My Visual Diary - Photoshop Basics, Resolution and Files

This afternoon we were given a short lesson on the basics of photoshop. We were taught about the type of files we could potentially work in, resolution, levels, curves, colour changing as well as learning about a few of the tools.

Some File Types:

JPEG - most common file type as you can easily share jpeg's on social media. You can change the quality of the photograph from low to high.

RAW - the image as it is seen by the camera lens. The camera doesn't automatically process the photo so you have more control.

PSD - photoshop document. Everything which you do on photoshop (eg - create layers, add filters etc) stays where it is so you can re open it in photoshop and continue editing from where you left off.

Resolution

Camera resolution is measured in megapixels Image resolution is measured in pixels per inch (ppi)

The more pixels per inch, the better quality the image will be as theres more squares of colour filling the image.

We were given the task of 3 things; altering the photos levels and/or curves, changing the photo to black and white and using the tools in a creative way.

The first one was once I had changed the levels and curves. I changed it so that the seagull (which is quite bright and white) was even more eyecatching and then the background whites/black were darker creating a deep contrast between the main subject and the background. I used both of the adjustment tools as I thought the more I could do to try and bring out the front, the better.

The second photo was my attempt at black and white. I used the black and white tool under the adjustments dropdown and then made the yellows/reds in the middle so the beak wouldn't be too light nor too doark and I changed the background colours so that they were quite dark. I tried to make the beak and the eye of the seagull pop as much as possible to add depth and draw in attention.

In the last photo, I decided to use a black and white filter on a second layer and then erase some of it to colour pop the seagull. This is a thing I think I will be using quite a lot as I like being able to make things more prominent with colour.