Digital Cameras – Unlock the marvels your software promises you
With the advent of digital technology, photography has finally come out of its ivory tower and is now the prerogative of even the most inexperienced amateur. While this in no way means that you are exempt from paying attention to all the intricacies, which range from light conditions to color themes, it also does mean that you can afford to make a few mistakes while capturing the image, without having to worry about all the dire consequences if it doesn’t end up like it’s supposed to. And here’s where you need to pay attention to not just choosing the best version of editing software, but also to mastering the basics for it is only when you are a natural with these key functions that you will be able to move on to the more complicated procedures which you will eventually graduate to, in the course of your foray into the world of editing.
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.
The ‘Marquee Tools’ which you will find in your software let you trace basic shapes like rectangles and circles around particular parts of your image, and even ellipses, if need be. You can also use the freeform tool to trace outlines around more irregularly-shaped parts. This tool offers you the alternative of holding down your mouse button as you drag it around the desired part of the image, or even click points around it, which will connect once you click on the first point again. Your selection will be highlighted by a flowing dotted line, which will demarcate the selected part of the image from the remainder.
These basic functions set the stage for the more advanced tools which you can use to create spectacular effects and even make discreet changes to enhance your images. The easiest and most foolproof technique to augment the focus of your photograph is to crop the edges off with the subject in the center. You can even hue your images with a subtle tint to imbibe it with a special theme using the array of filters that your editing software provides you with. You can also paint brush strokes over your image, just as you would with a physical painting, to add color and even paint out slight blemishes in your image.
How easy or difficult it is for you to use your software all depends on how systematic and well-versed you are with all the options you are granted. The more creative you get the larger number of tools you use This also means that you are conversant with many more features than if you restrict yourself to the conventional stereotypes. And before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to creating one-of-a-kind works of exquisite art!
Filed under: Computers & Technology