1

Photoshop BasicsPhotoshop Basics

Marty KesselmanMarty Kesselman

Oct 20, 2009Oct 20, 2009

2

Photoshop Photoshop BasicsBasics

Marty KesselmanMarty KesselmanOctober 20, 2009October 20, 2009

3

What will be covered by What will be covered by this talk?this talk? I will discuss layersI will discuss layers

I will take you through a I will take you through a beginning-to-end picture beginning-to-end picture enhancement session :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?Why use layers?

Allows you to concentrate on one Allows you to concentrate on one aspect of the entire image at a aspect of the entire image at a timetime

Can control all aspects of the Can control all aspects of the image that appears on each layer image that appears on each layer – separately– separately

Can remove layers to see affects Can remove layers to see affects with and without a layerwith and without a layer

5

How do you get layers?How do you get layers?

Photoshop will Photoshop will automaticallyautomatically create layers for youcreate layers for you Puts original image on a Puts original image on a

“background layer”“background layer” Adds a layer for any “adjustment Adds a layer for any “adjustment

layer” operationlayer” operation Adds a layer for “text”Adds a layer for “text” Adds a layer if you drag an image Adds a layer if you drag an image

into another imageinto another image

6

How do you get layers?How do you get layers?

You can create your own layers You can create your own layers manuallymanually Layer>new>layerLayer>new>layer Click “new layer icon” in the layers paletteClick “new layer icon” in the layers palette Copy a layer: Copy a layer:

Ctl+jCtl+j layer>new>layer via copylayer>new>layer via copy Copy / PasteCopy / Paste

Copy a selection: ctl+jCopy a selection: ctl+j Create a composite layer - Hold Create a composite layer - Hold

“alt+layer>merge visible”“alt+layer>merge visible”

7

Are there different types Are there different types of layers?of layers?

Pixel carrying layersPixel carrying layers Contain image informationContain image information

Instruction carrying layersInstruction carrying layers Contain only instructions – no image Contain only instructions – no image

informationinformation Text layers – technically do not Text layers – technically do not

contain pixels ; they contain vectorscontain pixels ; they contain vectors Contain mathematical vectors that Contain mathematical vectors that

define the characters (making them define the characters (making them editable and scalable)editable and scalable)

8

What happens to all the What happens to all the work when you exit the work when you exit the

program?program? Always save your work as a PSD Always save your work as a PSD

“photoshop data” file“photoshop data” file This saves everything you have done so This saves everything you have done so

that you can pick-up where you left-offthat you can pick-up where you left-off Saving as a JPG will compress your Saving as a JPG will compress your

layers to one layer and compress your layers to one layer and compress your image to reduce storage requirements.image to reduce storage requirements. Do not save as JPG unless you have Do not save as JPG unless you have

previously saved as PSDpreviously saved as PSD Saving as TIF will preserve layersSaving as TIF will preserve layers

9

Saving JPGs – Causes Saving JPGs – Causes Aberrations Aberrations

10

Tip-Expose for Tip-Expose for HighlightsHighlights

You will learn that you lose all You will learn that you lose all information if highlights are information if highlights are saturated – “blown-out”saturated – “blown-out”

There is still much information in the There is still much information in the shadows to extractshadows to extract

With a choice; choose to expose for With a choice; choose to expose for highlightshighlights

11

Workflow-1Workflow-1

Shoot RAW if you canShoot RAW if you can Provides more post processing flexibilityProvides more post processing flexibility

Expose photo in camera as best as Expose photo in camera as best as possiblepossible

Save your images on a CD or DVDSave your images on a CD or DVD Open in RAW Converter to achieve best Open in RAW Converter to achieve best

over-all imageover-all image ExposureExposure ColorColor Tonal appearanceTonal appearance

12

Workflow-2Workflow-2

Open image in Photoshop with ;Open image in Photoshop with ; RGB (1998) color spaceRGB (1998) color space 300 dpi resolution to achieve size and 300 dpi resolution to achieve size and

printer resolution for laterprinter 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 Choose image size that is default for

cameracamera Not a plus or a minusNot a plus or a minus

13

Workflow-3Workflow-3

Make global image adjustmentsMake global image adjustments Levels adjustment – if necessaryLevels adjustment – if necessary

Concentrate on tonal valuesConcentrate on tonal values Curves adjustment – if necessaryCurves adjustment – if necessary

Concentrate on contrastConcentrate on contrast

Dust Spot removalDust Spot removal

14

Workflow-4Workflow-4

Address all of your enhancements to Address all of your enhancements to specific picture areasspecific picture areas Lightening certain areasLightening certain areas Darkening certain areasDarkening certain areas Increasing contrast in certain placesIncreasing contrast in certain places Cleaning-up by using cloningCleaning-up by using cloning Isolating subjects with blurring or Isolating subjects with blurring or

darkening of backgrounddarkening of background

15

Workflow-5Workflow-5

Prepare for output to the viewerPrepare for output to the viewer ResizeResize SharpenSharpen OutputOutput

16

Image we will work withImage 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 Use a LEVELS adjustment layeradjustment layer

This adjustment will This adjustment will adjust;adjust; brightest pixelsbrightest pixels Darkest pixelsDarkest pixels MidtonesMidtones It can do color It can do color

correction using the correction using the “gray” eyedropper“gray” eyedropper It can adjust each It can adjust each

individual color as wellindividual 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 LayerMake a new LayerLook for dirt or dust spotsLook for dirt or dust spots

Click the page-in-page icon – you get a new Click the page-in-page icon – you get a new layerlayer

Dust is most visible in a uniform blue skyDust is most visible in a uniform blue sky

Double click the magnifier glass tool – Double click the magnifier glass tool – expands image to 100%expands image to 100%

Press home key- view left top cornerPress home key- view left top corner Press “page down” – move downPress “page down” – move down Press “ctl+page down” – move rightPress “ctl+page down” – move right Press “page up” – move upPress “page up” – move up Press “ctl+page up” – move leftPress “ctl+page up” – move left

Use “spot healing brush” – click on dust to Use “spot healing brush” – click on dust to blend it outblend 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 lighteningWe 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

Original Levels adjust Curves 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

Original Partially Enhanced Finished

Always Expose for Highlights