Follow
these steps in this order. It’s OK to skip some steps, but always
perform these actions in this order.
SAVE YOUR WORK AFTER EACH STEP!
1) GET A GOOD PHOTO!
Image
Capture – Capture RAW format photos using a digital camera
if possible. This will allow us to do
the best possible job of editing pictures AFTER they’ve been taken.
The next best option would be to capture TIFF or
JPEG (maximum quality) format photos using a digital camera. Select low levels of image sharpening,
saturation and contrast in the camera’s settings to ensure optimum quality and
editing flexibility in Photoshop later. Use
the Adobe
RGB color space option if it is available on your camera (instead of sRGB).
If photos must be scanned, make sure that they are
clean and that the scanner glass is clean.
Scan into Photoshop using the File > Import command. Scan at a resolution of 300 dpi with
the cover of the flatbed scanner CLOSED.
Save the original scanned photo in PSD format.
2) Save the original photo
Always
save the original photo with its original number and/or its original
name and original format. NEVER make changes to the original photo. Use clearly named folders and sub-folders to store photos. Use good, descriptive names for scanned
photos.
3) Copy and rename the
photo
before you use it. SAVE
AS a copy to your working
folder and rename it to make it “yours.”
Save the working photo in PSD
format to
maintain maximum editability.
4) Make tonal adjustments
(If editing a RAW photo, see
alternate step 4 below.)
Check
the photo histogram using Image > Adjustments > Levels (CTRL +
L shortcut keys).
Adjust
brightness and contrast if necessary using this Levels dialogue
window. Advanced users may further
refine shadows and highlights using Image > Adjustments >
Shadow/Highlight OR Image > Adjustments > Curves.
Alternate Step 4) For processing RAW
photos: Use File > Browse to locate CRW
files. First adjust White Balance
using the Temperature and Tint sliders. Then
make Tonal Adjustments using the Exposure, Shadows and Brightness sliders. After making adjustments click OK to open the
photo in Photoshop for further editing.
Use the embedded Adobe RGB (1998) profile if possible.
5) Crop the photo to size
Use
the Photoshop CROP tool to eliminate unwanted areas of the original
photo AND resize it at the same time.
Set width AND height dimensions if you are cropping to fit an exact
frame on a page. Photos used for web
pages are MOST concerned with WIDTH of photos, so be sure to at least specify
the width before cropping.
If
your intended output is PRINT, specify width and height in INCHES
(use abbreviation in).
If
you intended output is WEB, specify width (and height) in PIXELS
(use abbreviation px).
If
the photo does not need cropping, use Image > Image Size to specify the
dimensions of the finished photo (depending on intended output).
6) Make color adjustments
Use
Image > Adjustments > Variations to choose a variation of the
photo with more natural colors. Leave
the “radio button” set to Midtones. Adjust intensity from Fine to Coarse only if
absolutely necessary.
7) Clean/repair if
necessary
Use
the Healing Brush Tool for small repairs. Zoom in and start with a soft-edged brush of
the appropriate size. Increase the
hardness of the brush if the repair area becomes contaminated with adjacent
tones, colors or detail that does not match the repair area.
Use
the Clone Stamp Tool only for large repairs. If you use the Clone Stamp Tool for large
repairs take samples from a number of different areas with a reduced opacity
brush to prevent the repairs from being too obvious.
8) Sharpen the image
Always
View > Actual Pixels before sharpening (CTRL+ALT+0 or
double-click the Zoom Tool). Use Filter
> Sharpen > Unsharp Mask. Start with an average setting of 100% for
“Amount,” a 1 to 1.5 pixel “Radius,” and a “Threshold” of 3. Amount range is 80% to 180%. Radius should stay at 1. Threshold should be kept at 3 OR LESS.
9) Change image mode
ONLY if intended output is for PRINT
use. Image >
Mode > CMYK Color.
10) Save the modified
photo
File > Save As .TIF if for Yearbook. File > Save For Web JPEG High if
for Web.
Make
sure this FINAL SAVE uses a GOOD, DESCRIPTIVE filename.
Web-use
photos MUST NOT have capital letters or spaces in their filenames (or folder
names).
X:\computer\photoshop_photo_procedures.doc 8/29/05