what do u usually edit on your photos?

Question

is it just the brightness and contrast? or are there other things which i must edit to enhance a certain picture.

Answer 1

If there is noticeable distortion, I like to fix that first so I know how much of the frame I am left to work with. This is only needed in extreme cases.

If I am going to crop an image, I usually do that nextt so that the other adjustments are not thrown off by things that I am going to discard anyway. You can fix the horizontal when you crop by rotating the frame or you can use the new "Straighten Tool" and then crop.

I usually move to levels and then to saturation/desaturation if needed. (If I am sending it to a printer, I find I have to tap the blue midtone level about 5% to the right (0.95) so the skin tones don't come out too red.) Photoshop Elements has a rudimentary curves control, which I prefer to try before using the sledgehammer of "brightness and contrast," but after I'm done with that, I might go to straight contrast to finish up.

I finish with unsharp mask. I think all digital images can benefit from judicious application of USM, because by their nature, all digital sensors introduce some softness into the image. Sometimes I use barely any at all, but sometimes I hit it fairly good. Paradoxically, I am finding that the better the camera the less it needs USM but the more it can tolerate it.

Try LEVELS instead of brightness and contrast. It's a more subtle approach.

Answer 2

Edit is the process of eliminating the sub-standard images and organizing what is left.

To make adjustments or corrections, I use Photoshop or MS Digital Imaging Suites. Usually I boost levels a bit and apply unsharp mask. Sometimes I might have to straighten the horizon or adjust the color. Rarely do I apply any more effects than that, although I have been playing with the watercolor filter lately on a few images, and occasionally I do selective color, especially on a couple of wedding images. Brides around here really like it, although it is rather unfashionable among the high-end professional wedding photographers.

One thing to understand, no amount of photoshopping will make a poor snapshot better. It will just be a poor snapshot with a lot of Photoshop applied. But dSLR images in particular need some levels and sharpness adjustment to look their best. As far as I am concerned, basic adjustment should not be considered excessive manipulation, but rather like darkroom work, where one makes the final adjustments to bring out the best in an image.

Answer 3

I usually and edit my mother in law out of my pictures. This seems to have a very positive and dramatic effect on my photos. it improves them no end.

If that does not work I use picasa2 to do basic editing as it is so easy to use.

Unless you are an expert o after professional effects, this is normally enough.

Remember it is not what others see in a picture it is what you are getting from it.

If that picture fires an emotion or memory then it has done it's job.

Answer 4

Perfect answer, Dr. Sam! I could not have said it better myself. This is an excellent work flow to follow!

Ditto to never using brightness and contrast! Use the curves function to create a nice "S" pattern of good highlight contrast to darks.

Best Regards!

Answer 5

Using photoshop, I edit brightness and contrast but NOT with the brightness/contrast tool. I use curves and levels.

Answer 6

what photo editing software do you have?
adobe photoshop?
if yes, then the first things to 'touch up' or edit are brightness and contrast
then i usualy try and spot any distracting objects and remove them from the picture
if you're photo is a person, look for any minor adjustments you can fix- eg. pimples, freckles, etc.
then try and see if the picture looks better cropped or not...
those are some basic things that i usually do

^^cheers

Answer 7

There is also noise reduction and you can sharpen the image or a portrait .these are some of the basic operations but you can also adjust the curves of the picture,adjust the hue etc..Because your goal is to have a picture that looks like the subject so you should begin with the basic operations and work your way up.

Answer 8

Actually most Web Design/Programming majors have a few required courses in Graphic Design. I am a web designer and a friend makes my graphics. But I have to know exactly what I want him to do. But a lot of web designers have another person who does just the graphics so If you like it enough then ya stick to doing that.

Answer 9

Usually i do touch up the pics, such as removing of red eyes, removing of some pimples, scars etc...u can read up more on photo editing..quite interesting,...online books can be found at www.88db.com.sg under Classifieds > Buy & Sell > Books & Stationaries

Answer 10

Photoshop: brightness, contrast, sharpness, colour balance, saturation, skew if necessary, then crop.Sometimes burn or dodge if required. I'm pretty basic though, there are others on here that know how to do it better.