90% of Photo Editing Basics in Just 15 Minutes

Mark Denney
9 Aug 202315:39

TLDR在这段视频中,感谢Squarespace的赞助,讲解者分享了照片编辑的基础知识,强调了基础知识是成为优秀照片编辑者的关键。视频展示了一个高效的工作流程,适用于编辑每一张照片。首先,讲解者在Lightroom中自定义了开发面板的顺序,以适应自己的编辑流程。接着,他通过调整曝光、高光、阴影、白色和黑色点,平衡了照片的曝光。然后,通过使用颜色选择器和饱和度滑块调整了白平衡。之后,对照片进行了裁剪和旋转,以改善构图。在调整了基本的色调和色彩平衡后,讲解者使用了色调曲线来增加对比度,并通过色彩校准进一步调整了颜色。在HSL部分,他调整了特定颜色的色相、饱和度和亮度,以简化颜色调色板。接下来,通过细节面板增强了照片的清晰度,添加了微妙的晕影效果,并进行了局部遮罩以突出照片中的特定区域,如围栏的细节。最后,讲解者清理了照片,移除了传感器污点,并调整了裁剪以确保照片的平衡。视频还提到了一个赠品活动,恭喜Mark Wilkins赢得了Nissi滤镜套装。

Takeaways

  • 🎨 **Customize Your Workflow**: Personalize the order of the Develop panel in Lightroom to suit your editing process from top to bottom for better organization and efficiency.
  • 📸 **Start with the Basics**: Begin editing with the Basic panel by balancing exposure, then adjusting white balance, and cropping to set the foundation for further edits.
  • 🔍 **Detailing with HSL**: Use the HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance) section to fine-tune colors, reducing saturation where needed and adjusting luminance for specific color impacts.
  • ⚙️ **Sharpen and Enhance**: Apply sharpening and clarity adjustments to bring out details in the image, especially focusing on areas of interest like textures in a fence.
  • 📈 **Tone Curve Tweaks**: Utilize the Tone Curve to adjust contrast and mid-tones, making personal preference tweaks for a more polished look.
  • 🖌️ **Local Adjustments**: Use local adjustments like radial and linear gradients, as well as adjustment brushes, to selectively edit specific areas of the photo.
  • 🌈 **Color Calibration**: Boost primary colors and adjust saturations in the Calibration panel to enhance the overall color palette of the image.
  • 📐 **Straighten and Crop**: Ensure the composition is visually appealing by straightening the horizon and cropping the image to focus on key elements.
  • 🔧 **Lens Corrections**: Although not heavily used in every edit, lens corrections can be applied when necessary to fix distortions or chromatic aberration.
  • 🌟 **Add a Vignette**: Apply a subtle vignette to the image for a classic, finished look that draws attention to the center of the photo.
  • 🧹 **Clean Up**: Finally, inspect the image for any sensor spots or unwanted elements and use tools like the Spot Removal to clean up the photograph.

Q & A

  • What is the main focus of this video?

    -The main focus of this video is to provide a workflow for photo editing basics that can be applied to any photograph, emphasizing the importance of the foundational steps in editing.

  • Which platform is used for organizing and editing the photo in the video?

    -The platform used for organizing and editing the photo in the video is Adobe Lightroom.

  • What is the first step the presenter takes in their editing workflow?

    -The first step the presenter takes in their editing workflow is to balance out the exposure of the image.

  • How does the presenter customize the Develop panel in Lightroom to suit their workflow?

    -The presenter customizes the Develop panel by reordering the sections from top to bottom in the order they prefer to go through during their editing process, starting with the Basic panel and ending with Lens Corrections and Transform.

  • What is the purpose of using a radial gradient mask in the video?

    -The purpose of using a radial gradient mask in the video is to enhance the sunlight coming through an area of the image, by adjusting the highlights, clarity, and dehaze.

  • What tool does the presenter use to draw attention to the texture of the fence in the image?

    -The presenter uses the Adjustment Brush to increase the clarity and texture of the fence, drawing the viewer's attention to the beautiful texture.

  • How does the presenter adjust the white balance in the video?

    -The presenter adjusts the white balance by using the Color Picker tool to select a neutral color and then fine-tuning it until there are no unrealistic color casts.

  • What is the presenter's approach to cropping the image?

    -The presenter's approach to cropping the image involves focusing on the elements that initially drew them to the composition, such as the fence in this case, and making sure the horizon is straight.

  • What is the role of the tone curve in the presenter's editing process?

    -The tone curve is used to adjust the contrast of the image by lifting certain points and darkening others, which is a matter of personal preference.

  • How does the presenter use the HSL section to simplify the color palette?

    -The presenter uses the HSL section to reduce the saturation of certain colors, like the orange in the image, and adjust the hue to make the colors blend in more, thus simplifying the overall color palette.

  • What is the final step the presenter takes before considering an image fully edited?

    -The final step the presenter takes is to clean up the overall photograph, looking for and removing any sensor spots or distractions, and making any final adjustments to the composition.

  • What is the presenter's recommendation for those who are new to Lightroom or photo editing?

    -The presenter recommends following the outlined workflow to feel more comfortable and organized when editing, as it helps ensure that no steps are skipped and the editing process is efficient and consistent.

Outlines

00:00

📷 Photo Editing Basics and Workflow in Lightroom

The video begins by acknowledging Squarespace as the sponsor and emphasizing the importance of mastering the basics of photo editing. The speaker introduces a workflow that can be applied to every photo for consistency and efficiency. The process starts with organizing the Lightroom develop panel according to personal preference and workflow order. The first step in editing is balancing exposure, followed by adjusting white balance, cropping, and straightening the image. The video promises to cover the workflow in detail and mentions a giveaway winner for a filter kit to be announced later.

05:00

🎨 Tone Curve, Color Calibration, and Grading

The speaker continues the editing workflow by discussing the tone curve adjustments for contrast and the calibration section for enhancing colors. A detailed explanation of the color calibration process is provided, with an offer to link to a free tutorial for further understanding. The video then moves on to color grading, where the highlights and mid-tones are subtly adjusted for warmth and coolness. The HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance) section is used to refine specific colors in the image, and the process of sharpening the image and adding a vignette effect is covered. The speaker also briefly touches on lens correction and transforming tools before delving into local adjustments through masking techniques.

10:02

🖌️ Local Adjustments and Final Touches

The paragraph focuses on using the adjustment brush for local enhancements, specifically to bring out details in the fence that attracted the photographer. The process of creating a new mask and painting over the fence area with increased clarity and texture is described. The before and after effects of these adjustments are shown, and the use of gradients for local adjustments is also mentioned. The video concludes with general cleanup, such as removing sensor spots and adjusting the composition for a balanced look. The speaker reiterates the value of a consistent workflow and offers reassurance for beginners in photo editing.

15:02

🎉 Sponsor Acknowledgement and Giveaway Winner

The video concludes with a thank you note to Squarespace for sponsoring the video and a brief overview of the services provided by Squarespace for website and e-commerce needs. The speaker then announces the winner of the 250,000 subscriber giveaway, a complete Nissi filter kit, and provides instructions for the winner to get in touch. The video ends with an invitation for viewers to ask questions in the comments, a call to like and subscribe, and a farewell until the next video.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Photo Editing

Photo editing refers to the process of altering or enhancing a photo using various techniques and tools to improve its visual appeal or to correct imperfections. In the video, the host discusses a workflow for photo editing that can be applied to any photograph, emphasizing the importance of starting with the basics and then moving on to fine details.

💡Lightroom

Adobe Lightroom is a popular photo editing software used by professionals and enthusiasts alike for organizing, editing, and sharing photographs. The video script mentions using Lightroom to organize the develop panel according to personal preference, which is a key part of the host's editing workflow.

💡Develop Panel

The Develop panel in Lightroom is where most of the photo editing takes place. It contains various tools for adjusting exposure, color, tone, and other aspects of a photo. The host customizes the Develop panel to follow a specific workflow order, which helps in maintaining organization and ensuring all important editing steps are covered.

💡Exposure

Exposure in photography refers to the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor. Balancing exposure is crucial for achieving a well-lit and visually appealing photo. The host starts the editing process by adjusting exposure levels such as highlights, shadows, white point, and black point.

💡White Balance

White balance is the process of adjusting the colors in an image so that they appear natural under different lighting conditions. The host uses the Color Picker tool in Lightroom to select a neutral color and fine-tune the white balance after exposure adjustments.

💡Crop Tool

The Crop tool is used to remove unwanted areas from a photo or to change its composition. The host uses this tool to focus on the fence that attracted him to the scene, demonstrating how cropping can enhance the visual storytelling of a photograph.

💡Tone Curve

The Tone Curve tool allows for adjustments to the contrast and tonal range of an image. The host uses this tool to lift the highlights and darken the mid-tones, thereby adding contrast to the photo and making it more visually striking.

💡Color Calibration

Color calibration involves adjusting the primary colors in an image to achieve desired color effects or to correct color imbalances. The host uses this feature in Lightroom to boost the saturation of blue and green primaries, enhancing the overall color palette of the photo.

💡HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance)

HSL stands for Hue, Saturation, and Luminance, which are three dimensions of color. In the video, the host uses the HSL section to fine-tune specific colors in the image, such as reducing the saturation of oranges and adjusting the luminance of greens, to create a more harmonious color scheme.

💡Sharpening

Sharpening is a process that enhances the details in an image, making them appear crisper and clearer. The host increases the detail and radius sliders in the Develop panel to sharpen the photo, particularly focusing on areas that need more clarity.

💡Vignette

A vignette is a gradual darkening or blurring of the edges of a photo, which can draw the viewer's attention to the center of the image. The host adds a subtle vignette to the photo using the Effects panel to enhance its visual appeal.

💡Local Masking

Local masking involves applying adjustments to specific areas of a photo rather than the entire image. The host uses radial and linear gradients as masks to selectively enhance the sunlight and brighten a dark area, demonstrating how local masking can improve the composition and mood of a photograph.

Highlights

Photo editing basics can be summarized quickly, forming the foundation of good photo editing.

The video provides a photo editing workflow that can be applied to every single photo edited.

Customizing the Lightroom develop panel to suit personal workflow preferences increases efficiency and organization.

Balancing exposure is the first step in the editing process, followed by adjustments to highlights, shadows, white, and black points.

Softening an image can be achieved through negative clarity, positive texture, and a bit of negative dehaze.

White balance should be adjusted after exposure to ensure color neutrality.

Cropping is a critical step and should be done with intention to improve composition.

Tone curve adjustments can add contrast and enhance the overall mood of an image.

Color calibration is an essential tool for boosting primaries and adjusting color saturation.

Color grading can subtly change the tint of highlights and mid-tones for a warmer or cooler look.

HSL adjustments allow for fine-tuning of hue, saturation, and luminance of specific colors in an image.

Sharpening and adding a vignette are common final touches to enhance detail and draw attention.

Lens corrections and transforms are less frequently used and can often be skipped.

Local masking can selectively enhance or adjust specific areas of an image.

The use of adjustment brushes allows for targeted enhancements like clarity and texture to specific parts of an image.

Cleaning up sensor spots and distractions is the final step for a polished look.

The importance of a consistent workflow to ensure no steps are skipped and maintain a high standard of editing.

Using Squarespace for website and e-commerce needs provides a professional platform for photographers.

Giveaway of a complete Nissi filter kit, including various filters and a filter holder, valued at nearly a thousand dollars.

Winner of the giveaway is announced, encouraging engagement and participation from viewers.

The video concludes with a reminder to ask questions, subscribe, and engage with the content.