Photo Software and Techniques

chickmug

Someome, who I have lost touch with, gave me a superb document a couple of years ago and I can't find it now. It was a 2 sided sheet with tips on how to improve my pictures in the software. What tools and in which order. And how to us each of those tools e.g. when the picture is light or dark needing different settings

Also how it differed depdendent on the subject matter. In my case landscapes, street scenes, architecture but rarely people.

I am not keen on trawling through a book or reading through all the help info on screen and wondered if anyone knew where I find very simplified help?

penrhyn

Dunno about a crib sheet.
My suggestion download Google Picasa3, select the image of choice and try the 'I'm feeling Lucky button' then move on from there.

chickmug

penrhyn wrote: »

Dunno about a crib sheet.
My suggestion download Google Picasa3, select the image of choice and try the 'I'm feeling Lucky button' then move on from there.

I have a number of apps inclding Picasa but don't feel any of the 'one touch' buttons is the best thing to do. I have been using levels and curves but was looking for other posters opinions of what they use.

Thanks for the hep though:beer:

isofa

Photoshop, nothing beats it.

Firstly try and get the image right in camera, check the histogram after you take the shot to see the tones are evenly distributed, if not adjust the exposure and retake. The key to a really good photo, is taking it correctly in the first place.

However obviously you can use editing to improve a little.

You can use Curves (manually) to push up or down the contrast, much better than using any "brightness/contrast" adjustment. You can also do wild effects with curves, making the image look like it's chrome etc. Use carefully!

Levels, use to adjust the whole set of highlights, midtones and shadows together or split into the RGB channels. Drag the sliders into where the histogram starts and ends for a quick improvement, the move the midtone point to tweak. Don't use "auto", as many good shots are ruined by it, changing the colour tone. You can use the eye droppers in the Levels dialog to click the darkest and lightest parts of the image to assist the levels until you get what you want to see.

Finally Unsharp Mask is one of my other daily tools, adjust the threshold so it doesn't affect too much, (turn on the preview and experiment to learn how it works) and then ramp up the percentage 50 to 100% is usually enough, remember it's changing the definition between contrasting zones, improving the appearance of focus.

I often use LAB colour mode for some shots, as you can achieve very precise adjustments which aren't easily possible in RGB.

Also don't forget to try and experiment in isolated channels too, not just the full image.

I could type advice all day, but instead, try reading these excellent tutorials: http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm

aliEnRIK

Isofa ~

Was it you that recently posted some freebie GRAYSCALE charts?
Ive recently acquired the SPYDER 3 calibration gadget and been setting up my tv etc (Been a very intriguing time for me) using THIS software and the patterns disc (A truly AWESOME piece of software for free)
Anyways ~ if it was can you link me to them grayscales again please?

johnmcgrath

I'm not sure where you can find simplified version but I had this book 40 Digital Photo Retouching Techniques, good enough for the newcomer to digital photography, and the techniques will apply to almost every photo editing software, not just the Elements 2 program packaged as a trial.

isofa

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Isofa ~

Was it you that recently posted some freebie GRAYSCALE charts?
Ive recently acquired the SPYDER 3 calibration gadget and been setting up my tv etc (Been a very intriguing time for me) using THIS software and the patterns disc (A truly AWESOME piece of software for free)
Anyways ~ if it was can you link me to them grayscales again please?

Yup, these ones: http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/

From this thread re. calibration: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1602317

:beer:

aliEnRIK

Cheers mate

chickmug

Thanks all and especially isofar for that short, but sweet, tutorial.

And I will take a look at the other suggestions:beer:

isofa

You are welcome