- Open the photo, usually by clicking on a file menu > open, or by double-clicking on a file name.
- Make a copy of the photo, and work on the copy. Keep the original safe in case you make "too many" fixes.
- Flip the image if its orientation needs to be changed. How do you know? Look in the direction of the eyes of folks in the folks or at the flow of focal points in the photo; flip the photo so that the eye travel works in the direction you need it to for your overall composition.
- Crop - remove unwanted portions of a photo if you can. Remember, keep it as simple as you can.
- Resize - make a photo larger or smaller, most typically smaller.
- Enhance the photo by adjusting its brightness and contrast, sharpening it if an image looks “soft,” or to correct a color to make the image better.
- Save an image in the file format needed.
- PRINTING: Save your image as a TIFF, Bitmap or high-quality jpeg.
- WEB: Save a photo as a jpeg or gif. You will be given options to adjust the compression level or size. If the compression is set too low, the image will look grainy. If set too high, a photo can take too long to load into a web browser. Usually, anywhere from 72-96 ppi is good for browsers.
- Don't forget the Control + Z button option, or Edit > Undo! During any step in the editing process, if you do not like a change you made, click the “undo” command to go backwards one step.
- For more complicated photo editing,use a program that has layering options.
Last modified: Wednesday, July 8, 2009, 1:20 PM