The Creative Darkroom
for Photographers and Digital Artists
A complete tutorial on
Editing Digital Images
using
Adobe Photoshop or
Photoshop Elements
by Jim Christensen
This document is intended to be used as a guide and index for the video segments in this workshop on editing still images in Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements using layers and layer masks, in a non-destructive way that lets digital artists experiment with different renderings of an image to achieve the look that best communicates their message, thought, mood, and expression.
You can watch all the segments (about 4 ¼ hours) start to finish, or you can use this guide to preview the entire workshop, and then select the segments that most interest you. I’ve broken the workshop into a few major sections as described below.
Introduction
This segment is an introduction to the workshop, and summarizes the overall approach and goals.
CLICK HERE to watch the INTRODUCTION video 2:59 (1)
Background
This section is an introduction to Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, and digital image editing. In addition, I’ll explain when and how to save a new version or copy of a digital image. The first segment examines digital images from the inside out:
CLICK HERE to watch the WHAT IS A DIGITAL IMAGE video 2:17 (2)
If you’re new to Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, or want to know when you should create new versions of images you’re working on, the next segment explains digital image editing from the ground up, and suggests sensible guidelines for managing versions of your image files.
CLICK HERE to watch the Intro to PS & PSE video 19:18 (3)
The next segment demonstrates how Photoshop and Photoshop Elements are used with so-called “raw” images, and a discussion of why you might want to shoot in raw vs jpeg image format.
CLICK HERE to watch the RAW vs JPEG video 10:29 (4)
The last segment explains digital image histograms, and why they’re so useful for photographers and digital artists:
CLICK HERE to watch the HISTOGRAM video 9:15 (5)
Layers and Layer Masks
This section introduces the key Photoshop (and Photoshop Elements) concepts of layers and layer masks. These are the two most important concepts in Photoshop for digital artists, so it’s worth taking the time to understand them thoroughly. The remainder of the workshop depends on these concepts, so don’t skip these segments if you have questions about them.
CLICK HERE to watch the video on LAYERS 17:28 (6)
CLICK HERE to watch the video on LAYER MASKS 11:29 (7)
And if you want to know my favorite tools and techniques for making selections and layer masks using only the tools built into Photoshop (and Photoshop Elements), watch the following video.
CLICK HERE to watch the video on SELECTION & MASKING 22:36 (8)
I’m not discussing any of the 3rd-party tools and plug-ins for selection masking in this workshop, although there are some good ones (such as Topaz Labs’ “ReMask” plug-in).
Editing Techniques
In this section, we’ll put the tools and techniques we learned in the previous segments to work. The first video is on the long-practiced manipulation known as dodging and burning, where we selectively adjust the tone of an image.
CLICK HERE to watch the DODGING AND BURNING video 10:22 (9)
You should consider the next segment as optional. It explains how the Photoshop curves adjustment layer works, and uses a mathematical approach. If you’re uncomfortable with mathematics, just skip this segment and learn how to tweak the curves adjust layer by experimentation and practice. But if you want the inside scoop, watch the next clip.
CLICK HERE to watch CURVES ADJUSTMENT LAYER video 5:01 (10)
Often we’d like to adjust only a part of an image, and use an adjustment layer so that we can change our minds at any time. The next segment demonstrates three or four strategies for limiting and targeting the scope of an adjustment layer.
CLICK HERE for TARGETING ADJUSTMENT LAYERS video 15:54 (11)
I’ve titled the next segment “defect removal”, and I think of a defect as anything that takes away from the visual message you’re trying for in your renderings:
CLICK HERE to watch the DEFECT REMOVAL video 11:31 (12)
Filters and Plug-ins
When we use filters (built-in or 3rd party) and plug-ins to edit our images, we need a somewhat different workflow as explained in the next video segment:
CLICK HERE to watch the video on FILTERS AND PLUG-INS 9:43 (13)
But to be able to experiment with different looks and renderings, we’d like to be able to change our minds but not lose all the work we’ve done fine-tuning a filter or plug-in. The next video segment shares a technique for doing just that:
CLICK HERE to watch SMART FILTERS AND PLUG-INS 11:31 (14)
I should also note that some image edits will defeat the method for reusing filter and plug-in settings shown in the last video. For example, flipping an image left-to-right won’t flip the NIK control points in a sympathetic way. I suggest using smart filters (filters on smart object layers) in any event, so that you can reuse the work when the filters that you’ve used support it.
Blend Modes
While you need not understand blend modes to use of Photoshop and Photoshop Elements effectively, they do let you combine image layers in ways not possible with the default “normal” blend mode. In this section, I’ll demonstrate the two editing tasks enabled by blend modes that I find most interesting. The first video shows how to easily (and non-destructively) add and fine-tune textures on an image.
CLICK HERE for ADDING TEXTURES WITH BLEND MODES 7:53 (15)
The second video in this section shows how to combine images to create a composite image, and with blend modes doing the heavy lifting (as opposed to careful selection and masking)
CLICK HERE for COMPOSITING WITH BLEND MODES 16:09 (16)
JPEG Images for Competitions
When we want to share an image, for example for a club competition or to post on a social media site like Facebook, we’ll need to create a standard JPG image at the appropriate resolution. The next segment explains how to do that using both the full Photoshop program, and the Photoshop Elements program:
CLICK HERE to watch the video on MAKING JPG IMAGES 15:45 (17)
Because photo club competitions are so popular, the next segment shares some insights that I’ve gained from participating in and judging club competitions:
CLICK HERE for SCORING HIGHER IN CLUB COMPETITIONS 9:06 (18)
Examples
In this section, we’ll look at some images that I’ve created using the tools and techniques explained in this workshop, just to stimulate your imagination. It’s intended to give you a glimpse at the power of this style of editing, and perhaps get you thinking about things you might try in your digital darkroom.
CLICK HERE to watch the EXAMPLES video 24:09 (19)
Putting it All Together
We’ve covered a lot of ground in this workshop, and I’ll finish-up with a complete, start-to-finish editing session of the now-familiar image of my granddaughter, Layna. It will demonstrate all the tools and techniques we’ve learned so far, with a real-life example. I like this example for its focus on technique and simplicity, and while there are far more sophisticated ways to retouch portraits, my intent is to apply the lessons learned in this workshop to a real image.
CLICK HERE for the COMPLETE EDITING SESSION video 23:18 (20)
You should also note that I’ve provided a low-res copy of this image with the workshop materials, and a separate PDF file that summarizes each step in the editing process to help you learn the editing techniques.
Link to the
sample image (DNG) file
Link to the step-by-step retouching guide for the sample image
Link to the edited image (PSD) file
Thank You
Thank you for investing your time and money in this video workshop. Helping photographers and other digital artists create renderings with more of their inner passion and feeling is at the top of my list… and why I invest so much of my time and effort in creating these video workshops. I’m confident that once you’re comfortable with the non-destructive editing techniques from this workshop, your creative space will grow and your time in the digital darkroom will feel more like a creative exploration. Mine has.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts on how I might improve this video workshop… maybe clarifying something you found confusing, or adding a segment on another tool or concept. Use my website to get my contact information, and send me a note.
Please visit my website, Jim Christensen Photography, to see more of my work, or attend or setup one of my talks in your area, or share some of your thoughts and creative work with me. I love being a part of the big community of digital photographers and artists, so please keep in touch.
CLICK HERE to watch the WRAP-UP video 1:33 (21)
- Sincerely yours,
