Basic Photo Editing Tutorial

**Mousey** · Oct 27, 2009, 01:11 PM

I've taught loads of people Photoshop in my time doing it, Both in person and over the internet. I used to run a club when i was at school teaching people more about not only Photoshop but Flash, CorelDRAW, Dreamweaver ect.
Lately i've decided i want to add some more knowledge to Driverheaven

So here's some essential photo editing tips

Please note because i'm guessing this is gonna be a loooooong post i'm not going to post results until later

Improving Lighting and Shadow
One of the most obvious methods would to be use Photoshop's in-built lighting effects filter, however i wouldn't rely exclusively on this since it's more of a tweak than an outright change. Simply open up the photo, Go to filter > render > lighting effects and experiment with the panel, Here's the settings i usually use.

However if you experiment with these settings you can get a whole range of effects, try clicking the white square next to the "Intensity" slider (Or "Density", Whichever it might be) and you can change the colour of the light. that's probably the main method i'd use, however there's other more complicated ones.

Another couple of methods would be Levels and Curves. Curves allow you to modify the lighting of the image by adjusting the intensity of different light levels detected by Photoshop. This in turn allows for a very powerful editing tool, Simply mess with the curve like i've done here and you'll see in instant difference;

Changing Colour
Colour's a big thing, The most simple edit would probably be Desaturating if you didn't take the picture in black and white. Taking the photo in colour is the best choice since you can change the colours or even remove them so easily in post-production. To Desaturate simply hit CTRL + SHIFT + U.

Now for actually changing colour there's several methods, In fact there's probably tons but here's the one i'll use most often while i'm editing. The first thing you want to do is add a colour balance, This allows you to change colours with the most precision since it works by editing Shadows, Midtones and Highlights rather than just slapping colour on.

Firstly go to your adjustment layers panel (Don't worry the pic shows you where it is), Anybody running CS4 will have the colour balance appear in the "Adjustments" window which is above the layers, Any versions below that however the colour balance will appear in a seperate window.

Now simply mess with the sliders on the different sections and see the result in realtime

Noise Reduction
To be perfectly honest with you, If a photo has lots of "Noise" on it then i wouldn't bother using photoshop to try remove it because i find that the reduce noise filter is about as useful as farting in the wind. I'd simply go out and re-take the photo, A word of advice that works for me - Try shooting at the lowest possible ISO your camera supports. Every shot i take i usually use about ISO 100 to ISO 200 since that seems to minimise noise for me anyway.

Cow_160483 · Oct 27, 2009, 01:34 PM

I some how have to get my hands on Photoshop its a shame to let all your effort go to waste Mousey

keep it up

***craig5320*** · Oct 27, 2009, 04:28 PM

I tend to use Curves to correct lighting/colours in photos, not keen in dropping rendered effects over the top of photos.

comp_ali · Oct 27, 2009, 04:35 PM

Will try that later Mousey

dawgXdenta · Oct 28, 2009, 10:37 PM

Thats what i'm talkin about

Matth · Oct 29, 2009, 12:07 AM

A lot of programs can do similar things to some of the less esoteric Photoshop edits.

I'd recommend this if Gimp is your editor Grokking the GIMP - Learning Advanced Image Editing Techniques

Gimp can do curves, section 6.2.2 is an excellent tutorial on adjusting colour balance using curves, and as applicable to Photoshop or Paintshop Pro as to the Gimp.

Photoshop is not the only game in town, and is horrendously expensive for non-professional non-pirates.

There are a few techniques and features that are only possible with a particular program, but most can be adapted.

PS. Noise reduction - I find Paintshop Pro's digital noise reduction works pretty well, so long as you can give it a texture and detail free sample of shadow, midtone and highlight.

dawgXdenta · Oct 29, 2009, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matth

A lot of programs can do similar things to some of the less esoteric Photoshop edits.

I'd recommend this if Gimp is your editor Grokking the GIMP - Learning Advanced Image Editing Techniques

Gimp can do curves, section 6.2.2 is an excellent tutorial on adjusting colour balance using curves, and as applicable to Photoshop or Paintshop Pro as to the Gimp.

Photoshop is not the only game in town, and is horrendously expensive for non-professional non-pirates.

There are a few techniques and features that are only possible with a particular program, but most can be adapted.

PS. Noise reduction - I find Paintshop Pro's digital noise reduction works pretty well, so long as you can give it a texture and detail free sample of shadow, midtone and highlight.

sweet link, i;ve been lookin for a gimp tut

Oct 27, 2009, 01:11 PM	#1
Mousey Synth's Long Lost Bro Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Web Design Hell Posts: 7,188 Rep Power: 245 System Specs	Basic Photo Editing Tutorial I've taught loads of people Photoshop in my time doing it, Both in person and over the internet. I used to run a club when i was at school teaching people more about not only Photoshop but Flash, CorelDRAW, Dreamweaver ect. Lately i've decided i want to add some more knowledge to Driverheaven So here's some essential photo editing tips Please note because i'm guessing this is gonna be a loooooong post i'm not going to post results until later Improving Lighting and Shadow One of the most obvious methods would to be use Photoshop's in-built lighting effects filter, however i wouldn't rely exclusively on this since it's more of a tweak than an outright change. Simply open up the photo, Go to filter > render > lighting effects and experiment with the panel, Here's the settings i usually use. However if you experiment with these settings you can get a whole range of effects, try clicking the white square next to the "Intensity" slider (Or "Density", Whichever it might be) and you can change the colour of the light. that's probably the main method i'd use, however there's other more complicated ones. Another couple of methods would be Levels and Curves. Curves allow you to modify the lighting of the image by adjusting the intensity of different light levels detected by Photoshop. This in turn allows for a very powerful editing tool, Simply mess with the curve like i've done here and you'll see in instant difference; Changing Colour Colour's a big thing, The most simple edit would probably be Desaturating if you didn't take the picture in black and white. Taking the photo in colour is the best choice since you can change the colours or even remove them so easily in post-production. To Desaturate simply hit CTRL + SHIFT + U. Now for actually changing colour there's several methods, In fact there's probably tons but here's the one i'll use most often while i'm editing. The first thing you want to do is add a colour balance, This allows you to change colours with the most precision since it works by editing Shadows, Midtones and Highlights rather than just slapping colour on. Firstly go to your adjustment layers panel (Don't worry the pic shows you where it is), Anybody running CS4 will have the colour balance appear in the "Adjustments" window which is above the layers, Any versions below that however the colour balance will appear in a seperate window. Now simply mess with the sliders on the different sections and see the result in realtime Noise Reduction To be perfectly honest with you, If a photo has lots of "Noise" on it then i wouldn't bother using photoshop to try remove it because i find that the reduce noise filter is about as useful as farting in the wind. I'd simply go out and re-take the photo, A word of advice that works for me - Try shooting at the lowest possible ISO your camera supports. Every shot i take i usually use about ISO 100 to ISO 200 since that seems to minimise noise for me anyway. __________________ Last edited by Mousey; Oct 27, 2009 at 05:17 PM.

Oct 27, 2009, 01:34 PM	#2
Cow_160483 HH's only cow moooooo... Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: BOTSWANA Posts: 6,813 Rep Power: 300 System Specs	Re: Basic Photo Editing Tutorial I some how have to get my hands on Photoshop its a shame to let all your effort go to waste Mousey keep it up __________________ Decode! Muhahahahah!

Oct 27, 2009, 04:28 PM	#3
*craig5320* HH Administrator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 8,565 Rep Power: 445 System Specs	Re: Basic Photo Editing Tutorial I tend to use Curves to correct lighting/colours in photos, not keen in dropping rendered effects over the top of photos. __________________ HardwareHeaven on Facebook

Oct 27, 2009, 04:35 PM	#4
comp_ali Sniper Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Egypt Posts: 10,469 Rep Power: 339 System Specs	Re: Basic Photo Editing Tutorial Will try that later Mousey __________________

Oct 28, 2009, 10:37 PM	#5
dawgXdenta HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Gabz Posts: 1,995 Rep Power: 135 System Specs	Re: Basic Photo Editing Tutorial Thats what i'm talkin about __________________ Today's world is of public opinion and the fates of nations are determined through its pressure. Once the tools for building public opinion are obtained, everything that you asked for can be done. --- Osama bin Laden when relating how global media has the minds of the masses. ______________________________________ http://dawgxdenta.deviantart.com/gallery/

Oct 29, 2009, 12:07 AM	#6
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	Re: Basic Photo Editing Tutorial A lot of programs can do similar things to some of the less esoteric Photoshop edits. I'd recommend this if Gimp is your editor Grokking the GIMP - Learning Advanced Image Editing Techniques Gimp can do curves, section 6.2.2 is an excellent tutorial on adjusting colour balance using curves, and as applicable to Photoshop or Paintshop Pro as to the Gimp. Photoshop is not the only game in town, and is horrendously expensive for non-professional non-pirates. There are a few techniques and features that are only possible with a particular program, but most can be adapted. PS. Noise reduction - I find Paintshop Pro's digital noise reduction works pretty well, so long as you can give it a texture and detail free sample of shadow, midtone and highlight. __________________ Mary had a little lamb, Her father shot it dead Now Mary takes her lamb to school, Between two crusts of bread