POST-PROCESSING

POST-PROCESSING
what to do with digital photos

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

Manage my digital files (save to my account in digital lab, organize in folders)

Complete a contact sheet analysis

Choose, then edit my best (make my photo the largest possible size as close to 300
resolution as possible)

Make 2 folders to keep your images

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ORIGINALS:
These are the original digital files from your
camera or original scanned negative
EDITS:
Save a JPEG, PNG, or TIFF file of your best
from that assignment at 300 dpi. This file is the
edited, corrected, cropped, adjusted version.

EDITS:
If you make a lot of changes, with many PS
layers, you might also save a PSD version to
make later changes to those layers if needed.

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Saving your work

AP
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ORIGINALS:
These are the original digital files from your
camera or original scanned negative
EDITS:
Save a JPEG, PNG, or TIFF file of your best
from that assignment at 300 dpi. This file is the
edited, corrected, cropped, adjusted version.
FINAL FOR AP:
Change the image size to 72 resolution (ppi) and
10 inches in the largest dimension, select save
as, then JPEG for AP

When saving, make sure

to change the format in
the drop-down menu in
Photoshop.
You CANNOT just type
in the file extension, this
will ruin your file.

Before

EDITING

-Editing should strengthen the image, making it better.

-Editing should be non-destructive (dont change the original file)
-Editing cannot make a good photo out of a bad one, editing cant turn
your cat photo into a masterpiece
DO IT RIGHT IN THE CAMERA &
SAVE TIME IN THE COMPUTER

After

Crop if needed

Resize if needed

Adjust Levels (Exposure)

Color Balance

Dodge/Burn if necessary

Save as PSD document

Flatten and save as JPG

LEVELS
Create a Levels
adjustment layer

LEVELS
Create a Levels
adjustment layer

Adjust the white, gray,

and black points.

LEVELS
Create a Levels
adjustment layer

Adjust the white, gray,

and black points.

LEVELS

Original
Not finished. . .

Levels

Create a Levels
adjustment layer

COLOR BALANCE

Original

Create a Levels
adjustment layer

COLOR BALANCE

Original

Adjust Midtones, Highlights, and Shadows separately.

The goal is to restore the original colors.

Create a Levels
adjustment layer

COLOR BALANCE

Original
Levels
Adjust Midtones, Highlights, and Shadows separately.
The goal is to restore the original colors.

Create a Levels
adjustment layer

COLOR BALANCE

Original

Adjust Midtones, Highlights, and Shadows separately.

The goal is to restore the original colors.

Levels & Color Balance

LEVELS & COLOR

BALANCE

Original

LEVELS & COLOR

BALANCE

Original

Levels

LEVELS & COLOR

BALANCE

Original

Levels

Levels & Color Balance

DODGE
& BURN
Create a Levels
Adjustment Layer

Adjust by
moving the
black and
white triangles
in until it
looks the best

Slide the gray

triangle left or right.
Look for contrast as
well as details in
highlights and
shadows

Fine tune by using the Brush tool to

paint black or white in the layer
mask for that adjustment layer
Adjust your brush size, lower
the hardness to 0, and lower
the opacity to around 30%
Adjustment Layer
layer mask

Anywhere
you paint
black will
be erased,
painting
white will
put it back

You can create as many Level adjustment layers as needed to

tweak highlights and shadows. This works in a similar way to
Dodging and Burning in the darkroom - only easier!

17. Create an adjustment layer

for Brightness/Contrast if more
editing is needed.

Edit dramatically and then erase what

you dont want by painting in the
layer mask for the adjustment layer
with black. This is like using filters in
the darkroom.

On the left is the Brightness/Contrast adjustment,

on the right is after parts were painted away. Dont
forget to go slowly, lower your Hardness to 0 and
keep your opacity low. Press X to switch to white
and paint back in adjustments if needed.

Flatten
Complete this only after you have
finished all other edits and no longer
need the Photoshop layers.

Go to Layer > Flatten Image to

Flatten all your layers.

BLACK & WHITE CONVERSION

BLACK & WHITE CONVERSION

BLACK & WHITE CONVERSION

original

darkens
opposite
colors
Blue Filter

lightens
similar
colors
original

darkens
opposite
colors
Blue Filter

blue filter

blue filter

blue filter

blue filter

blue filter

blue filter

BLACK & WHITE

CONVERSION

DESATURATED

Try leaving one

color saturated

Hue/Saturation
Adjustment
Layer

Drag the
Saturation
slider left for
each color

DESATURATE

DESATURATE

Not finished. . .

Adjust colors individually in

all three tones

Warm
highlights

Color Balance
Adjustment
Layer

Cooler
shadows

COLOR BALANCE

DESATURATED &
COLOR BALANCED

DESATURATED &
COLOR BALANCED

Desaturated

DESATURATED &
COLOR BALANCED

Desaturated
Desaturated & Color Balanced

EXPERIMENT

Cross Process
Desaturate
Add Grain
Add Vignette

NO NOS

Beware of making the image more

about the editing and less about
the actual image (cross process/
selective color)

AVOID taking any one editing

tool too far:
-losing detail in highlights/shadows
when adjusting levels
-over-saturating colors
-over-sharpening edges
-over-anything