Chapter 11. IMPROVING YOUR IMAGES

UNDERSTANDING FILE FORMATS

CROPPING OR RESIZING AN IMAGE

ADJUSTING AN IMAGE'S CONTRAST AND COLOR

CORRECTING IMPERFECTIONS

FIXING THE LIGHTING

APPLYING SPECIAL EFFECTS

BACKING UP AND ARCHIVING YOUR IMAGE FILES

TAKING THE NEXT STEP

The composition process does not necessarily end with the click of the camera's shutter. Indeed, you might argue that the moment a picture is taken is when the true compositional work begins. This work, made possible by advances in imaging technology, ranges from cropping an image to more powerfully expressing the image's message, adjusting the image's contrast and color, correcting imperfections in the image, fixing any problems with the lighting used, and even applying special effects (see 11-1). Indeed, if you desire, you can use the technology available today to totally rework your image!

Twelve separate images were used to create this composite image; note, too, the motion effect added to the paper airplane (24mm, ISO 50, f/22 at 1/30 second; compilation and expert retouching by photoshopdude.com).

Figure 11-1. Twelve separate images were used to create this composite image; note, too, the motion effect added to the paper airplane (24mm, ISO 50, f/22 at 1/30 second; compilation and expert retouching by photoshopdude.com).

In addition to editing your photographs to enhance them after the shutter clicks, you can also improve them both by continuing your quest to understand the technical aspects of composition and by exploring ways to develop your own unique style. In this chapter, you discover myriad ways to edit your digital images using ...

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