Digital Imaging Basics

For several years I did not even know what the word workflow meant (as it pertained to digital photography).  And then I started to focus on the word 'workflow' that I was seeing in so many posts in the newsgroups.  I became aware.  I studied and learned and implemented.  A digital workflow is an important investment in your digital future.  Make the investment...and make it wisely.

I offer this basic workflow to my students so that they have some sort of roadmap through the steps of optimizing an image for either print or email.

I teach in a classroom that is furnished with some nice high end Dell desktop machines with LCD monitors.  The digital imaging program that is installed is Photoshop Elements 2, an old antique of a program...and yet still very capable.  I also like the fact that students can pick this program up for $10-$20.

So here goes....

• Understand your camera.  Capture your images.
• Transfer the images to your computer using a card reader.
• Save the images on the computer logically and mark them "read only".  These images are your negatives. They are valuable and need to be protected (not to mention backed up).

And now for the Photoshop Elements 2 (in RED) and Photoshop Elements 6 (in BLUE) specific steps.
Note that the Bold Red & Blue words are actual Photoshop Elements menu commands:

1. Open your image file:
   File, Open
   File, Open
2. Rotate the image if it needs to be rotated:
   Image, Rotate
   Image, Rotate
3. Crop the image if it is to be cropped. 
   Use the Crop tool
   Use the Crop tool
4. Adjust levels
   Enhance, Brightness & Contrast, Levels
   Enhance, Adjust Lighting, Levels
5. Adjust Brightness and Contrast
   Enhance, Brightness & Contrast, Brightness/Contrast
   Enhance, Lighting, Brightness/Contrast
6. Adjust Curves
   Unavailable in Elements 2
    Enhance, Adjust Color, Adjust Color Curves
7. Adjust Hue and Saturation
   Enhance, Adjust Color, Hue-Saturation
   Enhance, Adjust Color, Adjust Hue-Saturation
8. Do Creative sharpening now.  Don't sharpen the entire image now...just details that you really care about...for example 'eyes'.
   Use the Sharpen brush.
   Use the Sharpen brush.
9. While you are doing creative Sharpening, take a moment to do some Creative Blurring if you want...for example facial blemishes.
   Use the Blur brush.
   Use the Blur brush.
10. Now it is time for a decision.  If you have done a lot of work on this image and think you may someday use it again, save it now in .psd format into a sub folder called "Optimized".
    File, Save As  (properly name the file and chose the .psd file type).
    File, Save As  (properly name the file and chose the .psd file type).
11. Resize the image to the size required.  For electronic display such as for email, I recommend 450 pixels on the longest side, 72 pixels per inch resolution (ppi).  For print resize to the proper dimension in inches at 300 ppi.
    Image, Resize, Image Size
    Image, Resize, Image Size
12. Sharpen the resized image.  Remember to view at 100% magnification so that you can see what you are doing.
    Filter, Sharpen, or Sharpen Edges, or Sharpen More
    Enhance, Adjust Sharpness
13. For Electronic display (websites, email, etc)
    File, Save for Web (chose .jpeg and Quality '50'), then click Save, browse for the proper file location to save the image to, properly name the image (20061114_DSCN_Bowser) and click 'Save'.
    For Print (desktop printers, offset print, etc)
    File, Save As (choose .tif file type), browse for the proper file location to save the image to, properly name the image (20061114_DSCN2345_LakeHodgesEastShore) and click 'Save'

That's all there is too it!  Learn to follow this workflow religiously. Be precise.  As time flows modify this workflow to suit your own needs.  Modify it carefully.  Understand what you are adding or changing.  A workflow is a necessary investment.  Invest carefully.