Are you one of the 4.89 billion people around the world who regularly use social media? If so, you probably know that posting pictures is part of the game.
Whether you’re sharing your photography or using stock photos, you know it’s important that your images are as polished as possible. After all, the slightest imperfection is all it takes to ruin an otherwise perfect post.
So if you want to learn some photo editing techniques that will help you improve your work, this short and simple guide is for you. Keep reading to learn more.
Cropping
Cropping is the process of removing unwanted areas from your photo like people or backgrounds. It can also help you to create slimmer, wider, and square image sizes, as well as adjust an image’s aspect ratio.
To begin, look for the Crop tool then highlight the parts of the picture that you want to keep. Select the Options button on the top of the page to choose the size you would like your image to be. Finally, click “Crop.”
Adjusting Lighting
For this, you can use Edit>Tone Curve to adjust exposure, brightness, contrast, and highlights effects. This will help you create a more balanced look and draw focus to the subject of your photo.
If you have more advanced photo editing skills, you can use selective lighting adjustments. You can do this by using the brush tool to stipulate what parts of the photo you want to have brighter and darker elements. This will bring more attention to the various elements of the photo.
Sharpening
Sharpening can turn a good photo into a great one. You can use this photo editing technique subtly or boldly depending on the desired outcome. For example, you can use the Unsharp mask to increase contrast by adding mid-tone contrast and emphasizing certain details.
You can use the High pass tool to get rid of any noise as well as enhance the edges of an image. Lastly, you can also use the Mastering calibration can bring out the details without changing the overall contrast.
Applying Filters
Filters provide a way to change the feel of a photo and give it a desired tone. The range of filters available varies from subtle to more dramatic effects. And the best approach to find the perfect one is to experiment, to see which filters yield the desired results.
To apply a filter in most editing software, simply select it from a list, and then adjust the intensity. Some applications allow one to save custom filters that they can re-apply to other photos.
Changing Backgrounds
One of the first steps a beginner should learn is to change background in photo. You can achieve this through the use of two main photo editing tools – layers and masking. With layers, the selected portion of the background is placed on its layer and then deleted, revealing the underlying layer.
Masking is a more creative approach and allows a more fine-tuned edit. The process entails selecting the foreground of the image by creating a mask and then replacing the background.
Experiment With These Photo Editing Techniques Now
Photo editing techniques open doors of creativity and can give you amazing results. Start with basics like cropping and then progress to more complex techniques to help you get the most out of your photos. With good practice, you’ll be a pro in no time.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab a photo and start experimenting!
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