Photoshop Quick Steps for Photos (Web Mastering Classes)

Step 1: GET A GOOD PHOTO!
                      (save copies of the original photos in project_name\photos\originals)

   1b: Use Photoshop (File > Browse) to open Bridge, navigate to the photos, select photo(s)
                     and then right-click to Open photo(s) in Photoshop

   1c: Open your History Panel to help you keep track of which step you are on
                     and to undo steps if desired

   1d: Make sure that you can see the Histogram(s) for your photo(s)

Step 2: Remove Red Eye if necessary
   Zoom in on red eyes then use the Red Eye Tool to darken eyes on the original photo(s)

Step 3: CTRL + Shift + L (Auto Levels to adjust contrast and color) OR
   use CTRL + Z to undo then use CTRL + L to Adjust Levels manually (or womanually)

Step 4: Crop to Size using the Crop Tool; set your desired width and height in PIXELS first, then crop
                     (some sizes that "work" are: 350 x 350, 230 x 350, 470 x 350, 600 x 400, etc.)

    4b: Use CTRL + ALT + 0 to adjust photo to actual size (or use View > Actual Pixels)

Step 5: Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask
    (Amount = 100% or less. Radius between .1 and 1.0. Threshold is 3 or LESS.)

Step 6: CTRL + Shift + ALT + S to Save for Web as a High Quality JPG using a GOOD filename

   6b: When closing a picture, do NOT save over the original copy of the photo

Good file structure for working with photos:

H:\web\project_name\photos\originals (for the original .JPGs, .TIFs, .PSDs, or .RAWs)
H:\web\project_name\photos (for the optimized, finished, high quality .JPGs)