Using the Spot Healing Brush

Part of Photoshop is the Spot Healing Brush (Keyboard Shortcut "J").  It can be set up to act like the Content Aware function on a smaller scale.  Functions something like a clone tool but easier to use.

Here's an image that I shot recently.  What I didn't notice was that she has a bandage from some immunizations that she just got since she was going away to college.

 

 

In the days before the Spot Healing Brush, I would just use the Clone Tool to remove the bandage.  Now, I just select the Spot Healing Brush, make the size of the brush a little larger than the bandage,

then click on the mouse.  The brush will darken to show you where it's applying the action,

Then voila! No bandage.

This is the final image.  And I used the same Spot Healing Brush to smooth out the sand where the arrows are pointing to.

Before

 

After.

HTH

Making a so so image look a lot better

I recently had to photograph a family under very challenging circumstances.  Weeds, distracting background, bright light, threat of rain.  Here's the SOOC image.

First thing was to open Adobe Bridge to correct the exposure and contrast.  I depend a lot on the Histogram to determine how far to go.

First thing to do is look at the Histogram (Red Arrow) and use the sliders (Blue Arrow) to get rigd of the flare and adjust the exposure.

To get the darkened edges, I use the FX tool in Bridge (Red Arrow) and make the adjustment using the slider (dark arrow) until I get the effect I need.  I tend to have a light touch when doing this as when I want a darker look, I'd rather use the Adjustment Brush.

To get a darker background, I use the Adjustment Brush (Red Arrow) and adjust the darkness by using the slider and paint the area I want darkened.  It's easier to use this and it's relatively quick and if you make a mistake, it's a simple matter to start all over again.

Now that the exposure adjustments are made, I open in image in Photoshop and start working on the background.  If there are straight lines, I tend to use the Spot Healing Brush.  You zoom in on the item, make sure the brush covers the area then paint.

The resulting image is this.  It still needs cleaning up so I might do smaller areas the second time around or use a clone tool or the Content Aware function.

To use the Content Aware Tool, I use the Marquee tool to select the area I want filled taking care to not select an area that I want remaining the same.

Once you have the marching ants, you use the <Edit> <Fill> <Content Aware> command and Photoshop will fill in the area with what's in the surrounding area.  You may have to do this more than once selecting smaller areas each time.

Eventually after some further work in the other areas of the image, You'll end up with your final image.

Go for it!

Two reasons why you should consider shooting in RAW

First of all it's easier to adjust for exposure in case it was over or under exposed.

To correct for the exposure, it's a simple matter of moving the exposure scale over a bit.

Then you can also adjust for color balance.  You know those shots taken in the house with tungsten light that looks really orange?

Just a simple movement of the color balance slider to correct for off color.

This is what the Raw Adjustment box looks like in Elements.

The blue arrow adjusts color temperature and the red arrow adjust exposure.  The Elements version is limited as to what else it can do but it'll serve your purpose.  It'll automatically open when you try to open a RAW (CR2) file.  If you want to experiment, shoot some images and RAW and see how those are adjusted in Elements.

Creating a background, border, & signature on a large image from scratch

When you have an image that is not a standard size, how does one create a border (mat) around it along with a copyright notice?  Here's the procedure:

Open your image file

To maintain consistency, make sure the ppi is set to 300 by going to <Image> <Resize> <Image Size> and set the PPI (pink arrow) to 300 BUT before you do that, UNCHECK the Resample Box (green arrow).  Click OK.

Now your image is set to 300 ppi.  For the screen it's not an issue but when you print it out, it's important.  Now we're going to make the Background (on the Layer's Palette - pink arrow) into a Layer.  Just double click on the Background and the Layer's menu pops up (pink outline).  Just click OK.

Next, we're going to ADD a layer ABOVE the image.  Click on the Icon (pink arrow) and a New Layer will appear above the image (green arrow).

Next, we're going to increase the Canvas Size.  Click on <Image> <Resize> <Canvas Size> and click on the Relative Box (blue arrow) and insert a size Horizontal and Vertical.  In this case it's .75 (3/4) inch for this image.  This size may vary depending on the original size of your image.

Now you should have a transparent border around the image.  Making sure the top layer is selected,  Now we're going to add a stroke (line) around the image on the outer border.  <Select> <All> (CRTL A) and you should have marching ants around the outer border of the image.  Go to <Edit> <Stroke>

select the INNER stroke, your color and the size.  I used 16 pixels for this one. Click OK.  Now you'll have a border around the outer edge of the image.  Make sure the upper layer is selected (pink arrow).

Now we need to add a bottom layer.  Make sure your image layer is selected (pink arrow) then click on the icon at the top that looks like a page (blue arrow) while HOLDING DOWN THE APPLE KEY.  Holding down the key while you click on the icon is kinda critical as it'll put a new layer UNDER the image layer (green arrow).

Next, make sure you've selected the bottom layer (pink arrow) and change the Canvas Size again and <Edit> <Fill> the layer with whatever color you want (in this case White). 

Now you can put your text layer.  It's easier if you zoom in and you should make sure that the top layer (pink arrow) is selected.

Add and position the text you want on the image.  The size you use will depend on the font file that you use.

Position the text to your liking then select the stroke layer (pink arrow), select the Rectangular Marquee tool and select the area of the border you want to delete (pink box).

Once you're happy with the selection, hit the Delete (or backspace) key to remove the border.

If you're happy with the result, Flatten the image and save it to your HD in a different folder.

 End of today's lesson.  If you think you're going to make changes later, save it as a layered .PSD file which will allow you to make edits without starting over.

Borders - How to fit an image into a specifid print size

If you have a specific print size you want to output, here's how to create the canvas and make your image fit into it.

Open an image and activate the rulers.  <View> <Rulers>  Now you know what the size of your image is.  For output, it's best to be at the default 300 ppi.

Create the end document.  In this case you go <File> <New> and make your document.  In this case it's 8" high x 10" wide @ 300 ppi.  It'll appear on your desktop in a separate window.

Go back to your original image and <Edit> <Select All> (shortcut is CRTL-A) (for the Mac it's <Apple-A>) 

Then <Edit> <Copy>

Select the New Document (the 8x10 one) and <Edit> <Paste>.  If you are working with the original file out of the camera, then it should be bigger than the 8x10 document.

How to make the image fit?  Go to <Image> <Transform> <Free Transform>.  There should be a square box on the corner.  Since the image is larger than the box and you can't see the other size of the transform boxes, you can either make the image smaller or....

Use <View> <Fit on Screen> (Apple-0 (zero)) and all the boxes will be in view.

Click on the box in the lower right corner, HOLD THE SHIFT KEY DOWN, and click and drag the box until the image size is reduced to the size that you want in the box.  If you do NOT hold the shift key down, the image will get distorted.  Holding the Shift Key down, will maintain the aspect ratio.

Once it's size to your satisfaction, click in the photo someplace and move the image to where you want it placed in the box.. 

Once you're happy with the placement, you can either double click in the box OR hit the enter key and then you can start applying the background color and whatever else you want to do.

Adding a border with Elements 11

When going stuff in Photoshop or Elements, there's probably at least 10 different ways to do the same thing.  This is one quick way to add a border and a borderline to an image.

First, open the image in Elements.  Select the "Expert" level (purple arrow) and open the Layers Window (Window, Layers on top menu).

Double click on the Layers menu on the Background layer (pink arrow).  You'll see the pop up box that says Layer 0.  Click OK.  Now your background is a useable Layer.

Next, click the New Layer button (Pink arrow) and a Layer 1 will appear above Layer 0 (green arrow).

Next, move the Layer 1 BELOW Layer 0.

Layer 1 is where you're going to put your background Color.

Next we need to expand the Canvas to create the Frame (Border).

You go to <Image> <Resize> <Canvas Size> and a menu will appear.  You can either specify the Canvas Size or add a specific border size around the image (which is what was done in this case).

You click the "Relative" box and input the Border width that you want.  Click OK and you'll have a new border around the image.

To add the border color, you Select Layer 1 (just click on it) and go to <Edit> <Fill Layer>.  You can preselect the Foreground and Background Color (pink arrow) by clicking on it and a color menu will pop up and just click the color you want and click OK.  You can select a Foreground or Background Color or select a Custom Color.  Then Click OK and the Layer 1 will be filled with that color.

Next, select the image layer (Layer 0) and go to <Edit> <Stroke Selection>, select the color of the outline and the width and click OK.

If you did everything right and you want to save the image, you need to "flatten" the image otherwise you may not be able to save it as a Jpeg.  You can either right click on Layer 0 or Layer 1 and select "Flatten Image" or on the upper Menu, select <Layer> <Flatten Image>

Have fun.