Digital Cameras - Master your software, one step at a time
13 views Share/SaveCapturing picture perfect photographs has never been quite as easy as digital photography makes it. Of course, you still have to pay attention to those essentials like choosing the right light conditions, the theme and everything that comes along with it. However, with digital technology, you still have the room to edit out those unforeseen errors and can allow yourself that extra bit of space which is invaluable if you aren’t quite the wiz with your digital camera. But even though you may have spent hours selecting the editing software that is most conducive to your level of skill and requirements, it still isn’t much good if you have to spend ages laboring over the bare essentials you need to give your images that much-needed makeover. And hence, it is vital that you master these few basics before you move on to handling those complicated maneuvers that will eventually aid you in re-mastering your images.
The first thing to bear in mind when editing your images is to ascertain that you have a copy of the original saved. That way, even if you do end up making your image appear completely unlike what you had envisioned it to be, you still have the original to start afresh. You can copy your image by first opening it with your photo-editor and then use the ‘Save As’ option to retain a copy. And it is on this fresh copy that you have created, that you begin to experiment with the various options that your editing software allows you. And if you unintentionally make a change that doesn’t quite match up to the final effect you’re looking to create, you can undo the last change, or couple of changes, depending on what version of software you are using.
Your ease with using your photo-editing software also depends on how comfortable you are with working your way around the image. One of the most basic and most commonly used tools is the ‘Hand Tool’ which is also referred to as the ‘Pan Tool’. As the name suggests, this tool is shaped like a hand, which you can use to maneuver around the image without the fear of altering it. To ensure more accuracy, you can also zoom into your image to make specific changes and then zoom out again to view the overall effect. To do this, you need to use the ‘Magnifying Glass Tool’ which will display a plus sign when magnifying and a minus sign when drawing out of your image. Many types of software will also let you right click on your image to zoom into it in set increments while others are designed to let you left click to zoom in and out.
When zooming into your image, you may also find that it appears blurred and indistinct. However, this is only because the pixels, which make up the image, disperse when you close in and thus separate. This lets you work on minute details on your image and then zoom out again, to view a clearer picture. It also makes it a lot easier on your eyes while saving you the effort of squinting at the computer screen to get a closer look. You can even use the ‘Eyedropper Tool’ to select sets of pixels which are of a particular color, without worrying about missing on even the minutest spot.
Your software will also comprise of what are known as ‘Marquee Tools’ which let you trace squares, circles and even ellipses around the specific parts of the image you wish to highlight. For images which are irregular in shape, you can use the freeform tool by holding your mouse button down as you trace around the image, or simply plot points around it and connect all of them by clicking on the first dot again. Once you’ve made your selection, the appropriate part of the image will be highlighted by a flowing dotted line, informing you of your selection.
Having mastered these basic functions, you can then progress to more advanced features like creating effects and using enhancement tools to perfect your image. The easiest way to draw focus to the pivotal part of your image is to crop it so that the key elements are highlighted. You can even use filters in various hues to tint your image or paint strokes over it, just as you would with a physical painting using the brush and airbrush alternatives. Your software will also provide you with a diverse color palette to choose from and paint over any minor flaws or blemishes.
Modern-day editing softwares can be as effortless or as complicated as you want them to be. As a rule of the thumb, remember that the more experimental you get, the easier your navigation and use of the software will be. And nothing works quite as well as practice does. Once you have these fundamental basics mastered, you’ll find it a lot easier to learn your way around those more sophisticated features and very soon, you’ll realize that photo-editing software isn’t quite the enigma you make it out to be!
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