What’s Your Preference?

Trader · #11 (**permalink**) 06-07-2009, 10:23 PM

First thing I do is make a backup copy of my original on a portable drive that I keep for just that perpous. Next if it is a .RAW file I convert it -- check if it needs any fill light while there. Second step is to put it into Photoshop and do a levels adjustment. Season to taste. After that, I am either done or anything goes. Once I'm done I make another backup copy onto a different portable drive.

celina · #12 (**permalink**) 06-08-2009, 08:58 AM

Hello All,
i m quite interested in photography and want to know more about it.i appreciate all the views amd glad to know so much information about it.
thanx
celina
Parking Sensor

Free · #13 (**permalink**) 06-08-2009, 10:28 PM

My favourite thing to do in Photoshop is to learn new tricks

I've been using Photoshop to design things for about 5-6 years now, until I got the dSLR I haven't done a lot of photo PP, so I'm really enjoying learning a new aspect of it.

That said, because most of my photos are of my toddler at the moment, I'm doing a lot of the old duplicate layer - apply gaussian blur - create empty layer mask - paint layer mask with a soft brush to show un-blurred eyes - drop top layer opacity to around 20-30%

Or for a quick and easy "pop" I'll duplicate layer - set blend mode to soft light (sometime vary for effect) and tweak layer opacity.

However if you want to know what I think the most important thing for a PS beginner to know is...

The various ways to make a selection!
Practice using:
Magic Wand Tool (not that I use it very often, but you should know how anyway)
All Lasso Tools (Lasso, Polygonal and Magnetic)
Then the most important...
Layer Masks - Google PS layer mask tutorials, I can say enough how useful this technique is, you'll never need the eraser tool again!
And once you've got that down select using colour, esp by isolated channels (By the time you've learned everything above done properly, you will probably understand what I just said

)