Pixlr Photo Editing Tutorial

Amy Eaton, a product photographer and educator, introduces herself and thanks Jamie for the opportunity to present a tutorial on photo editing, a common challenge for handmade sellers. She discusses the complexity of editing programs and her preference for Pixel over Pikm, citing concerns about the color casts and contrasts that filters in Pikm might introduce, which could be detrimental to product image authenticity. Amy emphasizes the importance of using true-to-form colors in product listing photos and explains that Pixel's interface is more user-friendly and similar to Photoshop, which could be beneficial for those looking to upgrade their editing skills.

The tutorial continues with Amy explaining how to use the crop tool in Pixel to resize images for Etsy listings, recommending a 5x4 ratio (1000x800 pixels) that aligns with Etsy's ideal image size for optimal loading and display. She guides viewers on how to select and adjust the crop box to ensure the product is centrally focused and how to apply the crop. Amy also shares her tips on zooming in and out for detailed work and the importance of maintaining image quality for an appealing presentation to potential customers.

Amy delves into the process of adjusting levels to affect the brightness and contrast of product photos in Pixel. She introduces the histogram as a visual representation of the image's tones and demonstrates how to use the sliders to achieve a balanced image. The tutorial advises dragging the sliders to the edge of the histogram mountain for a well-lit image, which is crucial for attracting customers and ensuring they can clearly see the product. She encourages experimentation with the sliders but emphasizes the need for a balanced look to avoid overly bright or dark images.

The script addresses the issue of color casts in photos, which can result from various lighting conditions, and how to correct them using Pixel's color balance adjustment tool. Amy describes the RGB (red, green, blue) sliders and how adjusting them can neutralize unwanted color tones, such as a yellowish tinge from wooden floors or a green cast from outdoor light reflections. She provides a practical example of how to add blue to counteract yellow and magenta to balance green, stressing the importance of subtle adjustments for realistic color representation in product images.

Amy concludes the tutorial by summarizing the essential steps of cropping, resizing, adjusting levels, and color balance for editing product photos. She advises saving images in JPEG or PNG format at full quality to maintain the best visual presentation. The tutorial also mentions the availability of a cheat sheet and additional resources, such as prop ideas and a list of essential tools for product photography, which Amy offers to help viewers enhance their skills. She invites viewers to join her Facebook group for further discussion and support and teases the upcoming launch of her online photo school, Photocraft Academy, focusing on comprehensive product photography courses for handmade sellers.