To help support the PhotoImpact community, I have produced a few tutorials which may help newcomers to digital photography with basic techniques for editing and improving photos. The tutorials were produced with versions 8, 10, or 11 but many of the techniques, unless stated otherwise, are available on earlier versions of PI. If you do not have a copy of PhotoImpact, but would like to try it out, trial versions (usually lasting 30 days) are available for download at Ulead Systems Website. Ulead have also produced a number of PI tutorials which you may wish to check out. I hope you find my tutorials useful. Phil Preston.
RAW files and 24/48 bit images
PhotoImpact supports RAW files from popular digital camera formats, and enables parameter settings such as white balance or exposure compensation adjustment before saving to TIFF or UFO files. Additionally, PhotoImpact 11 now supports 48 bit image editing and processing (16 bits per R,G,B channel) which gives more colours and smoother tonal gradations than 24 bit images (8 bits per R,G,B channel). Users wishing to obtain highest possible quality and minimal loss during photo editing should consider using 48bit conversions from RAW files.
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Posted by Webmaster at 09:35 PM | Comments (0)
High Dynamic Range
Dynamic Range refers to the level of detail from pure white to absolute black that a cameras memory card or film is able to record. Most, if not all, cameras currently available are unable to record such a wide dynamic range, and exposure is subsequently often a compromise based on preferences in the final image. For example, in a landscape scene with a bright sky and deep shadows, you may decide that retaining detail in the sky is more important that recording details in shadow areas, and adjust exposure accordingly. Dynamic range can be partly controlled by use of graduated filters placed in front of the camera lens, but these are relatively expensive and often fiddly to use. A digital alternative to dealing with high dynamic range (HDR) is available using image editing software, and PhotoImpact has a useful HDR toolset. Note: HDR is only available on recent versions of PhotoImpact).
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Posted by Webmaster at 09:22 PM | Comments (0)
Basic Adjustments #1 - Straightening Horizons, Cropping, Adjusting Tonality
Many photographs can be improved considerably with just a few basic adjustments using image editing software. This tutorial shows how to straighten horizons, crop borders, adjust highlights, midtones and shadows. This tutorial was produced with PhotoImpact 8.
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Posted by Webmaster at 06:42 AM | Comments (0)
Basic Adjustments #2 - Levels, Tone Map, and Brightness / Contrast Settings
Photographs that look flat or dull can often be improved significantly with image editing software by adjusting a photos tonal range. PhotoImpact has a number of tools for adjusting tonality and this tutorial gives a brief overview of the Levels, Tone Map, and Brightness/Contrast tools. The tutorial was produced using PhotoImpact 8.
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Posted by Webmaster at 05:30 AM | Comments (0)
Selection Tools #1 - Standard and Lasso Tools
Selection Tools are used to select one or more parts of an image, usually to manipulate the selected area(s) in some way. This is useful, as often, it may be necessary to apply a filter or effect to just part of an image, rather than the whole. For example, you may wish to adjust brightness, contrast, or colour, within selected areas. Alternatively, you may want to copy part of one image into a completely different image. To do these things successfully, its helpful to know what selection tools are available, and which are best suited to the required task. This tutorial, gives an overview of the Standard and Lasso tools. Additional selection tools are covered in other tutorials. This tutorial was produced with PhotoImpact 8.
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Posted by Webmaster at 07:38 PM | Comments (0)
Selection Tools #2 - Bezier Curve, Magic Wand and Colour Range Tools
This tutorial continues from Selection Tools #1, and gives an overview of the Bezier Curve, Magic Wand and Colour Range selection tools. This tutorial was produced using PhotoImpact 8.
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Posted by Webmaster at 07:04 PM | Comments (0)
Selection Tools #3 - Mask Mode, and Saving Selections
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Posted by Webmaster at 07:58 PM | Comments (0)
Selection Tools #4 - Extracting Objects
Extract Objects is an additional selection tool introduced with PhotoImpact 10. Details of other selection tools, also available on earlier versions of PhotoImpact, are covered in selection tutorials #1, #2 and #3.
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Posted by Webmaster at 12:58 PM | Comments (0)
Colour Adjustment - Hue and Saturation, Colour Adjustment, Colour Replacement and Colour Balance Tools
One of the benefits of image editing programs such as PhotoImpact is the opportunity for fine tuning colour on photographs. This is a very useful feature to give that 'finishing touch' to well composed and exposed photos. PhotoImpact has a number of ways to adjust colour, ranging from simple pre set effects to more sophisticated controls. Some of the most useful controls are shown in this tutorial. The tutorial was produced using PhotoImpact 8, but earlier and later versions having the same tools can also be used.
Posted by Webmaster at 10:21 PM | Comments (0)
Enhancing Portrait Skin Tones - Diffuse Glow and Flatten Uneven Areas Filters
| PhotoImpact 8 introduced two new filter effects, Flatten Uneven Areas and Diffuse Glow, that combine well for enhancing portrait photographs. The effects produce a soft, smooth finish to the skin, with nice highlights. This tutorial was produced with PhotoImpact 8, but is also applicable to later versions. |
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Posted by Webmaster at 07:46 PM | Comments (0)
Convert Colour Photos to Black and White
There are a number of ways that colour photos can be changed to black and white with image editing software. The easiest options are converting a file to Greyscale, or using the Hue and Saturation tool to desaturate an image. Although these options are quick and easy, PhotoImpact's Calculation Tool often gives a better final image.
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Posted by Webmaster at 07:47 PM | Comments (0)
Resizing Images
There are occasions when its necessary to change the dimensions of an image so its more suitable for the intended use. For example, reducing an image from a 6 megapixel camera to fit on a website, or for emailing to friends. Alternatively, you may have an image from a 2 megapixel camera but want a larger sized print than usual. The word used to describe the process of resizing an image is 'Resampling', and while it may sound a little complicated, its actually quite easy to do with image editing software such as PhotoImpact.
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Posted by Webmaster at 08:21 PM | Comments (0)
Batch Manager - Apply Commands to Multiple Files
PhotoImpact has a number of tools to speed up photo editing tasks, one of which is Batch Manager. Using this tool can help reduce editing time if you want to apply the same tasks and settings to a number of different photos.
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Posted by Webmaster at 04:59 PM | Comments (0)
