THREE OF THE BEST PHOTOSHOP TOOLS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

Although Photoshop is a huge image editing software we don’t have to learn everything about it. As digital photographers we only need the parts of photoshop that are relevant to our cause.

Although Photoshop is a huge image editing software we don’t have to learn everything about it. As digital photographers we only need the parts of photoshop that are relevant to our cause. As you continue with your photoshop training you will find that there are some photoshop tools that you will use more than others.

Although considering the rules of composition and composing your picture in the viewfinder is important, sometimes we get it wrong. This is where the cropping tool comes into use. This tool, found third down on the left hand side of the tool box, can eliminate any unwanted areas around the outside of our photograph. This can put the subject into a more pleasing location and add emphasis to the subject.

One of the tools that you will use the most is the levels tool. This can be found in Image – Adjustments. This tool allows you to make precise adjustments to the contrast and tone of your photograph. DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO USE BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST CONTROLS. You will end up eliminating vital shadow detail, and highlight detail. First stop is the levels dialog. This photoshop tool tells you exactly how the tones in your picture are distributed, and allows you to adjust accordingly. The Curves dialog does a more subtle job but is more difficult to learn.

Another Photoshop tool I use a lot is the cloning tool. I use this for cleaning the marks off my images that have occurred from dirt on my sensor. It doesn’t matter how careful I am I always seem to have dust inside my camera. This tool can copy one area of the image to another area of the same photograph. You will not become adept with this tool straight away, but the results are worth the practice. The clone tool is great for doing the work that the airbrush used to do in portrait photography. Blemishes and spots can be eliminated at the press of a couple of buttons.

There are many more photoshop tools that will help to improve your images, but learning about and using these three will give you a good start