Photoshop for Idiots. Tip 1: Exposure correction.

[Lyrt]

Let’s start a “Photoshop for idiots” series. Feel free to contribute. The rules are pretty simple: all the tips explained must be idiot-proof and take 30 seconds. For professional Photoshoppers: I am aware there are infinite ways to correct a photograph, to do fine tuning and whatnot, but the goal here is to explain to neophytes and people who don’t want to spend hours on a photograph how they can improve it quickly and post nice SOTD.

For those who already know these tips, don’t laugh. We have all been newbies at some point.

Exposure correction

This tip has quite possibly the best ease/efficiency ratio. Open an image with Photoshop



Image => Adjustments => Auto Levels



Magic.



Every imaging program has some sort of tool for exposure correction. Here’s an example with ACDsee:




Beware, sometimes, it does not correct your photo, it completely reinterprets it: