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 05/19/2007 09:57:24 PM · #1
For a Basic Editing challenge, and using Photoshop Elements, I'm curious how you might order the following steps:

A. Sensor Dust/Hot Pixels
B. Crop
C. Rotate
D. Convert to Black and White
E. Hue/Saturation Layer
F. Levels Layer
G. Curves (1)
H. Flatten
I. Unsharp Mask
J. Gaussian Blur

K. Resize (2)
L. Save For Web

(1) In Elements, can Curves be done in its own adjustment layer? How? I've been doing it through Enhance/Adjust Color/Curves on the original image.
(2) Is Resize needed if I'm saving for the web? I see Save For Web has a resize option.

Please insert your own steps if they're a regular post-processing task for you. I'm interested in learning!

Message edited by author 2007-05-19 21:58:10.
 05/19/2007 10:00:01 PM · #2
That all depends on the individual image.
 05/19/2007 10:03:31 PM · #3
rotate
crop
if going b&W then convert to black and white
shadow/highlights(sometimes)
levels
clone out dust/hot pixels
resize
usm
add a border(usually)
save for web

I dont generally use curves
or flatten in basic
I don't knwo anything about elements though. sorry. and I always resize first. I haven't tried it when I save for web. I think after you resize you need to sharpen for the best outcome, if you resized in save for web you cant do one last sharpening.

Hope that helps.
 05/19/2007 10:05:08 PM · #4
Originally posted by Judi:
That all depends on the individual image.


I agree. my list was based on what I would most likely do, in general. but each situation is different.
 05/19/2007 10:10:08 PM · #5
Rotate
Crop
Convert to Black and White
Hue/Saturation Layer
Levels Layer
Curves
Flatten
Sensor Dust/Hot Pixels
Unsharp Mask
Gaussian Blur

Resize
(Unsharp Mask)
Save

There is no need to Save for Web if you have already resized and Save for Web eleminates the possibility to sharpen after resizing. Resizing takes away sharpness, so it is always good to sharpen after. Unless however you are using gaussian blur. I don't see the need to sharpen at all when your going to blur the image anyways.
 05/19/2007 10:13:57 PM · #6
I haven't figured out why you are using the Gaussian blur...

I use it from time to time and then fade it for a soft-focus effect. But it's not something I'd use on every photo.
 05/19/2007 10:17:02 PM · #7
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
I haven't figured out why you are using the Gaussian blur...

I use it from time to time and then fade it for a soft-focus effect. But it's not something I'd use on every photo.


Only ones where you want to hide certain things...lmao!!
 05/19/2007 10:19:12 PM · #8
Originally posted by Judi:
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
I haven't figured out why you are using the Gaussian blur...

I use it from time to time and then fade it for a soft-focus effect. But it's not something I'd use on every photo.


Only ones where you want to hide certain things...lmao!!


True :-)
 05/20/2007 10:45:55 PM · #9
Originally posted by jaded_youth:
Originally posted by Judi:
That all depends on the individual image.


I agree. My list was based on what I would most likely do, in general. but each situation is different.


Thanks for the feedback. I agree every image is different, but I think most of us at least initially approach post-processing with some predetermined sequence of events in mind. That's what I was after here.

I think also that there are some general rules that never get broken. For instance, USM is always last. But what does that mean? -- after flatten and resize or before (since those are also final steps)? And levels/curves seems to come after any hue/saturation work. Is there also mostly a consensus on that?

Yes, I know it's art, so whatever work for you or me or the photograph is what wins. I'm just looking for a good starting point and some very basic rules.

Thanks again!
05/20/2007 10:52:35 PM · #10
For basic editing I tend to do all of the non-destructive parts first in other words the adjustment layers that don't contain pixel information. I do that because sometimes if I'm darkening an image via adjustment layers it may effect how I ultimately crop or rotate it. Noise reduction is probably the only except to that.
 05/20/2007 11:18:13 PM · #11
Originally posted by bvy:
And levels/curves seems to come after any hue/saturation work. Is there also mostly a consensus on that?



I usually do curves before sat adjustments because they affect the saturation. Am I doing it wrong?
 05/21/2007 12:22:07 AM · #12
Originally posted by bvy:
For a Basic Editing challenge, and using Photoshop Elements, I'm curious how you might order the following steps:


C. Rotate (and duplicate BG layer... work on duplicate layer only)
A. Sensor Dust/Hot Pixels
F. Levels Layer
G. Curves (1)
E. Hue/Saturation Layer
D. Convert to Black and White
(followed by Levels, Curves and/or selective color adjustments for BW tonality adjustments)
H. Flatten
B. Crop
K. Resize
I. Unsharp Mask
L. Save For Web

Don't know about this one, but probably near end if it is needed at all:
J. Gaussian Blur

Message edited by author 2007-05-21 00:24:56.
 05/21/2007 12:33:15 AM · #13
Originally posted by bvy:
...I think also that there are some general rules that never get broken. For instance, USM is always last. But what does that mean? -- after flatten and resize or before (since those are also final steps)? And levels/curves seems to come after any hue/saturation work. Is there also mostly a consensus on that?
...


as stated by jaded_youth...
Originally posted by jaded_youth:
I think after you resize you need to sharpen for the best outcome, if you resized in save for web you cant do one last sharpening.


If you USM then resize or crop you basically just undid your sharpening. Might as well USM on an image that is done, that way you KNOW it is not going to changed by anything else. And it is usually just before you save. I personally don't flatten either, I save one as a PSD first, then save as jpg and it will flatten for you.

It's pretty much the same for all the steps, if you do saturation/hue first then do levels you are kind of overriding what you did to the saturation level. Do it once the way you usually do, then within your layers reverse the order of them and see what happens (if anything). You may be surprised.

edit cause I don't speak type to good

Message edited by author 2007-05-21 00:34:29.
 05/21/2007 12:46:40 AM · #14
I always save my cropping for near the end. I'd hate to rethink my cropping and have to redo all my post-crop steps on a differently-cropped version. When I get to the point where I am cropping, I do a save-as and add "crop" to the filename.

Sharpening should pretty much always be the last thing you do before adding the border (if you use one), except there's a difference between "input sharpening" and "output sharpening". If you are working from RAW (which I doubt OP is), then you need to do input sharpening right out of the box, 'cuz the image is not sharpened at all. If you are working from JPG, you set a sharpening level in the camera, and that is your input sharpening. Output sharpening involves fine tuning the image for its display size, and should be done after resizing as a rule.

R.
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