Photo Editing 101

I said I'd give you a run down on this photo editing stuff but I will warn you, you might know more than I do about it. Especially Stacy. Hello, photoshop guru! SO, please if I am sharing anything that is terribly wrong, I am appointing you as the one who has to correct me. No pressure. But, seriously moms, go check out her blog. Gorgeous.

OK, so, like I mentioned yesterday, if you're going to do things like switch a photo from color to black and white or do any cropping with the help of your computer, you're going to need to know the basics about the editing program that your camera came with. Or your computer. My computer has one and my camera(s) have one. They are all on my computer and I like little things about each one so I usually trade off between them. Don't ask me what they're called because I don't know. I don't. I just know how to use them enough to get by. Story of my friggin' life. Anyway, the first things you NEED to know is how to up the contrast of your image. This is especially true if you have a point and shoot. I have said I love my point and shoot BUT I have found I love it even more once I up the contrast on the pix I take with it. And it should be as easy as pulling up the photo in the program and finding where the contrast levels are and taking it up a notch or two. Does everyone know where that is in their programs on their computers?  In most basic programs (or editing tools) they give you the standards-brightness and contrast and them usually color too. Some offer auto correct which sometimes makes it easy too (if you like the way it "enhances" your image.

Here's what you do, you take one of your images and you play with it in the computer with your editing tools. Just play. You can ruin anything. You don't have to save it. But, what I bet will happen is you will find all sorts of cool ways to manipulate your images. And if you have the color editing tools that let you up one color only and then take out another color, you will get all sorts of strange and nifty effects. I've become a little addicted to changing the photos. It can be such a blast and it makes your images super-artsy. You know how much I dig that. Here's a photo I shot and I tweaked in my basic editing program. I don't even know what I did exactly but I like it. And then I just saved them as I went with new names so all three are saved on my computer. Fun stuff.

Here's the three phases of my editing here. The far left is straight from the camera (kind flat and blah), then I added contrast and took out a little red and then blue too (looks so much better to me). And for the third one, I added contrast of various colors and removed a lot fo blue (to get the yellow hue) and basically, just tried a bunch of stuff until I found something I liked! ... See my Tabblo>

And the switch to black and white goes the same. You can either dial out all the color in the tools or there will be an option to change it to black and white. There are lots of different ways for saying the same thing so there will be different ways of switching your images depending on the tools you're using. But the thing I always do after making the switch is up the contrast. It doesn't have to be a lot. Just enough to make it pop. You'll know what you like. Everyones eye sees it differently. I seem to gravitate toward lighter images for some reason. I don't know. I just do. Find what works for you, how to use your tools the right way for you. It's worth the time and effort to practice. And it's fun.

And as you practice the tweaking, be sure to look for the cropping tools too if you haven't already. Now, I'm opening up for questions. Anyone? Anyone? Oooo, I have one. Anyone using Picasa? I think I may have asked before. Anyway, I've heard great things about it. Do share if you know anything about it. OK, now it's your turn to ask.

Comments

[Much More Than A Mom]

Here's a post at my place re: some free software:
http://www.muchmorethanamom.com/?p=383

[Stacy]

Ah, Tracy, you are too kind! When I started out on my photography journey, I used Picasa right away. It was dummy proof, with me being the dummy, and I was able to enhance and improve my photos to the limits of the program. It's nice and easy to use. I used the sharpen feature on it alot, because, well...I had a really crappy blury camera.

Once you have graduated and really want to confuse yourself, Photoshop Elements is a good program. It's all a learning process, so don't expect to "get it" right away. It just takes time. There are some good books on learning Photoshop out there, I hear, with Scott Kelby being highly recommended. I'm more hands on...meaning it takes me twice as long as if I had read a book, but that's just my way. ;)

[mrscrumley]

I use photoshop and my husband's photoshop skillz. I have tried learning photoshop but I get so confused. D knows it inside and out, so I say "Fix this" and he usually does.

[Alissa]

My cousin uses Picasa and loves it. I switch back and forth between Photoshop and PaintShopPro, depending on what I'm trying to accomplish.

[Stacy]

I thought I would make a tabblo showing what you can do in photo processing:

http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/139780/

[Carrie]

Tracy -
I LOVE Picasa! I actually do a lot of photo editing using Photoshop (I am a web designer/graphic designer by trade) but Picasa is so easy in a pinch - you can do practically everything with it, cropping, levels, sharpening, b&w, and some cool effects. And it is free!! Plus it does a beautiful job of librarying (is that a word?) your photos. When I want to just put a batch of photos up (I take a lot!) It is great to export them all and upload them or send them via email. It is the only reason I keep my PC around, alas they do not have a version for the Mac!

[Chris]

I use Picassa quite a bit. I also use Microsoft's Digital Image Suite 2006. I have Photoshop that came with my camera, but I find it hard to use. I will use a little bit of all of them, though. Anyway, my Christmas Card is done. Finally. Nothing major this year as I just wasn't motivated. lol. Here it is:
http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/139901/

[Melisa]

Picasa is ok. It's free so, you get what you pay for.
It's red eye fixer-upper is really bad. PS Elements has a lot more the features I like.

[Bunny]

Tracey, you inspired me to play around with my editing a little bit today! Usually I have a cute picture of my kids and crop it to 4x6 and then go. I will auto fix the red eye sometimes too. But this time, I cropped way into my daughter's face and used the auto contrast and sharpen corrections and I am really excited about how it turned out. (I posted it on my blog today.) I only had a few minutes to play, so I didn't do much, but the couple things I did turned out really well!

[Melody]

*smile* I love that you speak technical jargon just like me. And like you said, I can never remember what I did to a photo when I edit and get something I like.

Be honest, is this photography stuff really a crap shoot?

[Candace Thomas]

smile, this looks fun