1 Photoshop Basics Marty Kesselman Oct 20, 2009

2 Photoshop Basics Marty Kesselman October 20, 2009

3 What will be covered by this talk? I will discuss layers I will discuss layers I will take you through a beginning-to-end picture enhancement session : I will take you through a beginning-to-end picture enhancement session : Exposure Copying a layer Levels Selections Masks Dust & spot removal Navigator Healing brush Dodge & burn using blending modes Curves Composite layers Cloning

4 Why use layers? Allows you to concentrate on one aspect of the entire image at a time Allows you to concentrate on one aspect of the entire image at a time Can control all aspects of the image that appears on each layer – separately Can control all aspects of the image that appears on each layer – separately Can remove layers to see affects with and without a layer Can remove layers to see affects with and without a layer

5 How do you get layers? Photoshop will automatically create layers for you Photoshop will automatically create layers for you Puts original image on a “background layer” Puts original image on a “background layer” Adds a layer for any “adjustment layer” operation Adds a layer for any “adjustment layer” operation Adds a layer for “text” Adds a layer for “text” Adds a layer if you drag an image into another image Adds a layer if you drag an image into another image

6 How do you get layers? You can create your own layers manually You can create your own layers manually Layer>new>layer Layer>new>layer Click “new layer icon” in the layers palette Click “new layer icon” in the layers palette Copy a layer: Copy a layer: Ctl+j Ctl+j layer>new>layer via copy layer>new>layer via copy Copy / Paste Copy / Paste Copy a selection: ctl+j Copy a selection: ctl+j Create a composite layer - Hold “alt+layer>merge visible” Create a composite layer - Hold “alt+layer>merge visible”

7 Are there different types of layers? Pixel carrying layers Pixel carrying layers Contain image information Contain image information Instruction carrying layers Instruction carrying layers Contain only instructions – no image information Contain only instructions – no image information Text layers – technically do not contain pixels ; they contain vectors Text layers – technically do not contain pixels ; they contain vectors Contain mathematical vectors that define the characters (making them editable and scalable) Contain mathematical vectors that define the characters (making them editable and scalable)

8 What happens to all the work when you exit the program? Always save your work as a PSD “photoshop data” file Always save your work as a PSD “photoshop data” file This saves everything you have done so that you can pick-up where you left-off This saves everything you have done so that you can pick-up where you left-off Saving as a JPG will compress your layers to one layer and compress your image to reduce storage requirements. Saving as a JPG will compress your layers to one layer and compress your image to reduce storage requirements. Do not save as JPG unless you have previously saved as PSD Do not save as JPG unless you have previously saved as PSD Saving as TIF will preserve layers Saving as TIF will preserve layers

9 Saving JPGs – Causes Aberrations

10 Tip-Expose for Highlights You will learn that you lose all information if highlights are saturated – “blown-out” You will learn that you lose all information if highlights are saturated – “blown-out” There is still much information in the shadows to extract There is still much information in the shadows to extract With a choice; choose to expose for highlights With a choice; choose to expose for highlights

11 Workflow-1 Shoot RAW if you can Shoot RAW if you can Provides more post processing flexibility Provides more post processing flexibility Expose photo in camera as best as possible Expose photo in camera as best as possible Save your images on a CD or DVD Save your images on a CD or DVD Open in RAW Converter to achieve best over- all image Open in RAW Converter to achieve best over- all image Exposure Exposure Color Color Tonal appearance Tonal appearance

12 Workflow-2 Open image in Photoshop with ; Open image in Photoshop with ; RGB (1998) color space RGB (1998) color space 300 dpi resolution to achieve size and printer resolution for later 300 dpi resolution to achieve size and printer resolution for later Open as a 16 bit image mode – “depth” Open as a 16 bit image mode – “depth” Choose image size that is default for camera Choose image size that is default for camera Not a plus or a minus Not a plus or a minus

13 Workflow-3 Make global image adjustments Make global image adjustments Levels adjustment – if necessary Levels adjustment – if necessary Concentrate on tonal values Concentrate on tonal values Curves adjustment – if necessary Curves adjustment – if necessary Concentrate on contrast Concentrate on contrast Dust Spot removal Dust Spot removal

14 Workflow-4 Address all of your enhancements to specific picture areas Address all of your enhancements to specific picture areas Lightening certain areas Lightening certain areas Darkening certain areas Darkening certain areas Increasing contrast in certain places Increasing contrast in certain places Cleaning-up by using cloning Cleaning-up by using cloning Isolating subjects with blurring or darkening of background Isolating subjects with blurring or darkening of background

15 Workflow-5 Prepare for output to the viewer Prepare for output to the viewer Resize Resize Sharpen Sharpen Output Output

16 Image we will work with Exposed as best as I could for tent roof Now we have to adjust the lighting and see what we can get out of this shot Copy your background layer to a new layer to preserve the original in case you need it

17 Use a LEVELS adjustment layer This adjustment will adjust; This adjustment will adjust; brightest pixels brightest pixels Darkest pixels Darkest pixels Midtones Midtones It can do color correction using the “gray” eyedropper It can do color correction using the “gray” eyedropper It can adjust each individual color as well It can adjust each individual color as well

18 Tent roof is now blown-out Fix with a mask over the tent – to reveal the tent image below Amazingly; one can extract most of the image information

19 Activate mask: Select tent, fill with black

20 Make a new Layer Look for dirt or dust spots Click the page-in-page icon – you get a new layer Click the page-in-page icon – you get a new layer Dust is most visible in a uniform blue sky Dust is most visible in a uniform blue sky Double click the magnifier glass tool – expands image to 100% Double click the magnifier glass tool – expands image to 100% Press home key- view left top corner Press home key- view left top corner Press “page down” – move down Press “page down” – move down Press “ctl+page down” – move right Press “ctl+page down” – move right Press “page up” – move up Press “page up” – move up Press “ctl+page up” – move left Press “ctl+page up” – move left Use “spot healing brush” – click on dust to blend it out Use “spot healing brush” – click on dust to blend it out

21 Create a new layer Use Spot Healing Brush tool to eliminate dirt spots

22 Notice rider’s face is dark and could use lightening We will do this with blending modes and masks Open a levels adjustment layer and close it – doing nothing Change blending mode to “screen”-entire image is lightened Assure mask is active Invert mask to make it black (ctl+i)-image is restored Set default foreground color to “black” Paint on face with a soft edged brush with low opacity (10-20%)

23 OriginalLevels adjustCurves adjust Lightening face indicates it also needs more contrast Use a “curves” adjustment to provide both lightening and contrast Create a curves layer – as before with a “levels” layer Alt+drag the “levels mask” to the “curves” mask – copies the mask Click “eye” on “levels” layer to turn OFF the layer Set “curves” blending mode to screen Click on image icon to activate it and ctl+click on the face to set a point on the curve. Ctl+click on curve above and below “face “ point to allow you to increase the slope through the face point.

24 In this case the black point was moved to increase contrast

25 Clone out paper in grass Create a composite layer – hold alt+layer>merge visible Select an area to cover the paper from along side Ctl+j will put it on its own layer Move it over the paper to cover it – blend with a mask

26 OriginalPartially EnhancedFinished Always Expose for Highlights