Combining Tools and Techniques for Photo Retouching

Ever since digital imaging was introduced, photo retouching has been used for various purposes. Whether the pictures are old or have just been shot, they reach the photo editor’s desk. There is nothing morally wrong in the process. Not only the tools but the techniques also go a long way in the final result.

While the same tools are available to all editors in an online studio, few come out with flying colors. So what sets them apart? Their understanding of the technique is often cited as the main reason. And this comes only with years of experience. So photo retouching isn’t bad and can be of a good quality too. When a bulk order comes, it may not be necessary that each image needs the same kind of retouching. Some of the ways that are being used these days are setting lights, controlling folders, bright eye retouch, skin retouching (very popular), aligning layers, controlling paleness and over exposure etc. An editor takes one look and knows what has to be done.

Often photographers take shots and the editor of a print magazine would like to change the landscape behind. How often photo retouching involves background removal. Definite use of the right colors and shades can make the retouch technique unique. This is one way one editor may have an edge over his rival. There are several tutorials on removal of background that can be studied at leisure. It can be bookmarked as reference for future photo retouching when needed. Backgrounds changes are often are the best ways to create a dual visual impact when the image is printed. Many print magazines have simultaneous online editions. This calls for sharper use of photo retouching methods. The print version might have a different quality then the web version.

When the editor also has to consider the online presentation then photo retouching has to be more sensitive. Hence some images may require the folder control. Some images may require demanding and definite changes. If there are many layers then expanding the folders may be needed. Both versions may require different techniques; however the tools may just is the same! In newly shot pictures, when photo retouching is done, it also changes the gradient ration. Paying attention to this facet can help the editing process. There are many color patches that can be scanned before using. The layers can be adjusted accordingly then. Where this can be used? Perhaps when a color shot needs a sepia tone or a vintage look, while the rest of the composition is in color. It has a pretty dramatic effect. So there is really nothing wrong in photo retouching. It only adds to the quality to the overall look.

Several photo editors have done skin photo retouching of many kinds. It could be the facial features or the body toning. Many supermodels have portfolios done and this may be a requirement. Advertising agencies ask for this service almost every month. Skin treatment is done in many ways. This may offer a thin line of morality while presenting the final result. The original person may not be anywhere close to the perfection of the photo. So avoid this problhem it is best to bring a near ideal result rather than make the photo retouching too perfect. Some faults and blemishes are just fine.

Understanding Photography Manipulation and Its Ethical Applications

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When professional editors adopted photo manipulation, there was a thin line between its usage and actual needs. Now there is more clarity. Every professional needs to know the right way of usage to remain within the law.

Whatever might be the source from which obtained an image you need to process and manipulate it to a certain extent before it is ready for the usage it intends to serve. Whether you obtained it from the web, purchased from a photographer, or clicked it you every image has some digital drawback in it that need to be manually removed by using the means of photography manipulation. It may include a wide range of things like altering the size of the file, the resolution of the photo, contents of the image or just basic color correction. Whatever might be your need, you will need software for achieving it. The choice of software will depend upon your budget and skill of using image-processing software. The complexity of the job at hand should also be kept in mind when you are deciding on software.

The availability of software for this purpose can be categorized into a number of segments. Firstly there are web-based tools, which assist you in performing basic photography manipulation. The tools available on these sites are not of advanced nature but tend to suffice the needs of basic picture manipulation by any user. That would include, photo resizing, file format changing, color correction, etc. In case you are looking for more advanced options like cropping and color scheme alterations and focus shifting you should be looking at software with a client version that can be installed on your computer system. Such software can be further categorized as one’s for professional usage and others for personal usage. The software which are intended for professional usage require high levels of skill on the users part and in most cases professional courses. This software for professional usage usually cost a premium. Examples of such software will be Adobe Photoshop, CorelDraw etc. Software that can be used for personal and unskilled usages include the likes of Picasa, Gimp, etc. This software tends to be simpler and free of any cost or open source.

There are a number of ethics that are involved with image manipulation. Numerous cases have been reported when professionals or individual users have used photo manipulation for distorting truths or demeaning and humiliating other people or just for fun. Photo manipulation has been put to numerous misuses like morphing of celebrity photos or personal photos for purposes like pornography and blackmailing. While using any photography manipulation or morphing software what should be kept in mind by you is that it should not violate the rights and ethics of someone else. Avoid morphing photos of celebrities or pictures that have a copyright on them. Instances when journalists and reporters have manipulated photographs for various purposes are also widely found. These practices are strictly immoral and illegal in most cases. Severe punishment according to a region’s cyber laws can be dished out to violators. So it is best advised that you should be using photography manipulation only as a mean of personal usage, which doesn’t infringe on existing laws.