Notes *12: Replace Background
Once you have selected part of your image, you can inverse the selection and delete the background. I find this especially useful with pictures of flowers or objects you want to isolate and make stand out. I find I use the gradient much of the time. A solid fill works well, a pattern or something from another image. The thing is you don’t have to except the picture as recorded by the camera. Who said pictures don’t lie.
Notes *13: Sharpen Image
Sharpening as used in Photoshop is the increase in contrast where there is a sharp change in Tone. As the image is worked on and the pixels are recalculated the contrast tends to diminish and the image takes on a soft appearance. This is why sharpening should be the last step in the editing process. The appearance of sharpening is purely visual. If the image has been taken with a lens that is not properly focused or the subject is blurred because of a slow shutter speed, the sharpening filter will be of no help.
I find that with my camera, one click, sometimes two (the effect is cumulative) of the Quick Fix focus button, gives me what I am looking for. For some images an exaggerated sharpening effect can enhance the image. For this situation I use the Unsharp Mask Filter. I have found that setting the Amount between 100% and 200% and the Threshold to 0 (zero) levels, then adjust the Radius until I have what I am looking for. There are no clear cut rules, each image will require its own trial and error approach.
Notes *14: Saving your Files
When you are finished with an editing session or with an image you must decided where and how to save it. I find that Apple’s Image Capture works as well or better then anything else I have tried for downloading the camera files.
I set up a Descriptive Folder for a set pictures, such as - 2003.7 Family Vacation.
Inside the Descriptive Folder I place another folder called Originals. All of the original camera images go in this folder. I then batch process the file names to 2003.7 Family Vacation 01.jpg, etc.
When I am ready to edit the photographs, I open the Original and do what is needed. When I am finished I do a Save As to the Descriptive Folder. Now I have the original file and an edited copy.
I only concern myself with 3 file formats. .jpg. .tif, .psd.
If I have edited the picture for use on the net or to send in e-mail I save it as .jpg. You will have to flatten the layers in the file before you can use the .jpg format.
The .tif format is the most universal, if you are giving the file to someone and are uncertain about their ability to open it, a .tif file is the safest way to go.
If I have not finished with a file, or anticipate multiple uses for it, save the file as a .psd (Photoshop format) The files are big, but everything is saved and when you go back to work, it is all there just as you left it.