Add to Google

How To Make Photographs Look Better - in photoshop

free web hosting
Open Discussion > Xisto Network Sites > The GFXTrap Forum - Trap17 Graphics Site > Tutorials

How To Make Photographs Look Better - in photoshop

sxyloverboy
Well here a tutorial on how to make your photographs looks a bit better than the image directly from the camera. These are only guidlines and not rules. Also the numbers in this tutorial are not the numbers that make the picutre you made look the best.

Here is the image i will use to make it look a bit better.
user posted image

1. So the first thing what i always do is edit the levels a bit.
Layer --> New Adjusment Layer --> Levels...
You can leave the name to Levels 1 or name it however you want.
user posted image
This is the histogram. In mine you can see how the black only starts going about one cm from the left of the histogram. in most cases we can pull it

user posted image
As you can see the image has gotten a bit darker. But the colors arnt really as dull anymore. To Compensate that i will pull the right arrow thing a bit to the left. This will make it a bit brighter again.
user posted image
Now as you can see the colors of the field look a lot brighter and not so dull anymore. But the sky as gone totaly white. Im going to use a mask now to only apply the effect on the field and not on the sky.
user posted image
You can still see some of the white sky but im to lazy to make a perfect mask now. but somehow the image still looks a a bit strane because the sky dosent really fit in well with the field. so now im going to duplicate my levels one layer. Right click on Levels one and then press on Duplicate Layer. Now your going to have a very funny looking picture for a second becuase the sky will still have no effect and the field the double effect.

So now double klick on the round black and white circle on the Levels 1 copy layer( if that how you let the name be ) and pull the black arrow back to the total left and the white arrow back to the total left. And then press OK. Now press on your layer mask and Invert it. Image --> Adjustmensts --> Invert... or ctrl+I.

Now double click on the black and white circle again and you'll see that your histogramm has changed. i can now pull mine all the way from the left to about the middle of the histogram because thats where it starts.
user posted image
Now im just going to be perfecting the masks abit and were done with the levels.
user posted image
This is what it looks like now. still now perfect but yeah. And now that i'm this far in the tutorial ive realized its enough for the time being and ill make a part 2 if people like this. So if you have any questions or want to see what i would do to you images
feel free to pm me or post it here.

Ive uploaded the .psd file as an attachment but im not sure its there. well if you want it just ask me.

 

 

 


Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

leiaah
Wow! finally a tutorial I can use. I hope there'll be more of this next time 'cuz when i try to fix pictures I usually just autolevel and autocolor everything in Photoshop and most of the time nothing good gets done heh. smile.gif

I have a question, how do you brighten up a dark picture? I have a picture that I've scanned and it was taken using no flash, is there a way to brighten it up but still make the colors look vivid and not dull? smile.gif

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

sxyloverboy
QUOTE(leiaah @ Aug 28 2005, 08:20 AM)
I have a question, how do you brighten up a dark picture?  I have a picture that I've scanned and it was taken using no flash, is there a way to brighten it up but still make the colors look vivid and not dull?  smile.gif
*



There are ofcourse many ways to edit pictures digitaly to make up for the things you did lets say not to your likeing while doing the shot though in some cases of over or under exposition there isnt really a way to make it better.

Here are some things i might try:
Scan it a few more times and play around with the scanner settings. sometimes it just scans to dark.
If you photograph with film and scan in your printed out pictures i would suggest getting a film scanner or this tray where you can put film inside and scan it with a normal scanner. These ususaly look better that scannig from print.

As for doing it in photoshop. I would make a new Brightness/ Contrast layer. Now i would make the brightness a bit higher, but now the image will look a bit to flat so we go up with the contrast a bit too. then go up with the brightness a bit again and with the contrast a bit too. Do this as much till you get the best results you can achive.

The only problems now is that the areas that were lighter than the rest in the original might look a bit to light.

hope this helpd.

 

 

 


Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

Johnny
The basics of Levels. Nice job.

I'm amused by the "Knock out Osama" popup I got when I visited imageshack to see the final picture...*giggle*

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

nelimitat
Man it's very interesting. And very easy to do this task. I have some video tutorials about photoshop but I've been too lazy to watch them.

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

Saint_Michael
not bad maybe when i take pictures i can do this.

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)



Got an Opinion! Express your Views! (no registration):-
Add your Reply/ Opinion/ Views/ Comments/ Suggestion/ Questions/ Queries etc.
Posts with decent grammar & English will be accepted and please refrain from profanities.
For asking a Question, We recommend you to sign-up (for free) so that you can track the topic easily.

Nature of your Post*: Opinion/ Reply/ Comments
Question/Query
Feedback to us.
       
Name   Email
Title/Question*

Similar Topics

Keywords : Photographs Photoshop

  1. Adding Jigsaw Puzzle Effect With Photoshop - (3)
    Should the occasion arise that you want to add a puzzle effect to a picture, there is a simple
    method built into Photoshop. Like a lot of other abilities, the hard part is finding it. Let me walk
    you through how I do it. There are a variety of other ways and I would love to hear your way also.
    So I have this picture of my cat that I want to look like a puzzle: I tune it up how I like it
    and size it, etc. Then click on Filter/Texture/Texturizer Once you click that a box appears:
    On the right hand panel you see Ok, Cancel. Texturizer then Brick or Sandston...
  2. Photoshop -- Double Stroke - Learn to create a neat-o text effect (3)
    Lets do this! 1. Create a new photoshop document with the dimensions 88x31. If your lost
    already... quit. 2.Alright make some random background and then put some random black-colored
    (#000000) text on it. Kind of like the picture below. 3. Select the text layer you have just
    created and click on the little f symbol near the bottom of the layer window. A sub menu should pop
    up. Click on stroke. 4. Some editing window should appear. Change all the values to what you
    see in the following image, make sure the stroke color is white (#FFFFFF). After this tutori...
  3. Photoshop Cs2: Full Signature Tutorial - Made by Tramposch (12)
    This is a tutorial on how to make a signature like this: First of all, you need to find your
    render, try to find one that doesn't have a lot of space around its arms, or doesnt have a cape,
    because then it will not looks so great with empty space. For the signature I used this render:
    http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/Tra...oredcore2er.png 1) Open a new document, with a white
    background, any reasonable signature size will do (don't make it too large /wink.gif"
    style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" /> ). 2) Go Edit---> ...
  4. How To Make Cool Rain Effect - (photoshop tut) (57)
    Here i am going to show you how to create realistic rain effect using photoshop CS, this tutorial is
    suitable for immeadiate beginners too, now the first thing you need is to get a good source image ,
    i used this house which is shown at a kool angle and a dog lookin out of the window supposedly
    because it is raining dublicate the layer ( press Ctrl+J ) or just drag the layer to the create
    new layer button at the bottom of layers tool box , now go to Image > Image Adjustments > Levels
    and make your settings as shown in the image below ... even tough the image w...
  5. Photoshop - Lightning Tutorial - How to make realistic lightning in photoshop. (18)
    This tutorial will teach you how to make realistic lightning. 1) Open a new file, set the
    canvas size to about 400 x 300 pixels. 2) Set your foreground color to white and background color
    to black. 3) Go to Filter > Render > Clouds. 4) Go to Filter > Render > Difference Clouds.
    5) Go to Image > Adjust > Invert. 6) Go to Image > Adjust > Levels. 7) Move the arrow in the
    middle all the way to the right. 8) To change the color of the lightning like I did, go to
    Image > Adjust > Color Balance. 9) That's all there is to making realistic ligh...
  6. Turning An Image Into A Cartoon Style - Photoshop - Tutorial on cartooning images. (31)
    This tut will show you how to make a photo look cartoonish in three easy steps... 1)Open your
    image in photoshop, doesnt really mater what size or shape anything really a landscape, city, or a
    person. I am using a picture of a football player in this example 2)Go up to
    Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur and set the radius at 3.0 or higher depending on the effect your looking
    for. 3)Last go Edit>Fade Gaussian Blur. A window will pop up... set the mode to darken for tha
    cartoonish effect or to any other mode for plenty of other effects. Lower the opacity if you
    don't...
  7. Getting Started With Photoshop! - Introduce yourself to photoshop and make a great friendship! (0)
  8. How To Change The Gradient Type And Make A Gradient On Adobe Photoshop Cs3 - (1)
    How to change the Gradient type on Adobe Photoshop CS3 Open Adobe Photoshop CS3 On your current
    piece of work or on a new blank canvas, select the area you would like to apply the gradient to.
    Once you have the area selected you would like to work on, hover your curser over the Gradient Tool
    button (Default Location: Left edge of the Program window, center of the tools menu). Apply pressure
    to the mouse so you click the Gradient Tool Button. Once you have this Tool selected, you can
    choose which gradient you would like to use. Choices : Linear Gradient (Defaul...
  9. Making A Simple Signature With Adobe Photoshop - A tutorial to basic signature designing: By Accure (3)
    Specs Hardness: 4 / 10 Time: about 10 minutes Result: My .PSD File: Download it now!
    Needings: -Basic Photoshop knowlegend. -Adobe Photoshop CS2 (Or CS3/CS4) -Brushes set ( available
    here ) -A render ( available here ) Basic knowlegend: Steps: 01. Open Adobe Photoshop,
    and go File > New. 02. select the sizes Width: 350 pixels . Height: 150 pixels . Press OK .
    03. Press the button to maximize the window of your new project. 04. Fill your background with
    black (by using the "fill" function). 05. Press F5, click on the small arrow and s...
  10. Simple Sig Tutorial - photoshop sig tutorial : New to photoshop? (24)
    Mytutorial which i made for people who are new in photoshop: This is my first tutorial so maybe
    there are few mistakes ......
  11. 1,2,3px Borders - Adobe Photoshop CS2 (3)
    1px Border. Step 1. Get out your signature or other graphics that you are making. Make a new
    layer. Step 2. CTRL + A then edit>stroke>1px inside. You can choose what ever color you want.
    Step 3. Set the layer to soft light, overlay, darken, etc. What ever suits it best. End Result, you
    know have a line the color of your choice around your signature or graphics. 2px Border. Step
    1. Get out your signature or other graphics that you are making. Make a new layer. Step 2. CTRL + A
    then edit>stroke>2px inside. You can choose what ever color you want. Step 3. CT...
  12. Rounded Edges In Photoshop - An easy way to do this (13)
    I'll show you how to make rounded edges and a border around a picture. 1) Open you picture in
    photoshop. I'm chose this lovely picture to work with: 2)Select the elliptical marquee tool
    and make shore you keep these settings: 3) Use the elliptical marquee tool to draw a circle
    selection in one of the corners of your picture like this. Pick a size depending on how rounded you
    want your image. 4) Repeat this in every corner of your image until you have something like this.
    Try to make all the circles look as much alike as possible. 5) Now select the re...
  13. Mario Signature (adobe Photoshop) - (15)
    Tutorial Name: Mario Signature Created by: Tidus Program used: Adobe Photoshop Notes: A
    friend of mine made this tutorial a while ago and said I could repost it. I think its a good
    tutorial and helps those who are still getting new to photoshop. This tutorial is copyrighted to him
    and shouldn't be reposted by others unless you have his permission. Tidus's Second Tutorial
    This is the ending result that you should get after you have completed this tutorial. 1) Okay,
    the first step is open a new document thats 385x115. You can use whatever size you want...
  14. My First Sig Tutorial (c4d+coloring) (photoshop) - your comments please (11)
    First of all open a new document with white background and size 355 / 105 import your render to a
    new layer , name the layer original and hide the layer create a new copy of the original layer
    here's the render i choosed ..... go to Image > Adjustments > Hue saturation choose
    colorize and drag the hue slider to 121 create another copy of the orignal layer go to Filter >
    Blur > Radial blur set amount to 10 , blur method to spin and quality to good now set the blending
    mode of the layer to vivid light go to Image > Adjustments > Hue saturation choose color...
  15. Exporting Transparent Images In Photoshop To Flash - Needed: Photoshop 7 or CS, Flash MX (4)
    First of all, it is important that you make sure the image you wish to export is on a transparent
    layer. The transparent layer is a checkered background in photoshop. You can see this checkered
    background in the image to the left. In this example, I created a quick glass icon which has
    different levels of transparency. This is the image I will be exporting, whilst preserving
    it's transparency. Once your image is on a transparent background, head to file > save for
    web. You can only export complex transparency using the .png filetype. So from the drop down...
  16. Adobe Photoshop Fire Text - (5)
    1. Create a new image, any size will do, but I used 400x150 (standard sig size) 2. Fill the newly
    created image with black 3. Create a new text layer with whatever text you want to use 4.
    Merge the text layer with your background layer (Click on your text layer, press Ctrl + E) 5.
    Filter, Stylize, Wind...Use Settings Below 6. Repeat by pressing Ctrl + F 7. Repeat steps
    5-6, changing the direction of the wind to Right 8. Now rotate the canvas 90 degrees CW 9.
    Repeat steps 5-7 10. Rotate the canvas 90 degrees CCW, this will return you to the origina...
  17. Adobe Photoshop --- Cyber Abstract - (14)
    Step 1. Open a new document, make it 800x600pixels and make the background white. Then press D on
    your keyboard, this will make the colors reset to their default. (black and white) Step 2. Go to
    Filter=>Render=>Difference Clouds, press ctrl+F to repeat this step again. Step 3. Next go to
    Filter=>Pixelate=>Mezzotint, and use Long Lines Step 4. Go to Filter=>Blur=>Radial Blur and use the
    settings shown in the image below: (make sure you pull the blur center up to the left corner! THIS
    IS IMPORTANT!) Here is what I got: Step 5. Press Ctrl+U from your keyboard t...
  18. Photoshop Registration - concerning the pop-up window (6)
    hey, when you start installing photoshop, does the registration window pop up at the beginning ? or
    it doesn't come out until your 30 day trial is over? because i've reformatted my comp like 3
    times and i have ps on te cd saved but whenever i try to install it it never asks me to register
    it... also which is better? PHOTOSHOP cs OR PHOTOSHOP the newer version? and will the brushes for
    ps8 work on the newer one? thank you!...
  19. Photoshop Cs Tutorial - Make Your Pics A Little Spooky - How to Add ghost in your pics. Let peoples wondering is ir a real ghos (5)
    First, you need source pic. I labelled the source pic as S . Heres my source pic: Look spooky
    isn't it? And here's my original pic. I label my original pic as O. Next, i paste the
    S picture on the O picture using adobe photoshop and erase the undesired area. Adjust the S
    position.. Here's the result: Select the S layer and and adjust the opacity and fill until
    you get the most spooky look. Go to filter and select blur-gaussian blur.. Select smudge tool and
    smudge the S picture until you get a better and real ghost shape. Repeat this step un...
  20. [photoshop] Cartoon Vector - (25)
    How to turn a picture of an actual person into a cartoon... (1) Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur
    Settings: 9px (2) Press Shift+Ctrl+C now in Mode set it to darken and opacity to 100% if it
    isn't already. And that's it! Simple, eh?...
  21. Adding Signature Stamp In Photoshop - (2)
    I take pictures for my wife's eBay auctions. She likes her name inserted on the photos. While
    there are many ways to do this, my solution is quick, easy and flexible. Open a new file with a
    transparent background. Size isn't important. Select the text tool and choose your font. I used
    a script font. Type the signature. Now click on Edit/define brush preset A box will pop up
    to name the brush. Open the picture you want to sign. Select the brush tool. From the drop
    down menu select the brush. It will be the last one. Select the color on the...
  22. [photoshop]grunge Abstract Sig ~ Samma - Includes Multi Color Method (9)
    Im not sure if this has been done before... I havent seen a grunge abstract tut before, but anyways
    here it is /tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /> Outcome:
    1. Fill the canvas with black, and brush with white using a grunge brush. After you have
    completely filled the whole layer with the grunge brush, go to Image > Adjustments > Auto Contrast,
    then go to Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen Edges, then finaly go to Edit > Fade Sharpen Edges and do an
    opacity of 50%. Make a new layer. Repeat Step 1. another 2 times using different gru...
  23. Make An Energy Blast In Photoshop - (14)
    1. Start out with a new 250x250 image. Choose a white background. Then press D on your keyboard to
    reset the colors. 2. Go to filter > render > clouds 3. Now go to Filter > Pixelate > Mezzotint.
    Select long lines from the drop down menu. 4. Next go to Filter > Blur > Radial Blur. Choose 100,
    zoom, and best. 5. Finally, to add some color, go to Image > Adjust > Hue/Saturation. You can do
    this quickly by pressing Ctrl+U. You can adjust the colors there. Make sure you check "colorize".
    Seems some of the images don't work...
  24. Reflecting Text Tutorial - Adobe Photoshop CS2 (5)
    Here you will learn how to create cool reflecting text effects! Step 1. Once your ready to add text
    onto your signature your ready to being. With your text tool type what ever it may be. I suggest for
    this effect your text be on something black And your text white. Step 2. Now we want to
    duplicate that layer to do this select the layer and hit ctrl+j. Step 3. OK now that we have two of
    the same layer select the duplicated layer and hit ctrl+t. Right click it and hit flip vertically.
    Step 4. You want to move it down just a bit. Make sure that nothing touches. S...
  25. Make A Multi-color Sig {photoshop} - (9)
    This tut is from my forums at www.halo2krew.com so please give credit if u use it This tut is on
    how to make a multicolor sig. You will have to know the basic commands and tools in Photoshop becaus
    I wont explain everything in detail. 1. Make a new document- 400x100 is what Im doing 2. Most
    people like to fill in the canvas with black or do clouds but im just going to start brushing right
    away. So take out your brushes and press "d" to reset your colors. Then brush with your grunge
    brushes on your canvas untill you get this dark, 3. Now Make a new layer and Brush ...
  26. How To Double Stroke Images - Using Photoshop (22)
    (I am aware that there is an existing tutorial on double stroking text, but this is very different.)
    How to double stroke images using Photoshop by Strawberrie 1. Open up/copy&paste the
    image you want to double stroke onto a new layer (Shift+Ctrl+N) in Photoshop. 2. Go to Edit >
    Stroke. Set the width to 3 px and color to whatever you wish your furtherest inside border to be (in
    this case, black). You should get something like this: 3. Go to Edit > Stroke again. Set the
    width to 2 px and color to whatever you wish your middle border to be (in thi...
  27. How To Make Grid Using Adobe Photoshop - (0)
    Description Learn to create a neat grid using Adobe Photoshop! Great for many types of graphics!
    Try It Out We're going to start by opening up a new Photoshop Document. You may use any image
    you want, as long as its a resonable size. I chose to use Banjo Bob here /biggrin.gif"
    style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> Click File -->New
    Document. Change the Dimensions to 10x10 and the Contents to transparent. Click OK. Now, using the
    zoom tool, zoom in as much as possible. Make your image look the same as this one: Click Ed...
  28. Complete Signature Tutorial - Adobe Photoshop 7+ (18)
    Well here's my 3rd tutorial, it took about a hour and a half to make and I hope it helps people
    out. I use this technique in a lot of my signatures. Easy Full Signature In this tutorial I will
    show you how to make a signature like this: Resources used in this tutorial: Dark Crystal
    Script Font Rust and Grunge Brushes Link Render Brushing the background 1) Create a new
    canvas (I used 340x120) 2) Fill the background layer with black 3) Load your brushes 4) Set your
    foreground to white 5) Create a new layer (CTRL+Shift+N) 6) Brush the background...
  29. Reflective Text - For Photoshop! (6)
    1: Open up your canvas with the text on it. Duplicate the text layer. 2: Then go
    Edit>Transform>flip vertical 3. You ratserize the text layer. 4. then you take the rectanglar
    marqee tool, and make selection over the text (the duplicated one)about half ways up of the text 5.
    Then right click > feather > put about 5px. Now press delete. And there you go, reflective text
    You'll get something like this or even better. /biggrin.gif"
    style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />...
  30. How To Design A Scan Line Fill Effect In Photoshop - (2)
    How to design a scan line fill effect in Adobe Photoshop First you need a pattern to fit on
    pictures. To create pattern: 1- Create a new 2*4 image (width=2 px, length=4 px) and set background
    to Transparent. 2- Click the Zoom Tool and zoom on the image (1600%) 3- Select the Pencil Tool and
    specify foreground to black and set master diameter to 3px . 4- Drag in top of the image to paint.
    (Click in image). 5- Hold down CTRL and press A (CTRL+A) to select the image and then select
    Edit > Define Pattern and then type a name and click ok. To apply fill effect: 1- Open...



Looking for make, photographs, photoshop
Adding
Jigsaw
Puzzle
Effect With
Photoshop
Photoshop --
Double
Stroke Learn
to create a
neat-o text
effect
Photoshop
Cs2: Full
Signature
Tutorial
Made by
Tramposch
How To Make
Cool Rain
Effect
(photoshop
tut)
Photoshop -
Lightning
Tutorial How
to make
realistic
lightning in
photoshop.
Turning An
Image Into A
Cartoon
Style -
Photoshop
Tutorial on
cartooning
images.
Getting
Started With
Photoshop
3; Introduce
yourself to
photoshop
and make a
great
friendship&#
33;
How To
Change The
Gradient
Type And
Make A
Gradient On
Adobe
Photoshop
Cs3
Making A
Simple
Signature
With Adobe
Photoshop A
tutorial to
basic
signature
designing:
By Accure
Simple Sig
Tutorial
photoshop
sig tutorial
: New to
photoshop?
1,2,3px
Borders
Adobe
Photoshop
CS2
Rounded
Edges In
Photoshop An
easy way to
do this
Mario
Signature
(adobe
Photoshop)
My First Sig
Tutorial
(c4d+colorin
g)
(photoshop)
your
comments
please
Exporting
Transparent
Images In
Photoshop To
Flash
Needed:
Photoshop 7
or CS, Flash
MX
Adobe
Photoshop
Fire Text
Adobe
Photoshop
--- Cyber
Abstract
Photoshop
Registration
concerning
the pop-up
window
Photoshop Cs
Tutorial -
Make Your
Pics A
Little
Spooky How
to Add ghost
in your
pics. Let
peoples
wondering is
ir a real
ghos
[photoshop]
Cartoon
Vector
Adding
Signature
Stamp In
Photoshop
[photoshop]g
runge
Abstract Sig
~ Samma
Includes
Multi Color
Method
Make An
Energy Blast
In Photoshop
Reflecting
Text
Tutorial
Adobe
Photoshop
CS2
Make A
Multi-color
Sig
{photoshop}
How To
Double
Stroke
Images Using
Photoshop
How To Make
Grid Using
Adobe
Photoshop
Complete
Signature
Tutorial
Adobe
Photoshop 7+
Reflective
Text For
Photoshop
3;
How To
Design A
Scan Line
Fill Effect
In Photoshop

Searching Video's for make, photographs, photoshop




advertisement



How To Make Photographs Look Better - in photoshop