During a seminar I conducted this week at the South Collier Regional Library on how to effectively edit, enhance & correctly save photos with various versions of Elements I was surprised to find how many people had experience with the program but who were unaware of some of the most basic actions and work flow. No one’s fault, for most people the program doesn’t become intuitive without initial instruction then regular practice. Based on questions I received, below are some ideas to help get started with Elements:
Photos taken by day & night can be quickly edited and finished with a working knowledge of Photoshop Elements. 5th Ave Naples at night by Gordon Campbell www.swfloutdoorphotography.com.
1- Digital processing software is designed to help you finish or optimize good images. There is a huge mis- conception that truly poor exposures or compositions can become masterpieces with the push of a few buttons. Not so, start with a quality shot.
2- Learn to read the histogram both on your camera monitor which will help with proper exposures in the field and and when making levels adjustments in Elements which should be your first operation when processing. Basically you’re correcting your exposure to get started.
3- You’ll then go on to further lighting adjustments under Enhance, Lighting Adjustments where a drop down box will give you several options. You may care to make color adjustments found under Enhance, Adjust Color too.
4- General & localized sharpening are a must too. The latter is completed via the Sharpen Tool and the former under Enhance, Adjust Sharpness.
5- On top of all the lighting adjustments there are also a bevvy of artistic filters you can add to create a mild or extreme painterly look. Start under Filter.
6- Get your cropping right. Understand the term aspect ratio and complete your crops to the right dimensions especially if you’ll be printing.
This is a getting started primer, a scratch of the surface. If you have a question or need help deciphering the program and its many many features, email me. In the meantime take some good shots and put that finishing touch to them- Gordon.
Professional Photography from Ft. Meyers & Sanibel to Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades.
gordon@SWFLOutdoorPhotography.com
copyright 2013 Gordon Campbell www.swfloutdoorphotography.com.
