90% of Photo Editing Basics in Just 15 Minutes
TLDRThis video tutorial, sponsored by Squarespace, dives into the essentials of photo editing using Lightroom, focusing on organizing the develop panel to streamline workflow. The presenter customizes Lightroom's interface to match a preferred editing sequence, from basic adjustments to detailed color grading. Techniques like balancing exposure, adjusting white balance, and enhancing details using the tone curve are demonstrated on an underexposed photo from Menorca, Spain. Additional tips include applying local masks and final touch-ups to perfect the image. The video concludes with a thank you to subscribers and a giveaway announcement.
Takeaways
- 🎨 **Customize Your Workflow**: Personalize the Lightroom Develop panel to suit your editing process from top to bottom for better organization and efficiency.
- 📸 **Start with Basics**: Always begin photo editing with the Basic panel to balance exposure, including highlights, shadows, whites, and blacks.
- 🔍 **Soften Details**: Use Clarity, Texture, and Dehaze to soften the overall image, typically reducing Clarity and slightly increasing Texture and Dehaze.
- 📐 **White Balance After Exposure**: Adjust white balance after exposure to ensure colors are neutral, using the Color Picker tool for precision.
- 🖌 **Cropping for Composition**: Crop your image to improve composition, focusing on elements that attracted you to the scene in the first place.
- ⛓ **Tone Curve for Contrast**: Use the Tone Curve to adjust contrast by lifting highlights and darkening mid-tones.
- 🎭 **Calibrate Colors**: Enhance colors using the Calibration section, particularly boosting primaries like blue and green to achieve desired color tones.
- 🌈 **Color Grading for Mood**: Apply subtle color grading to tint highlights and mid-tones for a warmer or cooler look, depending on the mood you want to convey.
- 🍂 **HSL for Color Control**: Use the HSL panel to adjust Hue, Saturation, and Luminance individually for different colors in your image to refine the color palette.
- 🔧 **Detail and Effects**: Sharpen the image and add a subtle vignette for visual appeal, while lens corrections and transforms are used sparingly.
- 🖥 **Local Adjustments with Masks**: Use local adjustments with radial and linear gradients as well as the adjustment brush to enhance specific areas like sunlight or to draw attention to particular textures.
Q & A
What is the main focus of the video?
-The main focus of the video is to provide a quick summary of the basics of photo editing, emphasizing the importance of a structured workflow in Lightroom for efficient and organized editing.
What is the first step in the photo editing workflow presented in the video?
-The first step in the workflow is to balance out the exposure of the image, adjusting highlights, shadows, white point, and black point.
How does the video suggest adjusting white balance after exposure?
-The video suggests adjusting the white balance after exposure by using the Color Picker tool to select a neutral color and then checking for any color cast with saturation set to 100 before resetting it to zero.
What is the significance of cropping an image in the editing process?
-Cropping an image is significant as it allows the editor to refine the composition, remove unwanted elements, and draw attention to key aspects of the photograph.
How does the video describe the use of the Tone Curve in photo editing?
-The video describes the use of the Tone Curve as a way to adjust contrast by lifting certain points and darkening others, based on personal preference.
What is the role of the Calibration section in color editing?
-The Calibration section is used to fine-tune colors, with the ability to boost primary colors and adjust saturation to achieve the desired color balance and vibrancy in the image.
How does the HSL section help in simplifying the color palette of a photograph?
-The HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance) section allows the editor to adjust individual colors, reducing saturation or changing hues to create a more cohesive and less distracting color palette.
What is the purpose of sharpening in the Detail panel?
-Sharpening in the Detail panel enhances the clarity and detail of the image, making it appear more crisp and defined.
Why might a photographer apply a vignette effect to their images?
-A vignette effect is applied to create a subtle darkening around the edges of the image, which can draw the viewer's attention to the center and add an aesthetic touch.
How does local masking help in enhancing specific areas of a photograph?
-Local masking allows the editor to make targeted adjustments to specific areas of the image, such as increasing clarity and texture in certain elements like a fence, to enhance details and draw attention.
What is the final step the video suggests before considering the editing process complete?
-The final step is to clean up the overall photograph, looking for and addressing any sensor spots, burnt pixels, or distractions, to ensure a polished final image.
What platform does the video recommend for website and e-commerce needs?
-The video recommends Squarespace for website and e-commerce needs, highlighting its robust online platform, professional portfolio designs, customizable galleries, and online store features.
Outlines
📸 Photo Editing Basics and Workflow
This paragraph introduces the video's focus on photo editing essentials and establishing a workflow. The speaker expresses gratitude to Squarespace for sponsoring the video and emphasizes the importance of understanding the basics of photo editing. The video aims to provide a framework for editing photos effectively, starting with an image from a trip to Menorca, Spain. The speaker discusses organizing the Lightroom develop panel according to personal preference and workflow, and highlights the significance of the basic panel in editing.
🎨 Customizing Lightroom and Tone Curve Adjustments
In this paragraph, the speaker dives deeper into customizing the Lightroom develop panel for a more efficient editing process. They explain how to rearrange the panel sections to match the workflow order, from basic adjustments to least used features. The speaker then moves on to discuss tone curve adjustments, sharing their personal preference for darkening mid-tones and increasing contrast. They also touch on color calibration, a favorite method for editing color, and provide resources for further learning. The paragraph ends with a brief mention of color grading and the intention to apply it to the featured image.
🖼️ Enhancing Image Details and Cropping
The speaker continues their photo editing workflow by discussing cropping and straightening images for compositional improvement. They explain the rationale behind cropping almost every captured image and demonstrate the process using the crop tool in Lightroom. Attention is given to the importance of adjusting white balance and exposure after cropping. The speaker then moves on to the HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance) section, where they fine-tune specific color adjustments to simplify the color palette and enhance the image's overall appeal. The paragraph concludes with the speaker's approach to detail sharpening and the use of vignettes for a subtle aesthetic touch.
🏞️ Local Adjustments and Final Touches
This paragraph focuses on local adjustments and the final stages of the photo editing process. The speaker uses a combination of adjustment brushes and gradients to enhance specific areas of the image, such as the fence that drew them to the composition. They demonstrate how to bring out detail and texture in the fence by adjusting clarity and other parameters. The speaker also discusses the importance of cleaning up the photograph, looking for sensor spots or distractions, and making final adjustments to exposure and highlights. They emphasize the value of a well-organized develop panel in ensuring a comprehensive editing process and invite viewers to reach out with questions or comments.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Photo Editing
💡Lightroom
💡Develop Panel
💡Workflow
💡Exposure
💡White Balance
💡Crop Tool
💡Tone Curve
💡Color Grading
💡HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance)
💡Adjustment Brush
Highlights
Photo editing basics can be quickly summarized and are crucial for a good photo editor.
The video provides a workflow that can be used as a guideline for every photo edit.
Customizing the Lightroom Develop panel according to personal workflow enhances organization and efficiency.
Starting with the Basic panel in Lightroom to balance exposure is the first step in the editing process.
Adjusting white balance after exposure balance helps to avoid unrealistic color casts.
Cropping the photo to enhance composition is a key step in the editing workflow.
Tone curve adjustments can add contrast and are a personal preference in editing.
Color calibration is an effective way to edit colors, with the ability to boost primary colors.
Color grading can tint highlights and mid-tones for a warmer or cooler look.
HSL adjustments allow fine-tuning of color saturation and luminance for specific colors in the photo.
Sharpening the image with the Detail panel brings out clarity and detail.
Adding a subtle vignette to a photo can enhance its visual appeal.
Lens Corrections and Transform are used less frequently and can be skipped if not needed.
Local masking can enhance specific areas of the photo, such as sunlight or areas of interest.
The Adjustment Brush can be used to bring out detail and texture in specific parts of the photo.
Cleaning up the photo by removing sensor spots or distractions is the final step in the workflow.
Using the Visualize Spots button helps identify and fix potential issues in the photo.
Squarespace is recommended for website and e-commerce needs, with professional portfolio designs and online store features.
The 250,000 subscriber giveaway includes a complete Nissi filter kit worth almost a thousand dollars.
The winner of the giveaway is Mark Wilkins, who will receive the Nissi filter kit.
The video provides a comprehensive workflow applicable to any photograph for beginners in Lightroom or photo editing.