Photoshop is the extremely powerful and useful image editing application included in Adobe's Creative Suite. Photoshop can be used for everything from removing blemishes and correcting exposure to manipulating photos with the intention of creating images that deceive the viewer. In recent years, Photoshop has gained a lot of publicity for being used by tabloids to doctor pictures in order to create evidence for false stories. But we'll save that for another post.
Rarely are the conditions optimal for taking the perfect picture. Lighting needs to be just right and sometimes there are unwanted objects detracting from the photo's subject. On top of that, digital point-and-shoot cameras are often limited by small image sensors that have difficulty taking pictures in low light conditions and flashes designed to be used indoors. This makes it even more difficult to take the perfect picture. Luckily we have the ability to enhance photos using Photoshop to make them look as desired.
Take the following photograph, taken by Dr. Linda Ralston, for example. This picture of a lake and sunset has vibrant colors, deep contrast, and a great subject. Unfortunately, incorrect exposure, multiple blemishes, and a crooked horizon detract from the photo. Using Photoshop we can correct these imperfections.
Rarely are the conditions optimal for taking the perfect picture. Lighting needs to be just right and sometimes there are unwanted objects detracting from the photo's subject. On top of that, digital point-and-shoot cameras are often limited by small image sensors that have difficulty taking pictures in low light conditions and flashes designed to be used indoors. This makes it even more difficult to take the perfect picture. Luckily we have the ability to enhance photos using Photoshop to make them look as desired.
Take the following photograph, taken by Dr. Linda Ralston, for example. This picture of a lake and sunset has vibrant colors, deep contrast, and a great subject. Unfortunately, incorrect exposure, multiple blemishes, and a crooked horizon detract from the photo. Using Photoshop we can correct these imperfections.
The photo's blemishes have been circled in red. In order to remove these Photoshop's Clone tool was utilized. By holding down "alt" and clicking, Clone allows you to select an area near the blemish. You are then able to essentially copy the area you have selected and write over the desired area.
To correct the picture's crooked horizon you can utilize Photoshop's Ruler function. Once the Ruler tool has been selected draw a line from once side of the image to the other along the horizon line and select straighten. The resulting image will have a straight horizon, but angled edges. We then use the cropping tool to create a slightly smaller image with proper proportions.
The last imperfection that must be corrected is the photos underexposure. This can be remedied by creating an Adjustment Layer, changing the blend setting to screen, duplicating the layer, and lowering the opacity of the new layer to 70%.
By utilizing the appropriate function in Photoshop we end up with a resulting photo that looks like this:
To correct the picture's crooked horizon you can utilize Photoshop's Ruler function. Once the Ruler tool has been selected draw a line from once side of the image to the other along the horizon line and select straighten. The resulting image will have a straight horizon, but angled edges. We then use the cropping tool to create a slightly smaller image with proper proportions.
The last imperfection that must be corrected is the photos underexposure. This can be remedied by creating an Adjustment Layer, changing the blend setting to screen, duplicating the layer, and lowering the opacity of the new layer to 70%.
By utilizing the appropriate function in Photoshop we end up with a resulting photo that looks like this: