ALAN JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY

Photoshop Manipulation

Basic

Before you start go into Window in the Menu and make sure that you have the following things ticked Tools -Status –History- Layers-Options

Digital Image Size – found in Photoshop Menu Image – Image Size all digital Cameras accept the Nikon range download at the lowest Res they can but the biggest picture that they can print at so before any manipulation alter the picture to suit your print with the res always being 300 or 350 for magazine quality prints

Scanned Images the best way to get the finest images is to scan the slide in at its actual size which is approx 24x 36 mm at the scanners highest res which on the Nikon Coolscan that I use is 2900 dpi or res

Then alter the image size as above

 E.g. if you want an A4 print alter the Image Size to read  21. X 29.7cm  300 or 350 res this is found in Photoshop menu Image – Image Size

To alter picture if confident  use-  Levels -  this is found in Photoshop Menu - Image – Adjustment – Levels  rule of thumb both cursors should be touching the graph and then alter to suit your preference with the mid tone cursor

To alter if unsure then use Variations this is found in Image – Adjustments then down to the bottom – Variations you click on the alteration you want but you can always return to the original if  you are not happy  with the Outcome

Hue and Saturations can also be found in Image- Adjustment along with Brightness and Contrast

Prior to Printing all digital images whether scanned slides or digital camera need sharpening prior to printing a printing tip that we use on every picture that we either send for competition or   print is the following four steps which are accessed by going into Filter- Sharpen- Unsharp Mask then repeating each step with the varying scale of values

 

Printing always slow down your printer and make the dpi 1440 or 2880 or higher if your printer will allow    Go into your Printers properties and Custom and Advanced settings to do this- finally adding a 5% contrast in the Contrast box found in Advanced  settings also make sure you alter the type of paper e.g. Photo Quality Or Premium Quality as this changes the dpi that your printer will use

Advanced

Add Copyright - by using the Custom Shape Tool  found in the Tool Box on left hand side of screen If you are worried about someone using your image then  lower the opacity and type your name across the screen from corner to corner making it difficult  for anyone to clone out your ă but still allowing the picture to be viewed

Using layers to make Business Cards – First select a suitable image and then add the Text by building up layers using the Text tool once you are finished take two copies by going into File & Save As  save the 1^st copy as a PSD the 2^nd as a Jpeg  before saving the Jpeg  merge the visible by going into

Layer – Merge Visible

The PSD File  is only used for altering text for further cards

Working with the Jpeg take a copy using Ctrl A C V then resize the image using the Move Tool position at top of page when in correct place take a copy of this using Ctrl A C V to get the next replica position and merge visible you now have two images on the page take a copy using Ctrl A C V and two more identical pictures will appear etc etc until you have filled the page

Make One picture out of Two – Found in Cheating this is where layers comes into play

Take a copy of the 1st picture you want to insert the second  picture into by holding down the Ctrl key and pressing A then C then V this will give you two layers the Background and a second copy  Go into File and open the second picture that you want to use then a simple way of  cutting out a section of this second image  is  to use the Marquee Tool to select the area you want to cut out of the second picture then go  into Edit- Copy- Then- Edit- Paste and yet another layer will appear take the eyes off of your first two layers so that you are left only looking at your cut selection either use the magic eraser on a low tolerance level of approx 25 to 30% or the normal eraser both found in the Tool Bar to cut away the area you don’t want then put the eyes back on all the layers making sure that the cut selection is on top use the Move Tool to resize and Move the added image

To increase the F stop  first take a copy of your background layer which is locked and will only allow certain functions to be carried out whilst locked  you do this by holding down the Ctrl key and pressing A then C then V  if you intend to apply this to the whole picture  just  Multiply - Opacity  this is  found  just below the Layers  wording in the Layers box on the right hand side of the screen Multiply by however much you want the picture taken down 19% is  equates to half a stop 38 % a whole stop up to 100 % which is approx  2.5 stops of light

If only part of your picture is over exposed e.g. a bit of white coral in the top or bottom corner then use a mask to hide everything accept the part that you want to take down a stop to do this go into Layer - Add Layer Mask then using a paint brush from Tools paint over the section that you want to take down a stop Use the Multiply as above

More fun things can be found in Filter- Render- Lighting Effects and Lens Flare and by using Quick Mode Mask but that’s another lesson

That’s all folks  Happy Manipulating

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