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Top 13 Photoshop Techniques for Photographers

June 7, 2018

Top 13 Photoshop Techniques for Photographers

One of the challenges of being a photographer is finishing the photos. In today’s advanced technology, photography has arrived into another progressive technical production that not only about capturing pictures, but also producing the best images. Creating quality photographs reveals the photographer’s perspective and enthusiasm. And that passion is very important in photography.

In this article, you will discover few skills that will help you acquire more inspiration to your photography.

Learn the possibilities with this guide that will develop you to enhance your photographic skills and abilities, by giving you thirteen Photoshop techniques.

1. Cropping


video credit: Photos In Color
The common and easiest way of editing and or creating an amazing image is by using the Crop process. This task is very easy to understand and do. When you click the Crop Tool, you can drag the selected part of your photos that you want to eliminate. And when you get to explore, there are few innovative features that can be very beneficial for you. Through constantly clicking O on the keyboard you can set by the existing instructions containing rule-of-thirds, golden ratio, golden spiral, whereas pressing on the component character in the toolbar at the upper part of the crossing point will ascend further presentation and other selections. Selecting the Crop Tool sign at the far-left of the toolbar unlocks a list of options having presets, and you can make your particular presets if you frequently crop pictures to specific dimensions.

2. Quick Mask mode for selections


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Basically, painting with a black brush produces the mask and white deletes it, and by means of a feathered or hard brush forms a hard or soft border for the selection. To type Quick Mask mode, press down Q on the keyboard; when the mask has been produced typing Q down once more goes it into a selection.

3. Using adjustment layers


video credit: O’Reilly – Video Training
Adjustment layers are retrieved by selecting on the half-white, half-black circle sign at the bottom of the Layers panel. Put together all you will need to save it as a TIFF or PSD if you would like to save a photo with adjustment layers since a JPEG is a compacted and compressed document type that doesn’t hold up layers.

4. Converting to black and white


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The Black and White adjustment layer is a great choice if you opt for a JPEG file in Photoshop and want to change it to monochrome. You’re free to apply one of the twelve presets which is default conversion, or automatically change to greyscale by the sliders.

5. The Camera Raw filter


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The appropriate technique to apply this filter is to either create a duplicate of the Background layer, or combine the evident layers into a different layer above of the stack (choose the foremost layer and press Ctrl/Command Prompt + Alt/ Option + Shift + E), then go to Filter > Convert For Smart Filters. You are now able to use the Camera Raw filter, and return and edit your adjustments later if you need.

6. Healing Brush


video credit: Katherine Jackson
To apply the tool, press down the Alt/Option key and click near to the part you wish to touch up to sample the extra pixels for the healing, afterward, click and drag to brush the tested pixels into the part you want to correct.

7. Customize the workspace


video credit: Terry White
The default Photography Workspace has all necessary tools for photographers that Adobe thinks must have by using Photoshop, nonetheless, one size hardly fits all, so it’s worth modifying the section layout to be appropriate on your manner of working. Sections on the right of the Photoshop interface is possible to remove by trailing them out of the dock, and different ones included by going to Window menu in the leading menu bar and choosing the wanted panel.

8. Dodge and burn


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To apply the Dodge and Burn tools, use on either the Background layer or a duplicate of it, as the tools are ‘negative’, as they always change pixels. Now you can just smooth the part with the Dodge Tool to increase brightness, or with the Burn Tool to decrease brightness. These tools have Shadows, Mid-tones or Highlights. The tools are best for low exposure for example 5-10% and create the desired outcome systematically.

9. Create a contact sheet


video credit: Bojan Živković
To make a contact sheet, place the desired photos, or duplicates of them, in a folder. Then go to File > Automate > Contact Sheet II and arrange selections such as image source, paper size, and layout. After all, has been designated Photoshop will produce contact sheets to be saved automatically.

10. Blending Modes


video credit: Photoshop Training Channel
Just creating a duplicate of the Background layer by choosing it and pressing Ctrl + J, you can blend already. With the different layer ready, go to the drop-down menu above of the Layers panel – it is fixed to Normal by default – and test with the diverse mixing modes.

11. Frequency Separation


video credit: Brandy Renee Photography TV
It is very applicable in evening out skin. Use carefully and in balance.

12. Crushing Highlights with Curves


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Crushing highlights by taking the top point on the right side below slightly, and then place another point close to it decreasing its tonal range.

13. Warp Tool


video credit: Blue Lightning TV Photoshop
This tool is useful for fine-tuning a part of a photo. The step is easy. Just press CMD + T + Warp tool.

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