Embedded Files
Editing Checklist
Editing Checklist
The Editing Process takes place towards the end of a photoshoot process. You should have already selected your final shortlist of 2 images. Both should be edited individually through this process.
Aside from the checklist on this page, click below for a drive full of videos and tips and techniques.
You'll learn to:
Import
Straighten
Crop
Clone
Curves
Dodge and Burn
Sharpen
Export
Import and Save as Jpeg
Open the photograph you want to edit in Photoshop. Make sure you are opening the original file (it should be a large file size). Keep a copy of the original and save a new copy as a jpg file, naming it: SHOOT 1 EDIT 1 (as required)
Ensure, when prompted you choose maximum file size. Set the slider at 12.
Straighten
The photo may need to be straightened, rotated or skewed slightly to look more natural. Horizons should usually ne straight as should verticals.
Use ctrl+A to select the image
Use ctrl+T to enter Free Transform mode
The photo can then be rotated from any corner. Holding ctrl then stretching the image from a corner can be used to skew the photo if needed. Double click inside the photo to apply the transformation.
If there are curved lines that should be straight, you can try to warp them.
To access this, first select the image using ctrl + A, then choose:
Edit > Transform > Warp
You can then carefully click and drag any part of your image and it will warp. Look at the line of the windows in the image below which has been warped to straighten.
Warping may cause parts of your image to appear white. You'll need to crop these areas out. This is why some of the detail above the windows has been lost in the edited image below.
Original Image
Image straightened with Warp tool
Crop
Select the crop tool. You'll now need to set the present width and height to ensure your image is cropped to A4 dimensions for printing.
Crop your photo into a rectangle using the pre-set dimensions given below; if you've straightened or rotated the photo, ensure any blank areas are cut away.
For portrait format images the pre-sets should be:
Width: 21cm
Height: 29.7cm
For landscape images the pre-sets should be:
Width: 29.7cm
Height: 21cm
Ensure you save your image again after this step.
Clone Out Distarctions with the Spot Healing Brush
The Clone Tool and Spot Healing Brush allow you to get rid of small distractions in your photo.
Before starting with a new tool, you should create a duplicate layer. This allows you to edit non-destructively.
Duplicate a layer by using:
ctrl+J
Name this layer, 'Spot Tool'. You should always remember to name layers as it will keep you organised.
Select the Spot Healing Tool.
Use the following settings to clone out small distractions ensuring not to over do it.:
Brush Size: 50px
Hardness: 4%
Spacing 25%
Make sure the following boxes are ticked in settings:
Content Aware
Sample All Layers
Improve Contrast with Curves
The Curves tool allows you to make adjustments to the lightness and darkness of pixels within your photo. It works by displaying the tonal histogram of the photograph. For details of tonal histograms see the learning experiences earlier in the course.
Firstly, create a duplicate layer and name it 'Curves':
ctrl+J
Select the Curves tool by choosing:
Image > Adjustments > Curves
You can then select a suitable pre-set option (Darker, Lighter, Increase Contrast) or manually adjust shadows, mid tones and highlights.
Please Note: you should need to only make marginal adjustments. Make sure you do not over process the photo.
Brighten and Darken with Dodge and Burn
This tool allows you to increase the brightness or darkness of selected areas in order to make them pop. Dodging selectively brightens the image while burning selectively darkens it.
Create a 50% grey layer by using
ctrl+shift+n
Change the Mode to 'overlay' and tick the 'fill with 50% grey option'
Name the layer 'Dodge / Burn'
Start with the dodge tool. Looking at your settings bar, leave your range set to “Midtones” and the exposure between 5% and 10%. The higher your exposure, the more intense your adjustments will look. For the most realistic effects, this range works best.
With your dodge and burn layer selected, begin dodging any areas of your photo you want to bring more focus to. Things like your subject, interesting textures, or along the horizon. If you want to make an area brighter, paint multiple brushstrokes over the same area. Be careful not to overdo it.
After you’ve gone through and dodged sections of your photo, click and hold on the dodge tool icon in your toolbar. Select the burn tool from the pop-up tool window.
This time around, you’ll be darkening parts of your photo. Paint over any areas you don’t want to stand out. You can also burn edges of your photo that are opposite to the light source. This will make the highlights in your image really stand out and direct your eye towards the lighter areas. Be careful not to overdo it.
Sharpen with a High Pass Filter
A High Pass filter will sharpen your whole photo slightly and makes edges a little more defined.
Since this filter needs to be applied to an image, you’ll need to duplicate and merge all your existing layers. Clicking on the top layer in your layers panel, use the keyboard shortcut:
Control + Alt + Shift + E
Make sure you name this layer, 'Sharpening'.
With your newly merged layer selected, go to Filter > Other > High Pass.
Set the radius to no more than 2 pixels and click OK. The higher your radius, the more intense the sharpening will look.
At this stage, your image will look completely grey. You'll need to change your layer blending mode from normal to Linear Light to blend the high pass filter.
To do this, make sure you've selected your Sharpening layer, then at the bottom of the layers panel click, Add a Layer Style. Click on 'Blending Options...'
Next change the Blend Mode from Normal to Linear Light.
These steps are illustrated below.
Export your Photo from Photoshop
Save your photograph as a Jpeg file at best quality (as outlined above) naming it SHOOT 1 EDIT 1 (or equivelant). Make sure you keep a copy of the original. Make sure you save both your edit and original to your USB storage device and upload a copy of them to your Google Drive for extra security.
Compare the Original and Edits
Have a look to compare the two images below. The original photo with the edit.
Other Tools or Techniques
You should also consider if there are other tools or techniques you wish to perform. This may include converting the photograph to black and white or using colour pop.
Our link below has a curated set of guides, how to videos and includes the best of the web on Photoshop techniques!
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