(It's sort of a timey-wimey thing, for all you Doctor Who fans.)įor example, when you use a traditional filter to sharpen a photo, you sharpen a pixel-based layer, and that's that. The Smart Object pixels allow you to apply Smart Filter effects to them, which are non-destructive filters that you can edit and change even after you create them. Smart Object layers have pixels, but their pixels are smarter than the average pixel. Normal layers have pixels adjustment layers don't. Smart Objects are essentially super-powered layers. Smart Objects are another type of special layer in Photoshop (not available in Photoshop Elements). Use them! Tip 4: Harness Smart Objects and Smart Filters for Powerful Pixel They are vastly superior to simply making standard adjustments. The list of great things about adjustment layers just goes on and on. As a photo restorer, your job is to clean and repair the entire photo.įigure 14 Edit adjustment layer properties repeatedly until you're happy with the result. You'll see all sorts of lint, dust, dirt, stains, spots, splotches, gunk, creases, scratches, holes, marks, writing, and other things that detract from the photo. You may not be able to spot the small imperfections with the naked eye, but when you see photos magnified in Photoshop, the problems become clear. When you scan in photos, slides, or negatives, they will be blemished or damaged one way or another (see Figure 6). Be delicate, but also be bold and without fear. You will see beautiful photos unfolding before you when you use the Clone Stamp. You must master the Clone Stamp, my student, if you want to restore them. "Many photos come to you blemished, damaged, and in need of repair. Read the next few sentences as if Master Splinter of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fame were speaking to you: Tip 2: Master the Clone Stampįor this tip, I shall become your sensei. This step includes covering scratches, repairing bent corners, reconstructing missing corners or sides, fixing tears, hiding holes, and many other types of problems.įigure 5 This finished photo is clearer, cleaner, brighter, and better. After I clean the surface, I repair any damage. This stage includes using the Clone Stamp to digitally "clean" the photo's surface of lint, dust, debris, marks, and other blemishes. Let me briefly share with you my usual approach.Īfter scanning the photo (see Figure 1) and then creating a Photoshop file (see Figure 2), the general workflow that I use (after a bit of brainstorming) begins with locking in repairs that aren't likely to change. So here's the official tip: When you restore photos, work according to a structured plan of attack. (Or maybe a reminder to take your super-GPS phone with you.) Think of this tip as an encouragement to leave a trail of bread crumbs. But if you start without a goal and a plan for accomplishing it, you're soon hip-deep in a muddled Photoshop file, forgetting how you got there. We see a photo that needs repair and want to dive right in, restoring this, fixing that, and experimenting with another thing. I know, I know-this tip feels like the opposite of fun. Tip 1: Follow a Consistent Restoration Plan Most importantly, pay attention to your internal clock, and save before you would be devastated by losing the progress you've made since your last save. If your system is somewhat unreliable, restrict your open Photoshop files to an absolute minimum, and avoid running 25 other applications at the same time. Although it's a stable application, you can't predict when your power will go out or your cat will do something nefarious. Before we begin in earnest, I want to remind you to save your work regularly in Photoshop.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |