Post-Processing Tips & Tricks

[chris-p]

So we all have little things we do to our images, whatever software we use.

But I'm convinced that lots of us have little things that we do that we really like, so why not share them with everyone else?

They don't have to be long-winded or complicated, so long as you think they're useful things to know.

I'll get the ball rolling...

For everyone who adds a vignette to their photos using a black layer, try using a levels adjustment and moving the grey point slider. You get much better control over tonal range and finer adjustments. Don't forget you can also change the blending mode for some very interesting and different effects.

The Gaussian Blur tool is very useful for applying depth of field (DOF) effects.

And applied to the very edge of an inserted element (such as the child in the cloud shown in the following link) the pasted in object can be seamlessly knitted into the background image.

[chris-p]

Great tip. I've also used Gaussian Blur to mimic tilt and shift minituarisation

[lifecapture]

OOps, i just started a thread on selective colouring maybe i should have posted it in here instead

[chris-p]

Feel free to post away - I started this thread but no-one seems to actually be bothering!

Hi Chris,

I cannot think of other tips and tricks off the top of my head - but if anyone is stuck I am always happy to try and assist.

Regards
Andy

Unwanted lens refraction, colour spots and flares, can be edited away without painting or cloneing.

The easiest way I have found is to Lasso the area to be edited and then carefully adjust / edit, the Colour Balance, Colour Temperature (and Contrast/Brightness if necessary) to match the surrounding area.

Regards
Andy

[chris-p]

Thanks for sharing Andy. With any luck this thread will take off and be something of a gold mine!

Hopefully, as I'm always ready to learn more myself. As you will see I have edited my previous post putting some bold type in to assist quick searching.

Cheers
Andy

[AnneBennett]

Great tips, I have scrapbooked it so I can remind myself to look for more tips