Intro to Digital Photo Editing

Your old film was optimized by the lab when being printed all along and that is why we are sometimes disappointed with what we see at first with our digital shots. Digital images can record a very wide range of brightness and because of that the colors don't always "pop" or look as bright and good as they should. So some optimization is sometimes (often) required.

Though the cameras are getting "smarter" all the time. And if you shoot JPG's it will process them to a degree at the time of capture.

Some adjustments can be made in almost any software that will open the file; See below for some current choices.

Main Types of Editing:

Filters: Phone apps all have these --- Try Prisma, it is fun!

Real Editing has these main/basic processes:

Crop and Size

You want to control the crops for lots of reasons dealing with the composition but also on prints! If you let the printing company choose your crop you will be sorry. Your camera shoots at a certain aspect ratio, probably 3:2 or 4:3 but common print ratios are very different. Sizing is important for sharing too.

Color Temperature - White Balance

This is the tone of the image from WARM TO COOL.

Exposure - Bright to Dark

The camera does not always expose the image the way you want it to.

Contrast - Pop

If the pic looks dull it probably doesn't have good contrast. Often called "flat". Adjusting the darkest tones and the brightest tones is the easiest way to improve the look of the photo.