Post-processing is often an afterthought, especially for new photographers. However, it’s an essential part of the image-making process and time should always be allocated to it. Even at the most basic level, images that have been shot by a DSLR need to be sharpened a touch if the DSLR has an anti-aliasing filter. Image processing software also helps with the organisation and archiving of digital images. Teach Yourself Image Editing is packed with in-depth and informative tutorials that will take you through both Lightroom and Photoshop essentials. We’ll also briefly look at other editing programs, plug-ins and common editing mistakes. Once you’ve mastered the basics of Lightroom and Photoshop, delve into the more advanced feature on retouching for polishing your images to perfection, and discover how to perfect your own unique editing style.
Welcome to The Ultimate Guide to PHOTOGRAPHY POST-PRODUCTION • LEARN THE SKILLS TO BECOME AN EDITING PRO
Post-Production Photography Guide
Plan your editing workflow • Get to grips with the best order for editing photos, from the shoot to the print
Perfect your PROCESSING • There is a photo-editing application to suit every photographer. Learn to get more from yours
Why process your images? • The key reasons for editing and how it fits with your workflow
Adjustment versus manipulation • Image editing has long been steeped in controversy, but is it justified?
Correct your contrast • Contrast determines depth and mood in an image – highly important for drama in a two-dimensional photograph
Achieve a perfect exposure • Adobe Camera Raw is a versatile RAW editor, capable of making essential edits to exposure
Control exposure and contrast • Brightness and contrast control can really make or break an image
Why local adjustments matter • Make your editing more precise with adjustments to exposure and contrast
Advanced portrait post-processing • Photographer Adrian Dewey guides us through the processing of one of his portraits
Craft colour and tone • Produce special effects while avoiding the common pitfalls
Colour spaces demystified • When outputting an image you can choose several colour spaces, but why do they matter?
Know when to stop • Part of developing a professional post-production workflow is recognising when you’ve gone too far
Add the finishing touches • Take these final steps to guarantee viewers see your work at its best
The perks of plug-ins • Plug-ins can really expand the capability of your software, so here are some recommendations
When should you sharpen? • When you sharpen during your workflow is as important as how much you apply
Keep your images organised • Devise a logical and structured archiving workflow
Keep your images organised • Use Lightroom to efficiently store, archive and find your images
Keep your images safe • Storing your images correctly is just as important as how you take them
SECRETS OF EDITING • Learn new skills and follow these tips to improve your photos
Adobe RAW vs Photoshop • Understand how and when your photos can benefit from features
Use powerful RAWs • Try the ACR editor for basic adjustments
Control colours • Adjust colour to create a unique atmosphere
Master skin tones • Learn pro editing techniques to achieve natural results
Skin colours in Capture One • How to achieve natural-looking skin tones in Capture One
Create balanced photographs • Use powerful cropping tools to improve the impact of the subject
Cropping with Affinity • Experiment with ratios to reveal compositions non-destructively
Crop correctly • Follow composition guidelines to...
