Digital Photography Week Four
Lens Perspective, Printer Color and Image Catalogs

Perspective effects/distortions and zoom choice

• Perspective is determined by where you stand when you take a picture
• Wide angle angle end of zoom (small number of millimeters) exaggerates perspective by making you move in close.
• Normal (50mm @ 35mm equivilant length) looks most like “normal human vision”.
• Telephoto end of the zoom (large number of millimeters) flattens perspective by making you move far away.

In class photo session

• Headshot / Single person, how close a frame is good?
• Group of people head to toe, perspective from close and far.
• Background choices (busy/environmental versus simple)
• Small harsh light source and still life
• Large soft light source and still life
• Macro (closeup) example

 

Manual camera mode (“M” mode)

Used in studio or with external lights. You set both shutter speed and f/stop. Often used with an external light meter.

Image editing software part 4 (sharpening, filters, layers, text)

Sharpening helps almost all digital photographs and is usually needed after a size change.

• Launch Photoshop Elements, if needed.
• Close “Welcome” screen (Mac) or select “Edit and Enhance” (PC), if needed.
• Open image (File > Open). You will see image on your screen.
• Make sure you are “Standard Edit” rather then “Quick Fix” mode (Elements specific command, in upper right of screen). Make sure you are in the “Cascade Windows” view mode (two overlapping squares symbol in upper right).
• Set your size and resolution (Image > Resize > Image Size, If needed).
• Open Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp. Note: if you are using the newest version of Elements at home (version 5), the Unsharp filter has been moved to the “Image Enhancements” menu.
• Set “Amount” visually. Typically between 40 and 125%.
• Set “Radius”. Typically 0.7 for web/email images or 2 for high resolution (240dpi inkjet) images.
• Set “Threshold” visually so that areas of similar tone are not “chunky looking”. Skin tones or open skies are good places to check. Typically set between 2 and 20.
• Save your new corrected file as a new file/name (File > Save As) to a location on your hard drive (not your camera’s memory card).

“Artistic” filters offer numerous chances for “fun” photographs and/or “paint media” imitations.

• Launch Photoshop Elements (if needed).
• Close splash screen (if needed).
• Open image (File > Open). You will see image on your screen.
• Make sure you are “Standard Edit” rather then “Quick Fix” mode (Elements specific command, in upper right of screen). Make sure you are in the “Cascade Windows” view mode (two overlapping squares symbol in upper right).
• Go to Filers > Artistic > Colored Pencil.
• A browser will open showing thumbnails of 15 artistic filter possibilities. Click on the thumbnail you like best and then adjust the sliders to your liking. There are no set rules here, just play!
• Save your new “artistic image” as a new file/name (File>Save As) to a location on your hard drive (not your camera’s memory card).

Black and White Conversions

• Launch Photoshop Elements, if needed.
• Close “Welcome” screen (Mac) or select “Edit and Enhance” (PC), if needed.
• Open image (File > Open). You will see image on your screen.
• Make sure you are “Standard Edit” rather then “Quick Fix” mode (Elements specific command, in upper right of screen). Make sure you are in the “Cascade Windows” view mode (two overlapping squares symbol in upper right).
• Go to Enhance > Adjust Color > Adjust Hue & Saturation.
• Make sure the “Edit” is set to “Master”, “Colorize” is unchecked and “Preview” is checked.
• Move the “Saturation” slider to -100 for true black and white.
• Save your new “black and white image” as a new file/name (File>Save As) to a location on your hard drive (not your camera’s memory card).

Toned Black and White Conversions

• Launch Photoshop Elements, if needed.
• Close “Welcome” screen (Mac) or select “Edit and Enhance” (PC), if needed.
• Open image (File > Open). You will see image on your screen.
• Make sure you are “Standard Edit” rather then “Quick Fix” mode (Elements specific command, in upper right of screen). Make sure you are in the “Cascade Windows” view mode (two overlapping squares symbol in upper right).
• Go to Enhance > Adjust Color > Adjust Hue & Saturation.
• Make sure the “Edit” is set to “Master”, “Colorize” is CHECKED and “Preview” is checked.
• Move the “Saturation” slider to 25.
• Move the “Hue” slider until you like the tone (note: Sepia is around 40).
• Readjust the “Saturation” slider until you like the image.
• Save your new “toned black and white image” as a new file/name (File>Save As) to a location on your hard drive (not your camera’s memory card).

Inkjet printer color management: Standard Method
Best when using papers and inks made by your inkjet printer's manufacturer

Photoshop Elements color settings. While Elements is running go to Edit > Color settings and make sure “Always Optimize Colors for Computer Screens” is selected and then hit “OK”. This causes Elements to always use sRGB colorspace. This color space matches 99% of the smaller digital cameras. If you are using a large DSLR or an advanced digital camera that uses AdobeRGB, see the link at the end of this section.

Get your file “perfect” on screen. Select File > Print, you will then get the print preview screen.

1. Use the rotate controls to fit the image onto the page as you prefer
2. Check the “Show More Options” box
3. Select “Printer Profile” as “Same As Source”
4. Hit “Print”, this doesn’t actually start printing. Instead it opens your printer dialog.

Your printer dialog will most likely differ from mine, so consider these “general” comments.

1. Select the printer you want to use.
2. You may have a standard preset that does everything below for you (or you may be able to save a personal preset). A great time saver.
3. Select "Print Settings".
4. Select the type of paper you are going to use.
5. Set ink to “color”.
6. Set slider to Quality (rather than speed).
7. Set Mode to Automatic, DO NOT hit print yet.

Your printer dialog will most likely differ from mine, so consider these “general” comments.

1. Change the “Print Settings” selection to “Color Management”.
2. Select “Color Controls” and set all sliders to zero.
3. Hit the “Print” button, this time the printer actually makes a print!
4. If the print isn’t to your liking, you can reprint after adjusting the color management sliders.

If you want to use non-standard papers or inks,
read this additional info.

Other CVAS class you may be interested in:

Adobe Elements 4.0, Beginning

The Perfect Combination Of Power & Simplicity!  Do More With Your Photos--Quick Corrections, Creative Editing, Color & Light Adjustments. Whether You Use A Digital Camera Or Scan Traditional Photos, Photoshop Elements Makes Working With Digital Images A Breeze.
6 hour class $125
Required:  Mouse Skills

Adobe Elements 4.0, Intermediate

Like Its Professional Cousin, Photoshop Elements Offers Some Advanced Functions Such As The Cloning Tool, Filters, Selections, Layers & Type.  Create Panoramas, Montages & Collages.
6 hour class $125
Required:  Photoshop Elements-Beginning Or The Equivalent

Beginning Adobe Photoshop CS2

The Professional’s Choice!  Work With Palettes, Change Resolution/Image Size, Straighten & Crop, Improve Tonal Range, Remove Color Casts, Work With Tools, Layers, Masks & Channels, Retouch & Mend Photographs, Repair With The Stamp Tool, Pattern Stamp Tool, Heal & Patch Tools, Using The History Palette, Plus More.
12 hour class $235
Required:  Mouse Skills

Intermediate Adobe Photoshop CS2

Work Like A Professional—Or Become One.  Paint & Edit, Advanced Use Of Paths, Brushes & The Pen Tool, Use Clipping Paths On Layers & Advanced Layer Techniques, Work With Automation/Batches, Achieve Color Balance, Learn Filter Strategies, Assign A Tonal Range, Optimize Images For The Web, Plus More.
12 hour class $235
Required:  Photoshop-Beginning Or The Equivalent

Beginning Macromedia DreamWeaver  8

Emerging As The Choice Of Most Professionals.  Define The Site, Insert Images, Mouse-Over Text With Pictures, Insert & Format Text, Modify Page Properties, Work With Background Colors & Images, Create Links With Images & Text, Create Bullet, Number Lists & Color Schemes, Use Layers To Create Web Pages, Create & Modify A Table, Create Simple Rollovers, Plus More.
6 hour class $125

Intermediate Macromedia DreamWeaver 8

Create A New Template & Library Items, Save A Frameset, Add A Background Image, Use The Frames Object Palette, Create Your Own Rollover Buttons, Apply HTML Styles, Create Keyboard Shortcuts, Work With Forms, Open A New Browser Window, Create Web Photo Album Command & Mailto Command, Use The History Palette, Insert A Flash Movie, Link To Sounds, Get It Online.
6 hour class $125
Required:  Dreamweaver-Beginning Or The Equivalent

An Interesting Non CVAS option: Julie Dean Workshops in Venice, CA offers lots of short (typically 1 or 2 day) workshops
http://www.juliadean.com/