Tag: Image Processing How To
Article: Perfect Combination
Adobe Photoshop CS3 offers many new features, including those found in the new Adobe Camera Raw, that help us enhance and save (to a point) our exposures. From an exposure standpoint, two of the most amazing features in the latest version of...
Article: The Details
One of the differences between a good photograph and a great one is how we handle the details. Check out this image of a beautiful Kuna woman who I photographed at the San Blas Hotel in the San Blas Islands, an archipelago of 365 islands that lies...
Article: Fire In The Sky
We all love watching sunsets, looking at pictures of sunsets and, of course, photographing sunsets! The warm colors—deep shades of red, orange and yellow—evoke feelings of peace and tranquility and a sense of awe at nature's wonders.
Article: 4 Fundamental Photoshop Skills
Photoshop and other sophisticated image-editing applications can be overwhelming at first. The surest way to get comfortable working with them is to begin by mastering a few of the techniques you'll use most often. Once you've achieved some success...
Article: Trade Tricks: Sharpening The Right Way
Sharpening is an important step in the image-editing process. While it won't make an out-of-focus image (or an image blurred by camera or subject motion) sharp, sharpening will increase the contrast between light and dark pixels at edges in the...
Article: Jumpstart Layers
The use of Layers is consistently the most feared part of Photoshop. I've had photographers tell me that they just can't deal with Layers, and I know very good photographers who do excellent Photoshop work, but still believe they "aren't ready for...
Article: Top Photoshop Techniques
Photoshop is such a powerful application, with deep menus and a vast array of tools and controls, that even experienced users continually find new ways to use the program for better photography. One of the best ways to improve your skills with...
Article: Double-Process RAW For Better Tonality
One problem photographers have always faced is the fact that no medium yet invented can capture the tonal range our eyes can see. Film can't get close to recording the brightness range of light that the human eye can perceive. This holds true for...
Article: How To Process A RAW File
RAW files are gaining interest among all photographers for good reason. In part, they hold a mystique as the "pro's format," which isn't completely true, as many pros also shoot JPEG. RAW files are notable for their processing potential to help you...
Article: Layers 101
Imagine software that allows you to substantially adjust part of your photo, yet also lets you go back to that adjustment when you change your mind. Imagine what it would be like to be able to make changes to your image that were never permanent so...
Article: Digital Workflow In 20 Easy Steps
When I think about my days in the darkroom, I realized I achieved consistently good results when I methodically followed specific steps. With traditional printing, even a small variation in time, temperature or chemistry could make a significant...
Article: Trade Tricks: Replacing Backgrounds
Do you have a portrait of a subject who looks lovely, but is ruined by a busy and unappealing background? Consider performing some simple tricks in the computer to help it out. Replacing the background can introduce a new feel or mood and save a...
Article: Jumpstart Photoshop
If asked to list the most intimidating parts of digital photography, a large number of photographers would include Adobe Photoshop. Without question, it's the premiere image-processing software on the market, but its high price matches its learning...
Article: Trade Tricks: Layer Masks
While they're not particularly intuitive and may discourage photographers who could benefit from using them, Layer Masks are an essential tool when working in an image-processing program. As you'll see, they're worth the effort required to learn...
Article: The Critical Adjustment: Levels & Black
Despite the special features of today's digital cameras, many photographers have found the results from camera to print disappointing. Certainly, it's essential to calibrate your monitor and run tests with your printer, but that's not enough if the...
Article: Bordering On The Edge
Creating a print is the ultimate goal for a photographer. From the moment the shutter is released, it's the image on paper that each photographer likely has in mind when the scene is captured on the camera's CCD or film. Yet the creativity involved...
Article: Trade Tricks: Getting It Straight
Photographers know that wide-angle lenses sometimes cause distortion. Straight lines appear curved, especially if they're close to the edges of the frame. Sometimes, the effect is desirable, and other times, it's not.
Article: Trade Tricks: Black-And-White From Color
Black-and-white photography still mostly comes from black-and-white film, and remains a viable, challenging way to photograph. For best results in the computer, scan from the black-and-white or color negative; then, depending on how your scanner...
