Media department.

Photo Editing Workflow Tutorial

Trainer: Mr. Sam Odhiambo
Photo Editing Workflow
If you’ve been practicing photography for a while now, you’ve probably
developed some system for post-processing your images. Of course, it’s always
great to get the shot perfect in-camera, but since that doesn’t always happen,
having a straightforward, streamlined post-processing workflow can save both
time and headaches.  The exact workflow process will vary from photographer
to photographer, and sometimes even from image to image, yet there is a
sequence that, if followed, will not only streamline your editing process, but also
help avoid losing valuable pixel data (if you’re shooting with jpegs).

What Photo Editing Software Should I Use?

These days just about any photo-editing software will have the basic
adjustments available, but if you’re looking for full functionality, Adobe
Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, and Capture One are still the industry standards.
If you don’t have access to one of these programs, you can always check out the
array of free photo editing tools out there. Whichever program you choose,
make sure that you always make a backup of your original (unless you’re using a
program like Lightroom, which doesn’t make any changes to the original image).

Shooting In RAW
If you want to become serious about your photography, shooting in RAW is the
only way to go. RAW is the file format your camera produces an image in before
it gets compressed. Once it gets compressed you lose some of the data, so
working in RAW is the only way to be able to edit with all the data on the table. 
Almost any modern DSLR will have a RAW option, and even a few Point-and-
Shoots. You’ll need one of the above programs for post-processing (or
GIMP/Photoscape if you’re using free software), but the difference in editing
capacity and photo quality is well worth it. You’ll also have more freedom in your

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post-processing workflow – the adjustment order becomes much more critical
when working in jpeg’s, where it’s much easier to lose data.

The Workflow Order

As mentioned above, while there is no “one-size-fits-all” workflow – the process

will vary depending on the software you’re using, the needs of the photos(s), etc.
– there is a sequence that works well in most cases, and, if you’re working with
jpeg’s, will help you minimize data loss. (If you’re working with Lightroom, order
is still important if you want a faster workflow.  Doing a lens correction first and
then returning to basic editing can slow the program down substantially.) 
Programs specifically intended for post-processing will even provide you with an
order that works best for them (i.e. Lightroom), but the process below can work
for just about any program. It goes as follows:

1. Framing: Straighten and Crop

Though there are a number of photographers who start their workflow with
white balance, for me it makes more sense to start with any obvious
cropping/straightening, mostly because my lens corrections don’t tend to affect
the orientation of my photos too extremely.  If you’re working in a program that
doesn’t offer lens corrections, now is the perfect time to straighten out your
scene, level the horizon, etc.  In Lightroom makes straightening a simple process
indeed. providing a grid and a slider that rotates the image for you:

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Note: If you know your lens tends to have distortion issues and you’re working in a
program that can adjust it, this step should be moved to after lens corrections, since
those corrections correction can often change your photo substantially.

2. White Balance

If you’ve been taking photos for a while, you’re probably already aware of the
importance of setting the proper white balance in camera. That doesn’t mean
we’ll always get it right (especially with all the options for indoor lighting offered
on today’s modern DSLR’s), not does it mean your camera, when set on auto, will
always get it right (particularly in situations like shooting in the snow, etc.). Lucky
for us, just about every editing program offers some means of white balance
adjustment, and if you’ve been shooting in RAW, there’s no harm done.Most
programs offering white balance adjustment allow you to pick a “target neutral”
with an eye dropper-looking instrument. Target neutral is something that, if the
white balance were set correctly, would show up as a neutral gray. If you’re
looking at values, they should all be pretty much the same, but it’s easier to look
for something that would normally up light gray and click on that. Also, for best
accuracy, you’ll want to choose something somewhat bright (snow, paper, a
white shirt, etc.), but not so bright that any of the channels are clipped. Check for
this both before and after clicking.

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3.  Exposure
Next to White Balance, Exposure is probably the most common adjustment
you’ll need to make. You might think that shooting in Auto will save you
exposure headaches, but there are a number of common situations that can
fool your in-camera meter. If you’re shooting in manual, you’re even more likely
to need an exposure adjustment now and again. Sometimes this will be a simple
thing – programs like Photoshop and Lightroom have an “automatic” adjustment
that sometimes hits it spot on. (The auto adjustment in Photoshop is only
changes the levels, but Lightroom combines levels with exposure in auto.) Other
times you’ll have to play around with the setting to get exactly the look you were
going for.

4. Contrast  (Clarity/Levels/Curves, etc.)

Your contrast adjustment can really make or break your photo. If you haven’t
already adjusted the levels in your exposure adjustment (i.e. if you were using
Lightroom), now is your time to take that on. If you’re using a program that

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allows you to adjust the clarity, this is great adjustment for a variety of photos.
(Often, if there’s no cropping, my workflow to this point is simply a quick
exposure check and a clarity adjustment.)

Though it’s difficult to see at this size image, if you look carefully at the photos
below, you’ll see much more detail showing on the one to the right. That’s the
effect of raising the clarity.

5. Saturation/Vibrance/Other Color Corrections

Although it’s true that most photos could use a slight boost in saturation,
vibrance, etc. it’s also true that these adjustments are often overdone, and
frequently aren’t even necessary if white balance, exposure and contrast have all
been properly set.

Saturation adjusts the intensity of all colors in your image, regardless of the

starting point of the colors. Bump it up slightly and you get deeper, richer colors
across the board. Go too far (which is easy to do) and you can get clipping (loss
of detail in areas which have been oversaturated) and, in portraits, the over
saturation of skin tones creating an unnatural color cast. Reducing the
saturation uniformly mutes the colors. Go all the way down and your
photograph will turn into black and white (though if you’re looking to create a
black and white image, this isn’t the best way). (In some programs you can adjust

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the saturation point of the different colors individually. This can create some
interesting color effects when used judiciously.)

Vibrance, on the other hand, only adjusts the intensity of the more muted
colors in your photo, and leaves the already well-saturated colors alone. It’s sort
of like fill light, but for colors. Unlike saturation, bumping up vibrance levels
won’t over-saturate your skin tones.

In the photo on the left has no adjustments.  The photo on the right has a
vibrance  of +45.  Notice that the effects are subtle, yet noticeable – the colors
are definitely richer.

Of these two, the photo on the left is again, neutral.  The photo on the right, however,
has a saturation adjustment of +45. Notice how the skin tones are blown out and how
everything has an orange cast to it.

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6. Detail: Local Sharpening

Once you’ve gone through the steps above, you can now go for localized
sharpening.  (Since sharpening, in particular, can cause a Jpeg to lose data, it
really shouldn’t be done sooner.)  Some program will have a sliders with their
sharpening option – Amount, Radius, Detail, and Masking – and though you can
always play around with them to see their effect, it’s helpful to know what they
do.

Amount refers to the overall strength of the sharpening being

applied.The Radius slider controls the size of the radius around which the
sharpening is applied.  The larger this slider the bigger the radius around which
sharpening will be applied.Detail controls how much sharpening will take place
along the edges in your photo.Masking masks out solid or similar color regions,
so that only the edges get sharpened.

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Remember, this step is only for detail and localized sharpening, not overall
photo sharpening, so don’t get carried away.  That comes almost last (you want
to have the majority of your adjustments done before the final sharpening).

7.  Noise Reduction

Noise Reduction follows sharpening, because sharpening will often add more
noise to your photo.  Shooting in low light situations and/or with high ISO’s will
also cause add noise to your photos.  Depending upon your software, you can
reduce noise here and now (if your software allows it), or, if you’re moving over
to another program, reduce the noise afterwards.The photo below is before
noise correction:

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8.  Lens Corrections

Depending upon your lens and what setting your shooting at, your photo may
have some level of distortion, vignetting, and/or chromatic aberrations. 
Lightroom and Photoshop correct for this, but be aware, the corrections don’t
always look better, especially if you’re using a wide angle lens and/or are
intending a certain effect.  Also, some level of vignetting is at times welcome, as
it can place more emphasis on the subject of your photo.  Either way, if you’re
using this Lightroom, be sure not to do it before doing the basic editing.  If you
do, it may very well slow down Lightroom’s processing. (It’s placed near the
bottom for a reason!)

9. Final Framing: Rotate and Crop

Now that your lens corrections are done, you can perform your final
straightening and cropping.

10. Refinements: selective enhancements

This is your time to make whatever changes you want to the subject matter of
your photo.  This includes spot removal, shadow/highlight adjustment, filters,

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etc. I prefer to do my enhancements in Photoshop and usually migrate over to
there at this point. If you do move to Photoshop and are working with Jpeg’s,
make sure to work off a layer copy – not the original.

Below is an example of using the healing brush in Photoshop.  Notice how the
spots on her arms and on her face have been removed naturally.

11. Final Sharpening

Once the enhancements are done you’re free to do your final sharpening. Some
people prefer to do this after their final resizing, but for me, since I’m more often
making my images smaller, I prefer to do it now.  Reverse these last two steps if,
for some reason, you’ll be making your image larger.

12. Resizing

This is when you would enlarge for a print or downsize for the web or email. 
Personally, I edit in the largest size possible so that I’m working with all the color
information RAW affords me.

Summing Up The Process

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So that’s it – post-processing workflow in a nutshell. If you would like to find a
class that teaches beginners how to edit photos, take a look at our
recommended courses for basic photo editing. Equally, If you’re using a different
flow or have questions/comments on this one, let us know!

All images copyright Teryani Riggs 2014 and used by permission.

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