Capturing picture perfect photographs has never been quite as easy as digital photography makes it. Of course, you still have to pay attention to those essentials like choosing the right light conditions, the theme and everything that comes along with it. However, with digital technology, you still have the room to edit out those unforeseen errors and can allow yourself that extra bit of space which is invaluable if you aren’t quite the wiz with your digital camera. But even though you may have spent hours selecting the editing software that is most conducive to your level of skill and requirements, it still isn’t much good if you have to spend ages laboring over the bare essentials you need to give your images that much-needed makeover. And hence, it is vital that you master these few basics before you move on to handling those complicated maneuvers that will eventually aid you in re-mastering your images.
Even as you set out to rework your photographs, stop a moment to save a copy of the original image in a folder you can easily access if need be. This is because if your efforts at editing yield results that are contrary to what you set out to achieve, you can simply revert to the original you have and begin all over again. Once you open your image in your photo-editor, you will find an option which says ‘Save As’ which you need to click on to save the original and get to work on the copy you’ve created. And once you set forth, don’t restrict yourself with the fear of having to plod through the entire process if you create an effect you aren’t particularly fond of. You can eliminate the unwanted change with the ‘Undo’ option that your software will provide you with, and if you’re one of the lucky few who has the more sophisticated versions, you can even avail of the ‘Multiple Undo’ option. This remarkable feature lets you stick with only the changes you like while deleting the unwanted ones.
Being a pro when it comes to maneuvering around the image is vital to how quick and easy your editing process is. A popular navigating tool is the ‘Hand Tool’ or the ‘Pan Tool’ which allows you to work your way up and down the image, without making any inadvertent changes to it. You can also choose the zoom options to be more accurate in your editing process which are represented by the ‘Magnifying Glass Tool’. This tool displays a plus sign as you draw in to make the necessary changes and the negative sign as you zoom out to assess the effect of your changes to the overall image. While most types of software let you left click on the image to zoom in or out, many versions also let you right click on the image to proceed in set increments.
When zooming into your image, you may also find that it appears blurred and indistinct. However, this is only because the pixels, which make up the image, disperse when you close in and thus separate. This lets you work on minute details on your image and then zoom out again, to view a clearer picture. It also makes it a lot easier on your eyes while saving you the effort of squinting at the computer screen to get a closer look. You can even use the ‘Eyedropper Tool’ to select sets of pixels which are of a particular color, without worrying about missing on even the minutest spot.
Your editing software will also be enabled with what are known as ‘Marquee’ tools, which let you trace basic shapes like rectangles and circles or even ellipses around your image. You can also use the freeform tool for drawing around unsymmetrical shapes which do not fit into the rectangular or circular frames. This freeform tool lets you trace around the image by holding your mouse button down or clicking around the image to create a series of dots which will automatically connect to each other, once you click on the first dot again. And once you’re through with your selection, a flowing dotted line will appear around the highlighted portion of your image.
Once you’re comfortable with selecting and navigating around your image, you can then move on to creating effects and augmenting your image with the enhancement tools. This can be as simple as cropping your image to draw attention to only one specific part of the image, or even using filters to tint your photograph. You can also make use of the brush and airbrush tools to paint over your image, much like you would with a conventional painting. This tool lets you add color to your image and even paint out minor flaws in your image, to reveal spectacular results.
Modern-day editing softwares can be as effortless or as complicated as you want them to be. As a rule of the thumb, remember that the more experimental you get, the easier your navigation and use of the software will be. And nothing works quite as well as practice does. Once you have these fundamental basics mastered, you’ll find it a lot easier to learn your way around those more sophisticated features and very soon, you’ll realize that photo-editing software isn’t quite the enigma you make it out to be!
Related posts:
- Editing Digital Photography: Software living up to its promises?
- Digital Photos – Things You Need to Know Before You Buy Digital Camera
- Digital photography: Is your digital camera the best one for you?
- Photoshop Tips – One of Many Steps to Instant Photography
- Photoshop Tutorials – Adding a touch of finesse to your photographic art
