To edit digital photos successfully, determine the purpose of the photo. Basic software can adjust brightness and contrast, while Adobe® Photoshop® is industry standard. Consider variables such as display properties, resolution, and not excessively altering the original image.
For someone to be truly successful when they start editing digital photos, it starts with determining the purpose of the photo. For some, all they want is a simple display for their computer. Others want to print snapshots. Some may want to put them on a digital photo frame display system.
Digital photo editing starts with photo editing software. It really makes a difference what software is used. While you may not need to buy the most expensive software on the market to edit digital photos, most professional photo editors will tell you that you get what you pay for.
However, for those who just need to adjust brightness and contrast and do a little cropping, almost any basic software package will do. Some can even be downloaded for free online via an open license. For those who have a digital camera, almost everyone comes with a basic software package used to edit digital photos.
For the higher end user, Adobe® Photoshop® is probably the industry standard used to edit digital photos. Whether it’s a professional photography studio, newspaper, magazine, or graphic design firm, Adobe® Photoshop® is used in a wide variety of applications. Its popularity is due to the fact that it is feature-rich and easily incorporates additional programs commonly used to edit digital photos, for those who may need them. But if you buy Adobe® Photoshop®, take the time to get to know the program first. Some may find the features tempting to buy since add-ons are already standard in Photoshop®.
There are a number of variables to consider when starting to edit digital photos. Some users can easily get frustrated when they don’t get the results they expect. However, most dissatisfaction can be managed by making sure you correct in some areas.
First, understand that there will be a difference between an image displayed on a computer screen and a printed snapshot. Sometimes, this has to do with the display properties of the monitor. Usually, this effect is magnified with LCD screens simply because the viewing angle can alter the colors and brightness. In some cases, it may take trial and error before a user ends up with a print they want.
Second, it’s important to understand that resolution can also affect the display properties of a photograph. If the resolution is too high, it contains more information than most systems will ever need, in most cases. It can also take up more hard drive space and memory than necessary, slowing down the editing, uploading, and downloading process. However, if you plan to edit digital photos for poster-size use, it’s a good idea to stick to the highest resolution possible. If the resolution is too low, the image starts to look “pixelated” as the software tries to fill in the missing information.
Third, never try to excessively alter an original image. One of the most common mistakes beginners make when editing digital photos is trying to enhance an image too much. For example, if an image is too dark, the information may not be there to make a good picture. In these cases, the best you can hope for is a good grayscale image, which doesn’t require much information. Trying to enhance a photo that doesn’t have enough information will usually leave the photo editor with a crappy product full of non-vibrant colors.
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