Image-Editing Software (Adobe Photoshop) - … Content... · Image-Editing Software (Adobe Photoshop) Electronic imaging, ... Photoshop Photojournalism 2 The Center of Excellence

The Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland

Basic Public Affairs Specialist Course

Photojournalism

1

Introduction | Menu Bar | Tool Palette | Tool Bar | Image Enhancement

Image-Editing Software (Adobe Photoshop) Electronic imaging, or digital imaging, when compared with film-based photography, changed the way we get the finished print. No more darkroom work. It’s all done at a computer terminal. The adjustments—the enhancements—we used to make to our images in the darkroom are now controlled with image-editing software. The capability of the software program is only limited by your knowledge and ability to use its tools. In your job as a public affairs specialist, an image-editing software program will be something you may use on a daily basis, just as you probably use a word-processing software program.

Photoshop Photojournalism

The Center of Excellence for Visual Information and Public Affairs2

Home | Introduction | Menu Bar | Tool Palette | Tool Bar | Image Enhancement

Introduction This lesson will cover specifics for the image-editing software program, Adobe Photoshop (version CS4), the image enhancement software program currently used at DINFOS. If you are using a different version of Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Photoshop Elements, you may have to refer to its user manual for specific

information, which may be different than the information contained in this lesson.

This lesson will introduce you to some of primary tools and capabilities of Photoshop. You may want to open up your image-editing software as you go through this lesson to become more familiar with the program.

Here is a sample view of locating and launching Adobe Photoshop CS4 on a computer.


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Menu bar This section will provide information on the primary menus in Photoshop’s main menu bar, located at the top of the screen when you launch the program. Before you proceed with any image adjustments in this course, ensure your workspace is in the “default” mode. On the Window menu, select Workspace, then select Default Workspace.

File Menu

y Open – opens an image

y Save – saves the image you are working on

y Save As – saves the image with a specific file name and format

1. In photojournalism, we use the JPEG (*.JPG) format

2. At the JPEG options prompt, select maximum quality as the image option

y Revert – takes you back to the last saved version

y Page Setup – allows you to change your print setup and paper size

y Print – prints the currently open image




Menu BarEdit Menu

y Undo – undoes the last step performed (In this view, select canvas was the last step performed.)

y Cut – copies the selected area to the clipboard for use later and deletes it from the image.

y Copy – copies a selected area to the clipboard without deleting it.

y Paste – places the item you have cut or copied to the clipboard.




Menu barImage Menu

y Mode – changes the type of image you are working with

y Adjustments – allows you to adjust the brightness/contrast, color balance of the image. Note: This is one of the primary tools that you will use to enhance your images.

1. The Levels tool is the preferred method of changing the brightness/contrast of an image. The Brightness/Contrast tool is the least preferred method. Do not use the Auto Levels while in this course.

y Image size – allows you to change the size of your image

1. Photoshop is a resolution-dependent program. This means as you change image size, Photoshop will alter the image data to maintain the image resolution.

2. Set the resolution of the image based on the output device your editor has you using.

y Rotate canvas – allows you to rotate your image

y Crop – one of the ways Photoshop allows you to crop an image. It is recommended that you use the Crop tool on the Tool Palette. Once you have selecting an area to crop you can use the escape key to cancel the selection.

Select menu – allows you to select and deselect items.

Filter menu – allows you to have different effects on your image.




Tool palette Here’s a quick look at the many tools available in Photoshop on the the tool palette, which will automatically appear on your workspace when in default workspace.

Some tools have varying options. To bring up the options for that tool, click and hold on the icon for the tool. A tool has other options if a small black arrow located on the lower right hand corner is present.




Move tool (icon with 4 arrows) – allows you to select areas of an image.

Marquee tool – allows you to select areas of an image.

Lasso tool – allows you to more precisely select a specific area of an image, such as a uniquely shaped object.

Magic wand tool – allows you to select an area of like color and tone.

Crop tool – used to crop an image. To crop an image, drag the mouse to the area you select.

Rubber stamp/clone tool – allows you to clone portions of an area.

Dodge tool (burn tool is option) – dodge tool lightens (burn tool darkens) a selected areas of the image

Hand/Roam tool – allows you to move around an image that is larger than the viewer window. If you double click the hand tool, it will take you to a full view of the image.

Zoom tool – allows you to zoom in to an image. You can click to zoom or drag a box around an area to view a certain area. If you hold down the option key and click, you can zoom out.

Tool palette




Tool palette and tool bar When you select any icon on the tool palette the tool bar that runs across the top your screen changes. We selected the clone stamp tool. You should see the view below.

The tool bar above shows from left to right: the clone stamp tool; the brushes options; mode; opacity; and flow. For

right now, we’re focusing on the brushes options. Click on the small black arrow pointing downward on the brushes icon.

The brushes window appears. Notice all the brush options: master diameter controls the size of the brush; hardness controls the pressure of the brush; and lastly you see the many different brushes that can be utilized. The number below each brush represents the size of the brush that can also be adjusted on the master diameter option.




Image enhancement1. Open the image in your image-editing

software.

2. Crop the image. Cropping is the technique of enhancing a photograph by eliminating distractions and improving composition. In this step in adjusting/enhancing, crop as needed prior to sizing the image to fit the dimensions you need.

3. Size the image according to the dimensions in which it will be used. As described in the Photoshop tutorial video and the Photojournalism Handbook, image size can be adjusted through the Image menu on the main menu bar.

Reminder: Don’t forget to save your work throughout this process, setting the image quality at the highest setting.

4. Adjust the brightness/contrast and color balance of the image, if needed. To do this, go to the Image menu on the menu bar, then scroll down to Adjustments and select Levels.

y This launches a window containing a histogram of the image, along with slider tools to use as you adjust the image. The histogram is a graphic representation of the image. A slider tool directly under the histogram is used to make the adjustments. The Output Levels slider tool is not used in this course.]

y The slider tool at the far left (the dark “arrow”) adjusts shadow levels of the image. (The value, 0, indicates unprintable shadows with no detail.)

y The slider tool at the far right (the

white arrow) adjusts highlight levels. (The value, 255, indicates unprintable highlights with no detail.)

y The slider tool in the middle

adjusts the midtones—the shades of gray—of the image.

The Center of Excellence for Visual Information and Public Affairs

Basic Public Affairs Specialist Course

Photojournalism

10

Conclusion


As you will see as you use your image-editing software, good photographs can be made better by performing just the basic enhancement steps. This process can fix slight exposure and composition problems without any damage being done to the digital file. Also, the digital imaging process is not the long, time consuming process that conventional darkroom work was. By using Photoshop, basic image fixes are quick and easy and will make your photographs much more useable.



References


References

London, B., Upton, J., Kobre, K., and Brill, B. (2001). Photography (7th ed.). Prentice Hall

Tompkins, A. (2004). The accidental photojournalist. The Poynter Institute. http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=65438 Retrieved May 11, 2009

Hurley, G. & McDougall, A. (1975). Visual impact in print.

Kobre, K. (2000). Photojournalism: The professional’a approach, Fourth edition. Focal Press

Upton, B. & Upton, J. (1981). Photography. Little, Brown & Co.

Morely, D. (1978). The focal guide to action photography. Focal Press, London England

Kerns, R. (1980). Photojournalism: Photography with a purpose. Prentice Hall

(1987) SECNAVINST 5720.44A: Public affairs policy and regulation. http://www.cpf.navy.mil/subsite/ehimemaru/legal/Exhibit_11.pdf Retrieved May 04, 2009

Nikon D70 owners manual

SB800 Flash Manual

BPASC Photojournalism Handbook (2009)

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Image-Editing Software (Adobe Photoshop) - … Content... · Image-Editing Software (Adobe Photoshop) Electronic imaging, ... Photoshop Photojournalism 2 The Center of Excellence