Basic Editing Outline

Visual Literacy
Basic Editing Workflow: Part 1


**General Notes

• Not all image require every step. Decide what you need.
  
• Changes on the monitor are often more extreme than what will show up on
  print.
  
• Make sure your image is saved periodically and ALWAYS save BEFORE
  flattening layers. Create a system for naming that works for you.
  
• You can change opacity of a layer by clicking on the triangle next to the
  opacity in the layers palette. Reducing opacity reduces the visible strength of
  the change made by that layer.
  
• Clicking the eyeball at the left of a layer will turn the layer on and off so you
  can examine its effect.
  
• To have a larger view of a mask you are making, hold your cursor over the
  mask thumbnail for that layer and click while holding down alt/opt.
  Alt/opt + \ gives an alternative view.
  
• Painting on a layer mask in black will conceal the effect of the adjustment in
  that layer; painting in white will show the effect. Additionally you will sometimes want to adjust the brush options palette.
  
  Input: Import your files from the camera’s memory card onto your storage device. Remember not to use iPhoto. If necessary, use the SD slot in the back of the computer or a card reader.
  Choose the image you want to edit and open it in Photoshop.
  Adobe Camera RAW:
  
  1. Set color with White Balance dropper (Using the white balance tool from the toolbar at the top, click on a neutral gray or white area of the image.
     
  2. Set Exposure (Remember to enable the Red and Blue exposure guides by clicking the triangles at the top corners of the histogram)
     
  3. Set white point (Highlights); apply recovery if needed (whites)
     
  4. Set black point (Blacks): apply Fill Light if needed (shadows)
     
  5. Add clarity and vibrance if needed
     
  6. Open image
     

Photoshop Editing Workflow

1. Duplicate the Background Layer
   
2. Correct spots or blemishes using the “Spot Healing Tool” on the toolbar. Hot Key: J
   
3. Adjust Global Brightness using Curves adjustment layer..
   a. Open curves layer, “grab” the center of the curve with your cursor and pull to the corners
   
   
4. Adjust Global Contrast using Curves adjustment layer.
   a. Open Curves adjustment layer
   b. Choose contrast curve from ‘Preset’ dropdown menu.
   c. Adjust the points as necessary to effect specific tones of your image. d. Use arrow keys to fine-­‐tune the placement of the curve points
   
   
5. Adjust Local brightness using Curves adjustment layer
   a. Focus on a specific area that needs adjusting. Use Curves to adjust for that area, ignoring the rest.
   b. Invert Layer Mask. Use Command + I to invert.
   c. Use the brush tool to add your adjustment to only the desired areas d. Adjust brush size, edge strength and opacity
   
   
6. Adjust Local Contrast using Curves adjustment layer
   
   
7. Adjust Global Saturation using Hue/Saturation adjustment layer
   a. Open Hue/Saturation adjustment layer or Vibrancy Adjustment Layer b. Move the slider to adjust the saturation or vibrancy of your image
   
   
8. Adjust local saturation using Hue/Saturation adjustment layer
   a. Focus on a specific area that needs adjusting. Use Hue/Saturation or Vibrancy layer to adjust to adjust for that area, ignoring the rest.
   b. Invert Layer Mask. Use Command + I to invert.
   c. Use the brush tool to add your adjustment to only the desired areas d. Adjust brush size, edge strength and opacity
   
   
9. Black and White Conversion
   a. Open Black and White adjustment layer
   b. Adjust color sliders to fine0tune the tonal range of your image
   
   
10. Save your ‘Master’ file.
    

   11. Scale and resize image
           a. Image --> Image Size
           b. Choose the resolution (72 dpi for web, 300 for print)
           c. For uploading to the web, size image at 72dpi, 1000pixels at the longest side 
           d. Save as 'web' file