Photo editing is one of the most powerful tools that a photographer has. When it comes to classic photography, photo editing is a term that can refer to anything from processing the film in chemicals and seeing the final print. In modern digital photography, photo editing is done mostly in computers. This is great news for those photographers who do not have a dark room or a studio. Software like Photoshop gives you the possibility to edit your photographs in many ways.
There are many different techniques that photographers use to get better effects. Let us take a look at some of the photo editing techniques that are used in modern photography:
Dark Processed Lomo Effect
This type of effect is based on the lomographic technique which is hugely popular. It is similar to the processing effect that photographers use in a large number of fashion shoots and advertisement designs. This effect adds impact to what would normally be a plain photograph and results in photos with cool color casts and saturation that is uncommon.
Photoshop’s Black and White filter
With the mode that allows Luminosity blending, you can independently control the brightness and contrast of your images according to the color content by using a black and white adjustment layer. This turns it into a tone equalizer and it allows you to control the distribution of tones and balance in an image. It is a cool way to get the almost surreal looks that you will find often in advertisements and on the covers of CDs.
Blend Textures with Photos
By using Photoshop’s different modes to blend layers and textures to a photo, you have a simple way to give an image that would be considered ordinary more of an artistic and creative edge in a powerful manner. You can go through the different blend modes to see which one is best. You can also blend just the value of brightness so that you make sure that the image retains all its original colors.
Simulate Film Grain
You can adjust different amount of noise and blur and choose blending mode and get a number of different results. Being patient is key while using Photoshop as it is only then that you will be able to find your favorite settings. Film grain is all about adding texture and depth to your images so that they do not look like run-of-the-mill digital photographs.
Cast Shadow Effect
Photoshop’s Drop Shadow layer style is great for adding simple shadows to images or text. It makes them look like they are floating above their background. However, when it comes to creating more realistic shadow effects for images, Drop Shadow is not the right tool. You will need to use more advanced techniques and settings to get the desired effect.
Non-destructive Lens Flare Effect
ou can add a lens flare effect to your photograph without making any permanent changes to it. Layer blend modes make it easy to get this effect. You can start by adding the lens flare normally and keep it in a position where you want it and then undo the effect. You then add a new layer and apply the lens flare again instantly. Lastly, you blend the lens flare into the image by making use of one of Photoshop’s most common and widely used blend modes.
Zoom Blurring Effect
Almost everyone who has a camera has one with zoom lens. You can use this as tool to add action and make your photos come alive. Zoom blur is a technique that is simple; however, it does take a little while to get used to it but with enough practice, you can get some great effects. Zoom blur is the effect that you get when you activate your camera’s zoom feature while the shutter is open.
Natural Portrait Retouch
This is a technique that is used for portraits, as the name suggests. You will find that many photographers use it to cover small blemishes in models’ faces. Many even use it for other clients who want the appearance of having flawless skin. It is a simple technique that anyone who has knowledge of Photoshop can use.
Color Correction using Curves Adjustment
There are many ways that you can correct the color of an image in Photoshop. The method of a curves adjustment layer is one that is preferred most by people who use this software. One of the advantages of using a curves adjustment layer to make this type of correction is that the file size of the image is impacted on a very small scale. It is also easier to go back back to make changes if you are not satisfied with the results.
Sharpening Techniques
You will be surprised to know that many of the photographs that you see in magazines have been sharpened by using different software before they are printed or posted online. Photoshop has some great tools that even professional photographers use to give their photos that extra boost that they need to pop.
There are many non-destructive photo editing techniques that can be used to make images sharper, brighter and also to provide effects that will increase the quality of the photographs.
Author Bio:
This is a Guest Post by Rajakumar Jonnala Full time blogger on behalf of http://techieblast.com/ and http://www.techblogonline.info/