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This lesson demonstrates the five (basic) steps I always take to optimise our
photographs. To work along exactly, you can download the image I am working with Here - it is the former Smith’s Dock in North Shields, Tyne and Wear. Unzip the file and open it onto Photoshop’s workspace ready to improve.
It is important to follow my steps, consecutively.
Undo and Navigation Steps
Two ways of undoing steps are from the top menu, Edit then Step Backwards. Alternatively, click a previous snapshot in the History Palette.
Navigate (zoom in and pan) your image using the Navigator Palette,
or the Zoom Tool. 
Activate The Hand Tool by tapping the Spacebar, keeping the Spacebar pressed, pan your image in the usual way. 
Note
Photographs will always react uniquely, therefore for personal results, experiment with different filters and commands.
1/
Open your photograph onto Photoshop’s workspace.
2/ Auto Levels
From the top menu choose Image then choose Adjustments then choose Auto Levels.
3/ Auto Contrast
From the top menu, choose Image then Adjustments then Auto Contrast.
The result is slight with this particular image, (above) however, it is a step worth taking - and can provide worthwhile results with photographs that have poor lighting.
Note
I tend to omit the Auto Colour as for me the result is (usually) displeasing. However, it is worth trying. If the result has not improved your image, click Edit then Step Backwards.
4/ Curves
Now, choose Image then Adjustments then Curves. In the subsequent Curves dialogue box, left-click to place two points on the diagonal line. Then gently nudge the right point upwards and the left point downwards. This creates a gentle S curve - as indicated below.
This improved the contrast of my photograph to the following.
Because of the size of my screen capture (below), it is difficult to notice the improvement - you will notice a better result with the photograph you are working with.
5/ Photo Filter
A Photo Filter can warm - or cool, the overall effect of your photographs. Therefore, click Image then Adjustments then choose Photo Filter.
The river water will benefit from a cooling (blue) filter, I am therefore applying the following Cooling Filter (LBB), with a Density of 11%.
 
6/ Sharpening Filter
Finish with a sharpening filter - this is especially important if you have previously resized the photograph. Sharpening Tutorial.
I apply a sharpening filter to all photographs - whether they have been resized, or not.
I applied the following (Smart Sharpen) filter to my Smith’s Dock image. From the top menu choose Filter then choose Sharpen then choose Smart Sharpen. My screen capture here depicts the settings I applied.
And those are the five (basic) steps I take to improve my photographs - to finish, link here to learn how to save your work!
Wendi E M Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
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