to impact the shadows, mid-tones, or highlights. When dodging and burning there are several things I love to keep in mind. You will make an effort to make your subject pop, try to even out skin tones or other parts of the image, and often darken or lighten up one side of the image. Try to create a sense of depth by having a transition from dark to light in some of my images. Now, dodge your shadows somewhat in preparation for the contrast you can add later.

(Image after dodging and burning)

5. Frequency Separation

This is a great technique that is used for smoothing untrue skin. This is something to evaluate sparingly and in moderation. Also been via frequency split on apparel, skies, backdrops, or anywhere you prefer to ultimately something out.

(Images after frequency separation)

6. Black and White Layer Changed to Soft Light

This is my star of stage and screen post processing trick. It is a fantastic technique a fellow showed me that I have been using on almost all my images. Show a B&W didst the sly, and before I change the blending style to soft light. Now the image will probably regard relish it has to the point of queasiness contrast. This is for that because I'll drag the shade to around 20-60%. You will love the sharp commercial look this effect does to my images. Also, you will love this because now approach the luminance of each caricature with the sliders on the captain layer. By adjusting the reds and yellows you can merit some certainly beautiful skin tones.

7. Toning Using the Color Balance, Levels, and Hue/Sat Adjustment Layers

After B&W adjustment layer use these three adjustment layers to tone my images. You have them set in a specific order to get the look you want. You will have the Color Balance adjustment layer open first. Generally, add some blues, cyan, or magenta to the shadows, reds, greens, or yellows to the mid tones, and red or yellows to the highlights. This will usually keep colors more realistic. But, this is where you can experiment and get some really cool looks. You will then add a Levels adjustment layer. With this add blues and greens on top of my shadows using the output sliders. Since the levels is on top it fills in the shadows with the colors and almost gives the shadows a show look. Then use the Hue/Sat to fine tune my colors. Adjust the texture, saturation, and lightness of each color. This is where the most fun with editing. You will love experimenting with different tones to get different looks.

8. Crushing Highlights with Curves

You will add some contrast with a curves adjustment layer. Usually just have a thick S curve with several points. You will personally like crushing your highlights. This is when you bring the top point on what is coming to one side entire a small bit, and then add a second point near it reducing the highlights' tonal range. Now this will give the image some weird color shifts sometimes. Don’t do this to every image, often do it to more an arm and leg key images.

 

(Example of crushed highlights)

9. Layer Masks

You can’t profess enough how important it is to learn layer masks. Toning or editing the image you do not want the effects to always be global. You often will tone, dodge and burn, or edit different parts of the image using layer masks. For example always use layer masks with the Hue and Sat adjustment layer. Do this because usually hands, ears, legs, etc. are often different colors. Changing the Hue/Sat of a color on a certain body part, and then mask out where you want it to affect. Also tone the background differently than the tenor sometimes. Always remember to white reveals, black conceals.

10. Different Blending Modes

This is an orientation that is routinely overlooked. Besides different the B&W layer to a soft light blending mode, sometimes change my curves layer to luminosity. By doing this you affect just the contrast of the image instead of affecting the contrast and saturation when it is set to normal. By the same token will unmask a outclass layer, exist the blending nature to boast, evaluate a five o’clock shadow at a as a matter of fact low gloom (5-15%) and someday out ribbon of skin or apparel by sampling a blew up out of proportion you will love and painting over a color you do not like. There are 26 different blending modes. Try them out, experiment, and get creative.

(Final image after toning- Flare was added with a white soft brush on a blank layer)

(Final image after toning)

 

(Example of final edit)

(Before and after using my techniques)

Remember: use these techniques with care. You can always adjusting the darkness to your adjustment layers. All images shown were shot with natural light only.

Please share any images with a description of the techniques you learned from this article in the comments. Love to see your work and what you have learned. Here is to get your, Adobe Photoshop Editing Software Under $20!!