Photo Retouching: the 5 best Photoshop actions for portraits

Photo Retouching: the 5 best Photoshop actions for portraits

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 06/08/2013 11:55am

In the latest instalment of our Raw Tuesday series on photo retouching we explain some of the best Photoshop Actions for portraits and how these quick and subtle tweaks can make a real difference to your images.

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Photoshop Lab Color: how to retouch images for a professional finish

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 04/08/2013 00:01am

In our latest Photoshop tutorial we take an in-depth look at the Photoshop Lab Color mode and how you can use it to retouch scenes with incredible precision, giving your photos a professional quality.

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How to crop pictures to fix composition: a step-by-step guide

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 31/07/2013 13:12pm

There’s more to using Photoshop Elements’ Crop tool than chopping out unwanted bits from your pictures. In this Photoshop Elements tutorial we’ll show you how to crop pictures to fix the composition of your images.

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Photo Retouching: how to fine tune body shape for perfect portraits

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 30/07/2013 11:00am

In the latest instalment of our Raw Tuesday series on photo retouching we explain simple methods to nip, tuck and squeeze a variety of body parts into shape.

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4 Photoshop Elements tricks to make an average landscape stunning

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 25/07/2013 11:00am

Want to add impact to your otherwise average landscape image? Thanks to a few simple Photoshop Elements tricks you don’t have to keep wasting photos. In this Photoshop Elements tutorial we explain 4 ways you can use Curves and the Gradient tool to make your landscapes stand out.

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Photo Retouching: how to process hair like a professional

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 23/07/2013 11:00am

In the latest instalment of our Raw Tuesday series on photo retouching we explain a simple technique for cutting out hair, as well as share how to get rid of roots and drop in a new background.

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Panograph photography: how to make on-trend, ‘low-tech’ panoramas

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 22/07/2013 11:53am

A panograph is like a low-tech panorama, but as we show in our latest tutorial, its characteristic fragmented, home-made look can produce some fascinating pictures.

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How to blur water in Photoshop Elements: get the slow shutter look (free start file)

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 21/07/2013 00:01am

In this quick Photoshop Elements tutorial we show you how to blur water using simple Photoshop effects to recreate the classic slow shutter look.

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Clone Stamp Tool: how to remove unwanted objects and rescue any photo

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 18/07/2013 00:01am

We don’t always have the time or opportunity to compose photos that are perfect in every way. Sure, you’d like to get it right in camera, but it’s just not always possible to find that perfect angle or ask someone to move when capturing fleeting moments. In one of our most in-depth Photoshop Elements tutorials ever, we show you step-by-step how to use the Clone Stamp tool and Brush tools to remove unwanted objects.

Abstract Portraits: how to create a striking photo montage using clipped shapes

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 14/07/2013 00:01am

In this simple and fun Photoshop tutorial we’ll show you how to create striking abstract portraits using clipped shapes and repeating patterns that make an impressive photo montage.

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Photoshop Pen Tool: a jargon-free guide to making cut-outs and precise selections

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 11/07/2013 12:08pm

If you thought the Photoshop Pen Tool was strictly for designers and professional photographers, think again. Our jargon-free tutorial shows you how to make cut-outs and super-precise selections.

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Photo Retouching: how to whiten teeth in Photoshop

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 09/07/2013 11:00am

As our Raw Tuesday series guide to photo retouching continues we show you how to whiten teeth in Photoshop, as well as straighten teeth, in just three easy steps!

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Rim Lighting: simple Photoshop effects to enhance your landscapes

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 05/07/2013 11:55am

Let’s face it: not all of us who like to shoot landscape photography have the opportunity to visit our favourite photo locations over and over again to capture the scene in perfect conditions. If you fall into this category, you don’t have to let your images suffer. In the tutorial below we’ll show you how to use a few simple Photoshop effects that mimics the effect of sunlight caught on rocks.

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How to replace a sky: Photoshop effects to make your landscapes more attractive

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 03/07/2013 11:00am

If the skies in your landscape photography are looking a little flat, try this simple technique to replace a sky using Photoshop effects like Layer Masks and Blend Modes.

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Photo Retouching: how to make beautiful lips in 3 easy steps

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 02/07/2013 00:01am

In the second part of our Raw Tuesday series guide to photo retouching we examine some of the techniques you can use to make your subject’s lips fuller, colourful and more beautiful!

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Chromatic aberration: how to avoid color fringing when using white backgrounds

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 28/06/2013 12:21pm

If chromatic aberration is a problem for you, there is a simple method of fixing this lens-based problem in the digital darkroom. Here is our simple guide to fixing color fringing when shooting against white backgrounds.

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Photo Retouching: 6 unmissable tips for eyes

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 25/06/2013 11:00am

In the second part of our Raw Tuesday series guide to photo retouching we examine some of the techniques you can use to make your subject’s eyes stand out.

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Adobe Lightroom Presets: how to make your photos stand out AND save time

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 22/06/2013 00:01am

In our latest Adobe Lightroom tutorial we show you how to work more efficiently by using Adobe Lightroom presets, which you can use to create a range of punchy special effects.

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The Photoshop Family: understanding the Adobe family tree

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 18/06/2013 07:50am

Let’s face it: there have been a lot of Adobe announcements in the past year introducing new products from Photoshop CC to Lightroom 5, Photoshop Touch, Photoshop CS6, and more. And it can get confusing!
So how do all these platforms sit in the Adobe range of photo editing software? To celebrate the official launch today of Photoshop CC, our friends at Practical Photoshop have put together this brilliant cheat sheet illustrating The Photoshop Family.

Photo Retouching: how to give your portraits a professional makeover

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 18/06/2013 00:01am

Next in our popular Raw Tuesday series we turn our attention to photo retouching. Over the next several weeks, our ultimate guide to photo retouching will show you how to give your portraits a stylish and professional makeover.
We’ll show you a range of key photo retouching techniques you can use to make eyes sparkle, who to make perfect teeth and beautiful lips, as well as sculpt body shape and make amazing hair.
In our first post, however, we examine the different techniques for one of the most important elements of photo retouching: how to create flawless skin.

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Dramatic Lighting: how to create stylish portraits using simple Photoshop effects

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 11/06/2013 00:01am

In our latest Raw Tuesday tutorial we show you in-depth how to tweak your raw files and use a range of simple Photoshop effects to recreate the look of dramatic lighting in your portrait photography.

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How to process raw images the right way in Photoshop Elements

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 04/06/2013 00:01am

In our latest Raw Tuesday tutorial on using raw format, we look specifically at Photoshop Elements and show you how to process raw images in Elements’ Adobe Camera Raw editor.

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Image sharpening: how to bring out more detail in your favourite photos

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 25/05/2013 00:01am

In this Photoshop Elements tutorial we show you clever ways of bringing out more detail through image sharpening, while keeping some of the side effects to a minimum.

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Camera Raw sharpening tools: how to restore fine detail and keep noise at bay

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 21/05/2013 11:00am

In our latest Raw Tuesday series post on editing raw format images we explain a simple technique for using the Adobe Camera Raw sharpening tools. Find out how to preserve fine detail in your raw files while banishing noise.

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Focus Stacking: how to extend depth of field when shooting close up

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 18/05/2013 01:00am

Shooting anything up close requires incredible patience and extreme precision. If your close-up photography isn’t sharp then you’re not only wasting pictures, but you’ve wasted hours of your time. In this in-depth tutorial we’ll show you how to use one of the most amazing Photoshop effects macro and close-up photographers can use: focus stacking.
Below we’ll show you step-by-step how to extend depth of field when shooting close-up by shifting your point of focus in multiple images,w which you’ll later stitch together so you can produce images that are sharp throughout the frame.

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Adobe Lightroom tutorial: 6 fundamental Develop module edits for your raw files

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 14/05/2013 11:00am

Adobe Lightroom has quietly become one of the best photo editing software options for photographers thanks to its easy-to-use interface and extensive range of tools and controls. In our latest Raw Tuesday post, our Adobe Lightroom tutorial shows you how to use Lightroom’s Develop module for perfect edits.

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Photoshop CC: the 10 most important features in Adobe’s new software

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 10/05/2013 00:01am

The next version of Photoshop has been announced – dubbed Photoshop CC – and its pricing model is already causing some controversy. However you look at it, Creative Cloud and Photoshop CC is here to stay. So here are the 10 most important features this software has to offer.

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3D Anaglyphs: using Photoshop effects to create a sense of depth

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 08/05/2013 11:00am

If you’re looking for creative photography ideas to try and get more from your images, making 3D anaglyphs is a really fun technique to learn. In this tutorial we’ll show you a simple way of using Photoshop effects to create the illusion of depth in your images.

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Family photo ideas: make a striking family portrait from individual faces in profile

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 07/05/2013 00:01am

Many photographers struggle for great family photo ideas, but some of the best family portrait photography is that which relies on the old adage that less is more. In this quick and easy tutorial we’ll show you how to make one of our favourite family photo ideas – shooting individual family members in profile and combining them on the computer into one striking family portrait.

Conquer Underexposure: how to rescue shadow detail and how to deal with noise

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 30/04/2013 00:01am

In our latest Raw Tuesday series post we show you how to beat underexposure. Our in-depth Photoshop tutorial shows you how to rescue shadow detail missing from the darker areas of your picture and how to deal with ensuing noise. Have you ever wondered what the point of shooting in raw actually is? If so, [...]

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Blown highlights: how to rescue blown skies using simple Photoshop effects

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 27/04/2013 00:01am

Are blown highlights spoiling your landscape photography? Find out in this tutorial how you can use simple Photoshop effects like a Gradient Fill adjustment layer to get more balanced exposures.

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Raw Processing Tips: 7 ways the Basic Panel can kick-start your photo editing

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 23/04/2013 00:01am

In our latest Raw Tuesday post on raw processing we take a closer look at the Basic Panel in Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom and explain why it’s the best place to begin your photo editing.

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Lightroom Library: a common sense way of organizing your photos

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 20/04/2013 01:00am

Whether you’ve just started using Adobe Lightroom or you’re an experienced hand, knowing how to organize your photos sensibly is a must. In this quick guide we show you a common-sense way of setting up your Lightroom library.

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Shallow depth of field: how to fake it using Photoshop filters and masks

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 13/04/2013 00:01am

In our latest photo editing tutorial we show you how to use a series of simple Photoshop effects to blur your background and create a shallow depth of field effect.

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34 Photoshop effects every photographer must try

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 04/04/2013 00:01am

Tired of using the same tools in your photo editing? We’ve rounded up the 34 best Photoshop effects you can use with minimal effort to give new life to your images.

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Photoshop Adjustment Brush: how to make quick, localised tweaks to exposure

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 02/04/2013 17:28pm

In our latest Raw Tuesday tutorial on editing raw format files we show you how to use the Photoshop Adjustment Brush to make precise selective exposure adjustments to your images.

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Adobe Lightroom Basics: 6 things you need to know getting started

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 30/03/2013 01:00am

In our latest Adobe Lightroom tutorial we explain the basics of this great photo editing software and reveal 6 of the most important details every beginner should know.

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Adobe Camera Raw: the secret to using it for just about everything

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 26/03/2013 12:08pm

In our latest Raw Tuesday post we unlock the secrets of Adobe Camera Raw and show you how you can use Photoshop’s raw editor for just about all of your photo editing needs.

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How to process raw images the right way

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 19/03/2013 13:04pm

Do you shoot in raw format but you’re unsure how to edit your files effectively? Our latest Raw Tuesday post shows you how to process raw images the right way. This easy-to-follow primer for raw editing is all you need to feel more confident in the digital darkroom!

Photoshop Curves Tool: 6 techniques every photographer must know

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 18/03/2013 17:39pm

The Photoshop Curves tool is one of the most powerful commands you have in the digital darkroom. But it can be intimidating to some. Here are 6 Photoshop Curves techniques every photographer should incorporate into their workflow.

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Photoshop Effects: using Layers to rescue exposure

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 06/03/2013 16:36pm

Find out how to rescue bad exposures with subtle Photoshop effects by using Layers to process colours and tones in your photos.

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Exposure Problems: how to make selective adjustments with older software

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 05/03/2013 11:36am

Not everyone has the latest photo editing software. But everyone from time to time wants to correct exposure problems. This quick tutorial shows you a really simple technique for how to make selective adjustments using older versions of Camera Raw.

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Batch Processing: how to edit multiple photos in Adobe Camera Raw

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 26/02/2013 01:00am

Want to speed up your digital workflow? Learning the simple art of batch processing and how to edit multiple photos in Adobe Camera Raw will save you time when fine tuning your raw files. In our latest Raw Tuesday tutorial on editing raw format files we show you exactly how it’s done.

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How to create mist: Photoshop effects for atmospheric landscapes

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 18/02/2013 15:34pm

Find out how to transform your sunny scenes into atmospheric landscapes by using simple tonal tweaks and other Photoshop effects to create mist in any scene.

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DIY Photography Hacks: how to make Photoshop brushes from your own photos

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 14/02/2013 01:00am

In our latest DIY Photography Hacks post we show you how to make custom Photoshop brushes from your own photographs to help give dull backgrounds a patterned finish.

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Photoshop Ruler Tool: how to straighten horizons and draw straight lines

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 10/02/2013 14:00pm

The Photoshop Ruler tool enables you to measure the distance between two points, and even the angle of lines in an image. In this tutorial we show you how to use it to straighten a wonky horizon.

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Split toning in Photoshop: get creative with your black and white conversions

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 09/02/2013 02:00am

In this tutorial we show you a simple split toning effect for Photoshop Elements. Learn how to apply attractive washes of colour to the shadows and highlights of your black and white conversions.

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How to make a photo planet from an old baking tray

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 08/02/2013 17:46pm

Follow our step by step tutorial and learn how to create a photo planet from a picture of an old baking tin in Photoshop Elements.

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Muted Colors: the perfect desaturation technique for Adobe Camera Raw

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 03/02/2013 02:00am

Find out how to make ‘on trend’ portraits with muted colors. In our latest photo editing tutorial we show you how to use Adobe Camera Raw to get creative with desaturation to make portraits with a touch of class.

How to resize photos for web or email: a simple guide

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 31/01/2013 13:07pm

What’s the best way to resize photos for web use, email or on-screen viewing? In our quick guide we show you the best method to follow.

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How to fake the ‘golden hours’ in Photoshop… even if you shot a JPEG

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 28/01/2013 11:30am

There are two official golden hours each day – the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset. In both cases, the sun is very low in the sky and casts a golden light over the landscape. In this tutorial we’ll show you a quick way to recreate this golden glow on the computer should you have not been fortunate enough to capture it in-camera.

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Photoshop Effects: how to use Refine Edge to add a new background

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 26/01/2013 02:00am

In this Photoshop tutorial we show you step by step how to perform one of the most widely used Photoshop effects: how to use Refine Edge to isolate a subject and add a different background.

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Recover clipped highlight detail: how to rescue your over-exposed photos

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 23/01/2013 15:55pm

In this Photoshop Elements tutorial, learn how to banish clipping by targeting specific tones to recover highlight detail in over-exposed areas.

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Preview Photoshop Effects: 5 free filter tables to download (and how to use them)

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 21/01/2013 16:06pm

With so many Photoshop effects and filter options, it can be hard to find the right one. To help, we created five Photoshop effects filter tables for you to download for free.

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Restore old photos: how to rescue vintage prints and family pictures

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 18/01/2013 16:00pm

In our latest photo editing tutorial we show you a simple method to restore old photos using Photoshop’s many tools and filters. Master this simple technique and soon you will be able to rescue all of your old family pictures and vintage prints.

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Photoshop Blur Gallery: use the new CS6 filters for precise depth of field effects

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 17/01/2013 11:34am

The new Photoshop Blur Gallery introduced in CS6 is perfect for replicating in-camera restricted depth-of-field effects that make cityscapes look like tiny architectural models. In this post we explain what each of the filters in the Photoshop Blur Gallery can do – and how to use them.

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Photoshop Infrared Effects: how to make colour scenes look like infrared film

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 14/01/2013 17:08pm

In this tutorial we’ll show you a simple-to-follow technique for creating Photoshop infrared effects by shifting colours to give the retro photography effect of infrared film.

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Cinemagraph Tutorial: how to make animated photos using Photoshop

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 06/01/2013 02:00am

In our easy-to-follow cinema graph tutorial we show you how to make animated photos for the web using Photoshop CS6′s latest video tools.

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Unsharp Mask: how to sharpen photos for a crisper finish

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 05/01/2013 13:00pm

The Photoshop Unsharp Mask filter gets its name from a traditional darkroom process used to sharpen an image. The Unsharp Mask filter in Photoshop works by increasing the contrast around the edges in an image, which makes them look crisper and sharper.

Photoshop Levels tool: 6 tricks all the pros use

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 01/01/2013 13:00pm

Each time they open a new image, the first question most people ask is ‘Can I do anything to improve the tones?’. Even if you have a perfect exposure, the answer is usually ‘Yes’. A few tonal tweaks will often lift an image, especially if you shoot in raw format, as raw files are naturally a little flat straight out of camera. One of the best tools for controlling and tweaking tones is the Photoshop Levels tool.

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Our 15 most popular photo editing tutorials of 2012

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 29/12/2012 13:00pm

It can be hard keeping up with anything on a daily basis, let alone a photography blog, when you have all of your daily responsibilities to take care of first. We know you don’t have time to read everyday, so to bring you up to speed on what you may have missed over the past year, we’ve rounded up our 15 most popular photo editing tutorials of 2012.

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Christmas Photoshop Effects: make a snowflake out of anything… like a lobster!

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 21/12/2012 11:30am

By using Photoshop’s Step and repeat command, you’ll find it easy to create a wintry symmetrical pattern from the most unlikeliest of sources!

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Photoshop Presets: the best way to make a black and white preset

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 20/12/2012 11:00am

You know the saying about not putting the cart before the horse? Rather than deliberately making a range of Photoshop presets, a more organic approach is probably best. The more presets you have, the more time goes into trying out different Photoshop effects one after another. Below we’ll show you a simple way of doing this.

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Cropping photos: how to enlarge small subjects at printable sizes

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 18/12/2012 12:10pm

Photographing small subjects often requires cropping photos later on the computer. Our latest Photoshop tutorial shows you how to expand your smaller subjects and enlarge subjects the safe way – at printable sizes – in any version of Photoshop CS or Elements.

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Sharpening and Noise Reduction: take precise control of your raw files

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 18/12/2012 02:00am

In the latest post of our Raw Tuesday series on editing raw format images find out exactly what each slider in the in the Adobe Camera Raw Detail Panel does – and when to use them.

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Creative forest photography: make a magical Tolkien world

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 15/12/2012 04:00am

Learn how to transform your forest photography into a magical Tolkien world using creative symmetry and a split-tone Photoshop effect.

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3 selective adjustment tools your raw files can’t live without

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 11/12/2012 02:00am

In the latest post of our Raw Tuesday series on editing raw format images we show you how to make selective adjustments to your raw format files with three key selective adjustment tools in Adobe Camera Raw.

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Photoshop Effects: keep selective colour in black and white conversions

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 10/12/2012 11:52am

Our latest Photoshop Elements tutorial shows step by step how to achieve popular Photoshop effects: keeping selective colour in your photos when making black and white conversions.

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Recreate a vintage Hollywood portrait using Adobe Lightroom

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 08/12/2012 14:00pm

Transform your portrait shots into a Hollywood portrait style effect in 8 easy steps steps in our latest Adobe Lightroom tutorial.

Retouching photos in raw: give your portraits a pro-quality makeover

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 04/12/2012 02:00am

In the latest post of our Raw Tuesday series on editing raw format images we show you how retouching photos in Adobe Camera Raw can give you professional photographer quality portraits.

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Luminosity masks: why raw HDR is the best HDR

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 27/11/2012 02:00am

This luminosity mask technique enables you to create the perfect raw HDR image by blending two exposures according to lightness, not just area. This is a variation on the traditional HDR photography technique, but because we want to darken highlights and lighten shadows throughout the image rather than in selected areas, we’ll blend the images in a different way.

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Fake HDR effects in Photoshop Elements

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 22/11/2012 11:30am

Some photographers employ the processing powers of packages like Photoshop CS5 or Photomatix to bracketing exposures to combine into a single composite high dyanmic range image that reveals fine detail in the shadows, midtones and highlights. HDR photography editing techniques add rich (and sometimes false) colours that enhance the artistic look of a shot, 
and many even like the way the HDR process can add artefacts such as halos around object edges.

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5 creative photo editing tricks for Adobe Camera Raw

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 20/11/2012 02:00am

In the latest post of our ongoing Raw Tuesday series on editing raw format images we show you five simple ways to add a variety of creative Photoshop effects and cool photo editing tricks using only the tools in Adobe Camera Raw.

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Photoshop Face Lift: how to swap bad expressions for smiles

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 19/11/2012 12:10pm

Give your awkward portraits a Photoshop face lift. Our step-by-step Photoshop Elements tutorial shows you how to swap faces so you can rescue your portrait photography by changing a bad expression into a smile.

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Low-light photography fixes: how to reduce noise but preserve image quality

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 14/11/2012 12:08pm

There are two basic types of noise you need to tackle in your low-light photography. The first is Chrominance noise, which introduces itself with higher ISO shots and can be recognised by its coloured speckling in shadowed or even-toned areas.
The second is Luminance noise, which is trickier to remove and can be seen in the form of random variations of brightness between pixels. Reducing this can result in a loss of overall image detail, so in this tutorial we’re going to look at techniques to reduce both types of noise while preserving quality.

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Composite images: why Elements won’t let you be defeated by contrast

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 13/11/2012 02:00am

Remember that the version of Adobe Camera Raw in Elements is stripped-down compared to Photoshop proper, and that you won’t be able to target specific areas of your image to make localised adjustments.
So a solution is to produce two or more versions of your raw file, then open them in Photoshop or Elements, combine them as layers in a single image and use layer masks to hide or reveal adjustments in specific areas. Here’s how it’s done…

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Photoshop Lens Blur: take precise control over depth of field post-shoot

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 08/11/2012 12:00pm

Learn how to use the Photoshop Lens Blur filter to control your depth of field after you’ve taken your picture.

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Photoshop Smart Objects: intelligent blending using one raw file

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 06/11/2012 19:00pm

Quicken your Photoshop blending and post-processing time using the Photoshop Smart Objects. Here we show you how to do it with one raw file.

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Autumn colour: how to tweak tones in Photoshop for best results

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 04/11/2012 06:00am

Recently we showed you how to add autumn colour to your spring or summer photos. In this post we’ll show you how to take your actual autumn photos and boost the colours subtly for pictures that pack more of a punch

Photoshop collage: turn a single image into a series of overlapping prints

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 02/11/2012 16:29pm

Our easy to follow Photoshop tutorial shows you how to make a Photoshop collage and turn a single image into a series of overlapping prints.

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Polar Panoramas: shoot and stitch 360 degree pictures

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 01/11/2012 12:00pm

Take your photography to extreme wide angles. Our new tutorial shows you how to stitch 360-degree pictures to create amazing polar panoramas.

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Black and white photo effects: how Camera Raw can make pro-quality mono

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 30/10/2012 02:00am

Adobe introduced dedicated options for converting colour shots to mono back in Photoshop CS3, but you can create eye-catching black and white photo effects in any version of Adobe Camera Raw by desaturating a colour image and then working the sliders in the Basic tab. In our latest Raw Tuesday post on using the raw format, discover how to work these sliders in a different way to produce pleasing black and white photo effects.

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Abstract Photoshop: recreate the Harris Shutter Effect in Elements

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 25/10/2012 12:34pm

The Harris Shutter Effect is a process discovered in the days of film photography. It’s achieved by taking a sequence of three exposures on the same frame, with a red, green and blue filter used for each.
However, with Photoshop Elements it’s possible to get the same results using three standard colour images shot in sequence. In our latest Photoshop Elements tutorial we’ll look at how to use Elements to apply colour fills and blending modes to filter the three shots into their component channels.

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Cross-processing: a simple but effective way to get this classic effect in Photoshop

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 24/10/2012 16:30pm

Cross-processing (or ‘Xpro’) is an effect often used in fashion photography to give the kind of stylised look you can see here. Our simple, but effective, Photoshop tutorial shows you how to achieve the classic cross-processed effect in no time at all.

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Using Camera Raw tonal adjustment sliders to finesse your exposure

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 23/10/2012 02:00am

In our latest Raw Tuesday post on using the raw format, discover how using Camera Raw tonal adjustment sliders in the basic tab will let you process your image exactly how you want it to appear. Here is a guide to each slider and what it can do for your images.

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Colour management: fine tune your kit for the most accurate colours possible

dcworld | Photoshop Tutorials | 21/10/2012 06:00am

Producing a colour print that closely matches what appears on your computer screen is something anyone can master if they understand the principles involved and have invested in the kit needed for producing accurate colour. Discover how easy it can be to turn out predictable and pleasing results.

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Digital Grids: make an image out of letters and numbers

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 20/10/2012 05:00am

Creating images as digital grids is more complex than just overlaying some numbers – but the results can be impressive. FInd out how it’s done in our latest Photoshop tutorial.

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Photoshop’s High Pass filter: sharpen and soften portraits in all the right places

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 19/10/2012 12:00pm

The Photoshop High Pass filter can be used to both sharpen and soften an image. This is particularly useful for portraits, where the subtle Photoshop effects help your subject stand out, but the High Pass filter is useful in a number of different photo editing situations (which we’ll explain later).

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4 Camera Raw tools for image correction you have to start using

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 16/10/2012 02:00am

Adobe Camera Raw offers a number of tools for image correction that fix capture-related flaws, including red-eye, noise and dust spots. Here are 4 of the most powerful options for photographers.

Photoshop Layers De-mystified: a beginner’s guide to smarter photo editing

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 12/10/2012 02:00am

It’s vital to have an understanding of Photoshop layers to get the best of your digital photography when post-processing images. Our latest photography cheat sheet explains what you need to know.

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Blend Modes: the 10 best blends for photographers (and how to use them)

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 11/10/2012 02:00am

When it comes to digital photography and combining or enhancing images, there are two essential components – your layers and the Blend Mode you choose to work with. We’ll talk about layers in a later post; today we want to focus on the Photoshop Blend Modes and identify some of the best blends for photographers. [...]

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Raw Editing: what you need to know about white balance correction

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 09/10/2012 02:00am

In our latest Raw Tuesday post on editing raw files, find out the subtleties of white balance correction and how to neutralise colour casts.

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Old postcard effects: turn everyday scenes into historical wonders

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 05/10/2012 16:55pm

Deserted streets and historic buildings make great subjects for a retro photography take on a notable landmark or scene. One way of doing this is to process your images to give them an old postcard look, which enhances the retro effect.

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Photoshop effects: add reflections to pictures of water drops

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 03/10/2012 16:19pm

Photoshop effects are often used to correct problems, but in this tutorial we’ll show you how you can use it for more creative endeavours as we improve a macro shot’s content and composition. In the start image, we can see a hint of the petals’ reflection in a water droplet. In theory, we could have positioned our camera to try to fill the droplet with background flowers, or even waited until the other droplets got larger to add more interest. In practice, we can take control over these elements more quickly and effectively using Photoshop to create reflections in pictures of water drops.

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Raw Tuesday: how to rescue a raw file in Adobe Camera Raw

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 02/10/2012 02:00am

Even though our Raw Tuesday series is concerned with shooting and editing raw files, we must acknowledge that JPEGs do have their advantages – the file sizes are smaller, and shots are ‘ready to go’ straight from the camera.
But if you’re serious about photography you should set your camera to shoot Raw. And perhaps the biggest reason why should do this is, in addition to getting the best possible quality, shooting raw files gives you an invaluable safety net when the scene in front of you presents exposure problems.

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Hazy Photos: the easy way to rescue detail and colour

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 01/10/2012 17:00pm

When you take photographs on a hazy day, moisture particles in the air diffuse the light, causing distant objects to display a more subtle range of tones. This is a great way of evoking a sense of depth, due to the gradual change in contrast between objects in the foreground and those in the background.
The downside of shooting in such hazy conditions is that those more distant objects can be somewhat lacking in detail and definition. The haze can bleach distant colour, too, especially when shooting into the sun.

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Photoshop Effects: add autumn colour to your landscapes

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 27/09/2012 16:00pm

Fancy changing the seasons? Try one of our favourite Photoshop effects and learn how to add autumn colour to your summer landscapes.

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Tone Curves: a clever way to rescue flat photos

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 25/09/2012 11:30am

Sometimes, you may find your shot’s colours and tones don’t do the subject justice. Take our original image below – the contrast is flat, with little differentiation between shadows and highlights. This creates washed-out tones and drab colours. Shooting in raw gives you great control over tonal changes, especially if using the Photoshop CS Camera Raw editor’s Tone Curve tab.

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Raw Tuesday: shooting raw files the right way

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 25/09/2012 02:00am

In the latest installment of our Raw Tuesday series on shooting and editing raw files, we take a closer look at shooting raw files. By now we all know that you capture more detail when you shoot raw files, but if you don’t set up your camera properly it’s a wasted effort. In this tutorial we explore how to set up your camera to shoot raw and get it right in-camera, as well as answer some of the common questions about shooting raw files.

Nifty shades of grey: control your tones in a black and white conversion

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 24/09/2012 11:30am

There are lots of ways to make a black and white conversion, but the number of choices depends on the software you’re using. Here we show you how to take control of the process by learning how to use your tools effectively to control the shade of great of each colour in your original image.

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Photoshop Plug-ins: why they’re essential for black and white conversions

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 22/09/2012 15:00pm

Photoshop is fine when you already know what you want to do, but Photoshop plug-ins can give you an instant insight into how your image can look with different effects applied. That’s where Photoshop plug-ins like Tiffen Dfx 3.0 are so valuable, or Nik Color Efex Pro 4.

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Photoshop Retouching: a really simple tutorial for making every portrait perfect

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 19/09/2012 03:00am

When it comes to portraits, everyone wants to look their best. But with today’s high-resolution SLRs, every spot, blemish and flaw can appear in startling detail. There are of course a few shooting techniques you can use to minimise these, such as bouncing light with reflectors to avoid strong shadows, and using off-camera flash to control the direction of the light to complement the model. However, you don’t need to get bogged down with different techniques and equipment to get great portraits, because Elements has a range of tools specially designed for seamless Photoshop retouching.

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Raw Tuesday: the best way to manage your raw workflow

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 18/09/2012 03:00am

In our ongoing Raw Tuesday series we have taken you through some of the most common questions bout how to shoot and edit raw files, and now we are starting to look at some of the more specific ways in which the raw format can give you an advantage. This week we take a close look at how to edit raw files and manage your raw workflow in a way that makes sense for you. We’ll also follow on from last week’s discussion of the Adobe Camera Raw interface and explain how to customise the process of editing raw files using ACR.

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Polaroid Transfer: how to recreate this cool, retro effect

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 17/09/2012 17:00pm

For an unusual way to make your digital portraits stand out from the crowd, why not recreate the look of a Polaroid Transfer effect in Photoshop? In our latest Photoshop tutorial we explain step-by-step how it’s done.

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50 free Photoshop actions for portrait photographers

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 14/09/2012 02:00am

In our recent Photoshop tutorial we explained the benefits of using Photoshop actions, and explained how to set them up. Now that you’ve had some time to digest this information we thought we’d just go ahead and save you the trouble – we’ve created 50 Photoshop actions for portrait photographers which you can download for free today!

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How to use Photoshop Actions for instant effects

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 12/09/2012 16:00pm

Learning how to use Photoshop Actions might not be the most glamorous aspect of creative post-processing, but integrate them into your workflow and you’ll save bags of time by applying your favourite special effects in seconds.
An Action is essentially a recording of a Photoshop process (you can only record Actions in CS; newer versions of Elements enable you to play Actions, but the options are limited). In this Photoshop tutorial we’ll create a cool retro effect by editing the red, green and blue colour channels on a Curves adjustment layer.

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Raw Tuesday: how to edit raw files for immaculate colour and tone

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 11/09/2012 02:00am

In our ongoing Raw Tuesday series we have taken you through some of the most common questions bout how to shoot and edit raw files, and now we are starting to look at some of the more specific ways in which the raw format can give you an advantage. This week we take a close look at how to edit raw files to achieve perfect colour and tone. Then we’ll also help you get familiar with the Adobe Camera Raw interface and some of its key functions.

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Image Sharpening: do it the subtle way

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 06/09/2012 17:00pm

Even the best photographers can find it a challenge to capture a perfectly focused photograph, especially when shooting with a camera set to a wide aperture. The resulting shallow depth of field can make it difficult to get all of the key areas in focus, which makes image sharpening in the digital darkroom all the more imperative.

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Background Blur: how to fake a shallow depth of field in 15 minutes

jmeyer | Photoshop Tutorials, Tutorials | 05/09/2012 03:00am

When shooting a portrait you can flatter your subject by switching the camera to Portrait mode. This opens up the lens’s aperture to a wide value such as f/4.5. As a result of this wide aperture value the subject’s face will look nice and sharp, while allowing you to blur background and foreground details.
In this Photoshop Elements tutorial we’ll show you how to take control of your shot’s bokeh (background blur), so you can hide distracting details and draw the eye to your main subject.