In a previous article, I explain how I photograph my paintings, the inclusion of a high enough rights to reproduce jpg quality at least 7 inches square at high resolution printing. In this article I’ll explain the digital editing process that I use in Adobe Photoshop 7.0, after I downloaded the photos on my computer. The goal is to provide a final high-resolution files ready for printing, and some low-resolution files suitable for use on a website. Whether or not freeware as good as Photoshop, I do not know, but if you do not have Photoshop, I will research to buy a copy.

This article is not Photoshop or computer tutorials. It contains what I do, but give an indication. This article is for readers who have a reasonable knowledge of Photoshop and other computer skills. I myself only have the basics, nothing too advanced is required. Before you do, make sure your monitor is calibrated correctly. If you type “PC Monitor Calibration” in your Internet search, there are many websites that will take you through this.

Let us assume that I have just finished shooting my last painting, and just downloaded the images in my “Picture Source” folder on my computer. I keep all my source files in this folder, and keep a regular backup of this, and all the other picture folders, hidden safe at another location. I went back to CD or DVD, because it is non-volatile memory. You may want to consider backing up to external hard drive as well. I perform any operation for the source file is saved as another file in another folder.

First, you may recall from my previous article, I take a different version of each shot. I look at them carefully and remove all but the best from each.

Opening a file in Photoshop 7.0, my crop, rotate and zoom, so I have a picture that might greatest on my screen the whole image to have. Then, with the painting next to me for a visual reference, I matches from Levels.

Then the color balance. My source files are typically blue, so I move the pointer a bit like the blue and cyan. Then I set the saturation. With my image, red is often as bad as saturated. I sometimes have a red saturation down to about minus 15. That’s usually good enough to get the colors and shades. Tweak around if necessary. I sometimes use the Brightness / Contrast, too.

Step back and look together at both the painting and the PC screen. Take a break, then look again with fresh eyes. If other people around, ask them for a second opinion. This right is important, especially if you are going to upload this image version on-line for potential buyers to view. Then I zoom 100%, and use Unsharp Mask to bring into sharp focus. Do not overdo it. I always need a bit imaging, and always leave the sharpening to the latter. I save as a jpg to my “High Res Edits” folder, (maximum quality). You can even save in a lossless file types, but high-res JPG file is always good for my purposes.

Now to create a suitable image for my website. I reduce the Image Size, so the longest dimension is 850 pixels. Zoom in to 100%, and use Unsharp Mask to concentrate. I then Save for Web in the settings I was happy with the quality of the preview screen. I tend to keep them at a very, perhaps unnecessarily, high. The file size is usually around 200k. If you’re worried about people who download a useful version of your photo, you might want the longest dimension and / or reduction in image quality.

I then create a thumbnail, use the same Save for Web process as before, but it makes the largest dimension of 157 pixels.

The world looks different to the photographer than anyone else. Why can photographers capture the images are smooth and turn it into art? Photographer’s eye saw the light, detail, shadows, highlights, shapes and how they interact.

The world looks different when you see with both eyes compared with how you look with just one eye. Close one eye and look at an object, you see what I mean? Well, by doing this, before shooting, you have a pretty good idea of ??what to expect from your image.

Photographers exploring the light and texture. The light may be their main instrument. Photographers interested in how the nature of light affects the way things look. The intensity, direction and type of light gives the photographer the potential for visual exploration. Photographers have mastered how to use the rules of composition and when they break. Photography is a process.

Our eyes work like a camera. Here are some facts that you might even find funny: our eyes have a resolution of about 560 megapixels, they are able to distinguish shades of color around 10M. ISO eye is not great, could be measured at 800 and low ambient light can not see color. Opening equal to f/3.5 with a 20mm focal length. The great thing about our view is that the automatic white balance, auto ISO has one and has a very high dynamic range.

Some photographers have an eye, probably since they were born, but the majority develop after training and training can take several years to begin to pay attention to things in different ways. A photographer does not have all kinds of expensive equipment to take great pictures. The best camera equipment in the world will not help the photographer to see or recognize him. It’s all about the art of seeing. With the eyes of a photographer you will see things differently and you’ll cause an impression on people who see your pictures.

A photographer thinks and sees in the concepts of photography in the field of photography. If you enjoy taking pictures that your attitude will appear in the final image. Everything has the potential to capture. It’s all about showing a picture in your head and make it happen. The more it’s done well you are at.