This is a post that I wrote for the Right at Home Scrapbooking blog. It appeared on that site last week.
I cannot scrapbook without editing my photos. It has become such a problem that I now have to cart a little photo printer with me whenever I go to a crop! (Or I have to do some serious pre-planning. But, I probably spend between two and twenty minutes per photo). I do all the usual things, like cropping and resizing. But, I also like to play with the curves, levels, colors, etc.
Here are some examples of what you can do in Photoshop:
Here's a simple change from color to black and white. Just use the "desaturate" feature.
You can see in this example that I blurred the background to bring the focus to the couple in the photo. There are many ways to do this, but I like to select the background (using the magnetic lasso tool) and then use the "Gaussian Blur" filter to create the blur.
Here, I've used a "Cooling Filter" – found under "Photo Filters" – and it gives the photo a crisp, clear edge.
On the other end of the spectrum is this "Warming Filter." I think it gives the photo a nostalgic, vintage feel. Almost a little bit sepia.
By far my most used photo editing choice is "Curves." I like to blow out the photo a bit (it's a look I like and is usually flattering to the subjects) and create some contrast.
You can also monkey with the photo using the "Exposure" settings. It really helps boost the color in the photo and strengthen the contrast.
This one is subtle. I've changed the background to black and white and left the couple in color. If you'd like to try this one out, I've got an ancient tutorial (one of the first I ever made) right here.
In this final example, I've gone super Photoshop with the woman's face and neck. Look back and forth between the two photos. I got rid of her wrinkles and blemishes, evened out her skin tone, whitened her teeth, and even added some makeup to her face.
From quick and easy changes to super detailed re-dos, Photoshop is a great resource for making the most of your photos! My favorite of these edits is #6: Exposure. How about you?
hahaha- I still do not have Photoshop. I had it for my pc- but now with the mac I hadn’t had the chance to get it. I need to seriously get going with it 🙂
hahaha- I still do not have Photoshop. I had it for my pc- but now with the mac I hadn’t had the chance to get it. I need to seriously get going with it 🙂
hahaha- I still do not have Photoshop. I had it for my pc- but now with the mac I hadn’t had the chance to get it. I need to seriously get going with it 🙂
hahaha- I still do not have Photoshop. I had it for my pc- but now with the mac I hadn’t had the chance to get it. I need to seriously get going with it 🙂
Hi Julie! I don’t have Photoshop but I just might have to change that! I really like the warming filter…very eye pleasing!
Hi Julie! I don’t have Photoshop but I just might have to change that! I really like the warming filter…very eye pleasing!
Hi Julie! I don’t have Photoshop but I just might have to change that! I really like the warming filter…very eye pleasing!
Hi Julie! I don’t have Photoshop but I just might have to change that! I really like the warming filter…very eye pleasing!
Yeppers, PSE is addicting. I just got it for Mother’s Day and I can see it’s going to slow down my finished scrap pages count already! LOL
Have you seen the video where a Dutch scrapper changes herself into Paris Hilton (trust me, she does not look ANYTHING like her to start, except for being blonde…) in super fast-motion? Freaky.
Yeppers, PSE is addicting. I just got it for Mother’s Day and I can see it’s going to slow down my finished scrap pages count already! LOL
Have you seen the video where a Dutch scrapper changes herself into Paris Hilton (trust me, she does not look ANYTHING like her to start, except for being blonde…) in super fast-motion? Freaky.
Yeppers, PSE is addicting. I just got it for Mother’s Day and I can see it’s going to slow down my finished scrap pages count already! LOL
Have you seen the video where a Dutch scrapper changes herself into Paris Hilton (trust me, she does not look ANYTHING like her to start, except for being blonde…) in super fast-motion? Freaky.
Yeppers, PSE is addicting. I just got it for Mother’s Day and I can see it’s going to slow down my finished scrap pages count already! LOL
Have you seen the video where a Dutch scrapper changes herself into Paris Hilton (trust me, she does not look ANYTHING like her to start, except for being blonde…) in super fast-motion? Freaky.
thanks for the tutorials! when i have more time I will have to give some of these a try!
thanks for the tutorials! when i have more time I will have to give some of these a try!
thanks for the tutorials! when i have more time I will have to give some of these a try!
thanks for the tutorials! when i have more time I will have to give some of these a try!
what a great post! i am a visual learner and this is super helpful. right now i am loving playing with the color in curves. i love upping the contrast.
what a great post! i am a visual learner and this is super helpful. right now i am loving playing with the color in curves. i love upping the contrast.
what a great post! i am a visual learner and this is super helpful. right now i am loving playing with the color in curves. i love upping the contrast.
what a great post! i am a visual learner and this is super helpful. right now i am loving playing with the color in curves. i love upping the contrast.
i love #6 too 🙂 you’re amazing, duh. great post.
i love #6 too 🙂 you’re amazing, duh. great post.
i love #6 too 🙂 you’re amazing, duh. great post.
i love #6 too 🙂 you’re amazing, duh. great post.
I just love Photoshop. I love it because it’s an endless tool with endless amount of options and ways to be creative. It’s a tool for professionals but also students (like myself) or people who have a hard time with computers (like my mum, who just learned how to scan her old family photos and fix them up!). Thanks for posting this. 🙂
I just love Photoshop. I love it because it’s an endless tool with endless amount of options and ways to be creative. It’s a tool for professionals but also students (like myself) or people who have a hard time with computers (like my mum, who just learned how to scan her old family photos and fix them up!). Thanks for posting this. 🙂
I just love Photoshop. I love it because it’s an endless tool with endless amount of options and ways to be creative. It’s a tool for professionals but also students (like myself) or people who have a hard time with computers (like my mum, who just learned how to scan her old family photos and fix them up!). Thanks for posting this. 🙂
I just love Photoshop. I love it because it’s an endless tool with endless amount of options and ways to be creative. It’s a tool for professionals but also students (like myself) or people who have a hard time with computers (like my mum, who just learned how to scan her old family photos and fix them up!). Thanks for posting this. 🙂
This is the first lesson that I learned about using Photshop in changing effects! I tried to change the sizes of nose, cheeks, and hiding blemishes and wrinkles on a certain subject. Honestly, even if I learned different tricks on Photoshop, I can’t hide the fact the imperfection of my face, especially on my nose. That’s why I wanted to have a nose job. If will undergo this kind of cosmetic surgery, I want to find surgeon at Los Angeles, because most of my friends told me that in LA, there are lots of professional cosmetic surgeons.
This is the first lesson that I learned about using Photshop in changing effects! I tried to change the sizes of nose, cheeks, and hiding blemishes and wrinkles on a certain subject. Honestly, even if I learned different tricks on Photoshop, I can’t hide the fact the imperfection of my face, especially on my nose. That’s why I wanted to have a nose job. If will undergo this kind of cosmetic surgery, I want to find surgeon at Los Angeles, because most of my friends told me that in LA, there are lots of professional cosmetic surgeons.
This is the first lesson that I learned about using Photshop in changing effects! I tried to change the sizes of nose, cheeks, and hiding blemishes and wrinkles on a certain subject. Honestly, even if I learned different tricks on Photoshop, I can’t hide the fact the imperfection of my face, especially on my nose. That’s why I wanted to have a nose job. If will undergo this kind of cosmetic surgery, I want to find surgeon at Los Angeles, because most of my friends told me that in LA, there are lots of professional cosmetic surgeons.
This is the first lesson that I learned about using Photshop in changing effects! I tried to change the sizes of nose, cheeks, and hiding blemishes and wrinkles on a certain subject. Honestly, even if I learned different tricks on Photoshop, I can’t hide the fact the imperfection of my face, especially on my nose. That’s why I wanted to have a nose job. If will undergo this kind of cosmetic surgery, I want to find surgeon at Los Angeles, because most of my friends told me that in LA, there are lots of professional cosmetic surgeons.