Now that you've taken all those great pictures, it's time to have some fun with them. And by fun we don't mean removing red-eye or repairing scratches. Photo-editing programs let you play with light, create fantastic effects, and even merge several photos into a single image, resulting in creative masterpieces that will take your digital photos into the realm of art.
Before you begin
First, you'll need some kind of photo-imaging software. They range in price from US $60 to $600, from basic programs that allow you to crop a photo and change brightness, contrast, and color balance to more sophisticated programs (like Adobe Photoshop) that let you edit every pixel. There are also less expensive programs, including Paint Shop Pro and Adobe Photoshop Elements, that give you almost as much editing power.
For best results, you'll want to make sure that you've already cropped and saved your photos at 300 dpi. Be sure to save your files often, and keep original versions of your photos on your hard drive in case you make a mistake or want to revert to an original image.
For more detailed information about photo-editing programs, read Photo-editing possibilities.
Color to black and white
Black-and-white photography often has emotion and depth that you just can't get with color. With photo-imaging software, you can easily convert color photographs into striking black-and-white images.
Do you want to add an old-fashioned look to your photos? The process of converting to black and white can also involve dramatic sepia or two-toned effects, which are like black and white but with a "wash" of color (from the yellowish tones that old pictures naturally have to dramatic blue, green, and even red hues).
Most photo-imaging software has the ability to simply convert color information into shades of white, gray, and black, just as if you'd originally taken the photo in black and white. The simplest way to create this effect is to convert your photo to black and white (in Photoshop it's as easy as converting the Mode to Grayscale), and then follow the directions in your software for Duo-tone.
Play Picasso
Express your painterly side without all those messy oils and watercolors. Many software-editing programs have artistic “filters” that transform your picture into a faux painting. How do they do it? Each filter moves and changes the pixels in a different way to give the illusion of various art media, whether it’s the fuzzy edges of a watercolor, the brush marks of an oil painting, or the sketch marks of a pencil drawing.
The best way to master these techniques is by trial and error. Look through the various effects that your software offers and play with them a little. Most effects can be found on the toolbar under Effects or Artistic Effects. Programs such as Adobe Photoshop allow you to control brush size and get a variety of different results, from wide, broad strokes to fine detail strokes.
Of course, it's best not to mix too many different styles together, as the result could look messy. Use dramatic effects judiciously, like any experienced artist would. And don't forget to save your work often!
Mood lighting
Altering the lightingin your photo can dramatically change the composition. Most imaging programs have a variety of options you can play with, from adding a spotlight or solar flare (a burst of intense light) to simply highlighting a certain feature of your photograph.
If you want to emphasize a certain feature or person in a photograph, you can use the spotlight effect to cast a warm glow. Practice with different intensities and angles to get the most realistic effect. Solar flares can put a sparkle in someone's eye or a halo-like glow around a friend's head. In some photo-imaging software, you can use the filters to cast a blue, yellow, or red light on your subjects.
Recolor your world
Play with different hues and intensities. You can alter the whole color spectrum, or isolate different hues in a photo and alter them individually. By isolating different colors, you can create simple effects (such as intensifying the blue of a sky) or dramatically change the whole color scheme of a photo. You can even make green grass pink, turn skin tones alien-green, or change the sky to purple!
Make sure the Preview box is checked so you can see the effects you’re creating as you work. That way you can undo any changes you don't like.
Photos in motion
Make your photos move and spin with blurring tools that give the illusion of action. To create a feeling of motion in a static image, many professional photographers intentionally blur areas of their photos. With the blurring tools in your photo-imaging software, you can simulate motion and a variety of other effects, including radial blurs (round) or Gaussian blurs (drop-shadow or glowing).
Practice with different angles and blur intensities to get the effect you want. You can also experiment with blurring the entire picture.
Add what isn't there with photo collaging
You've got one picture of a beach ball, another of the kids, and yet another that captures the beauty of the ocean. With photo collaging, you can merge multiple photos into a single image to create the perfect photo. The possibilities are endless.
Photo collaging involves digitally cutting out elements and pasting them into a new scene. You could use a circle-cropping tool to digitally cut out the beach ball and paste it somewhere else on the beach, perhaps near the sunbathers.
Practice with the pen, eraser, cropping, and lasso tools. With a little experience under your belt, you'll easily be able to cut out complicated images. One hint: Cut as close as possible to the edges or you'll have a telltale outline around your image that will give away your cropping secrets. You can zoom in with a magnifying tool to get close to the edges, or use a blending tool to smooth out the edges once you've finished. You can also shrink or enlarge an object for greater effect.
Note that this is a rather advanced process that requires a number of different tools, so have your software guide handy in case you get into a jam.
Make a new background
You can try other advanced techniques, too, such as altering different layers (perhapscreating a semi-transparent background of flowers) or pasting multiple objects into a single picture.
To do this, you'll need to create multiple layers in your picture. For best results, make sure that the background layer is turned off. Once you've created a new backdrop (make sure it's large enough to cover the entire background), paste it into the bottom layer of your image. Then place new layers on top by either cutting spaces for the background to show through or making the upper layers transparent.
The best way to create a masterpiece is by trial and error; so don't be afraid to experiment. And be sure to save your originals, in case you want to start over. Now grab that beret and those paint brushes and get started!
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