200 Canon Tips - Editing

Photographs are the Raw materials; the editing stage is when you stamp your mark and perfect your digital images

EDIT LIKE A PRO

Master these methods to fine-tune your images with pinpoint precision

1 Non-destructive editing

Tools like Adjustment Layers and Layer Masks allow you to make edits independently of one another, so you can always retrace your steps and undo decisions later on.

2 Make local adjustments

Local adjustment tools like Adobe Camera Raw or Lightroom’s Radial Filter and Graduated Filter can be used to apply selective edits by targeting a specific portion of an image.

3 Synchronise your edits

To save time in Lightroom when you edit a group of shots from the same shoot, edit one image, then synchronise the edits across to the other pictures.

4 Use multiple programs

Exploit your software’s strengths. For example: batch-edit in Lightroom, focus-stack in Helicon Focus and do advanced edits and creative layer work in Photoshop.

5 Calibrate your monitor

Use a calibration device like a Datacolor Spyder to ensure your monitor is displaying a true colour reading, so you can apply accurate edits.

Export for success

You’ve spent hours shooting and editing – don’t skimp on the delivery!

6 Go 300dpi for perfect prints

If you’re exporting high-resolution photographs for printing, you save your images at 300ppi (for printing at 300dpi). This ensures that images are of suitable quality, regardless of size.

7 Save low- and high-res versions