This very simple tutorial is based on Photoshop CS4. It will work on a CS3 and CS2 version as well.

A very easy and effective way to lighten up a dark photo is to use Shadows/Highlights! You will be surprised about the impact!

This exercise will explain in easy 3 Steps how to lighten up a dark photo:

• Use a dark photo or use our sample photo
• Use the Shadows/Highlights (Image Adjustments)
• Save file as a jpg

Step 1

Either use a photo that you have and open it in Photoshop (Ctrl + O or File>Open)

Alternatively just use our sample photo. You can right click it and choose copy and when in Photoshop start a new document (Ctrl + N or File>New Document) and paste the image with Ctrl + V.

Step 2

To actually lighten the image up go to Image>Adjustments>Shadows/Highlights and change the amounts of the Shadows (I chose 57%) and Highlights (I chose 9%). If you untick and tick the Preview box you can see the changes that will happen.
Okay the changes!

Step 3

Save the image as a jpg (Ctrl + S or File>Save).

If you want to remove a small or large area of an image, you might automatically think of using the erase tool  .

This will of course permanently alter the image & you’ll never get those bits of Aunty Dora back again!

A better way is to apply a mask to the image which will remove parts of the image by covering them.

The original image will remain intact & Aunty Dora will remain untouched!

Only when you select the apply mask option will the image be altered forever, but before then you still have the original image to copy or modify to your hearts content.

We will select an image & then mask a selected part of it.

We can then take the selected part & make multiple copies of it to add to the original image.

We can also modify these new copies so that they will not simply be identical repetitions of the first image.

To begin we will open one of the images stored in Windows My Pictures folder.

In this case some water lillies. (I’m sure the guys will want to use something more macho but for now we’ll just use pretty flowers.)

Step 1 – Finding an Image

1. Go to File > Open

2. My Documents > My Pictures > Sample Pictures > Water Lillies.

If your computer doesn’t have the Water Lillies photo then just pick something similar that has objects like flowers that can be masked & copied (dogs, trees, buildings whatever).

It’s not the image that is important, it is the concept of masking.

 Step 2 – Creating a selection around an image.

Now we are ready to apply a mask to the flowers.

 3. In order to create a mask we must first create a selection by lassoing the flower at the bottom left.

4. Go to the tool menu on the left. Click & hold on the Lasso button .

5. This will open the Lasso menu where you should select the Polygon Lasso Tool for drawing around the edge of the flower.

6. Left click  on the edge of the flower & then pull the mouse along the edge to produce a line.

 To turn the corner simply release the mouse &  left click again to start a new line.

7. When you reach the point you started at join both ends of the lasso by double clicking the mouse.

This will cause the line to become dashed. The selection is complete.

8. Now that the flower is selected go back to the Tool Menu & choose the Move Tool Button

9. Use the Move Tool to click on the image & go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal Selection.

By selecting this option, the background image will become invisible leaving only the selected flower ‘revealed’.

Step 4 – Editing your selection

Having created this mask which reveals only the flower you can see that the original image is still safely intact with its mask attached.

As mentioned before, only when you Apply Mask will it alter the image permanently. But we want to play around with our flower first.

10. Above the Layers panel is the Mask panel. Open this & move the density level to around 5%.

100% completely masks the background image whereas 0% will completely reveal the background image.

11. We’ve forgotten to reveal the stem of the flower. If we want to produce multiple flowers to add to the image we will need the stem as well.

(Well how was I to know you wanted to reveal the stem? You should have said. I can’t be expected to think of everything!)

Anyway the damage has been done but it can easily be repaired.

12. With the background image at 5% density it is easy to reveal the stem using the paintbrush.

13. Select the brush tool    from the tool bar then go to the brushes button    next to the color panel on the right.

14. Open this drop down menu & choose a brush size.

15. Select a brush size such as 9 with only a little feathering around the edge & is less than the width of the stem.

Always make the brush smaller than the area to be brushed out.

Also the color of the brush must be white. If it were grey it would only reveal some of the background image.

20. With flower 2 we will use the Polygon Lasso Tool    to lasso the petal & put it on a new layer marked ‘Petal‘.

29. We can shorten a few stems with the Erase tool    & fiddling with the flowers some more using the Free Transform tool. 

Step 1: Opening a new file

When opening a new file make sure your settings are 15 by 10 cm and 150 pixels per inch. Make Sure it is set to RGB colour.

Step 2: Foreground Colours

Set the foreground colour to blue and the background to white.

Step 3:  Filter 1

On the toolbar go to filter, select render and then fiber. After that is selected set the variance and strength options both to ten and click ok.

Step 4:  Liquify

In the Filter menu you then select liquify which will open up another menu which  will then allow you to select the twirl icon on the left to manipulate the image.

Step 5 : Duplicating the background

Now you need to create a duplicate of your background layer.

If you drag the layer (eg click and drag by the name of the layer) in the Layer Panel to the New Layer Icon (see image below) you will automatically create a duplicate of the layer.

Alternatively you can just left click on the menu button in the top right corner of the Layer Panel (see image below) and select ‘Duplicate Layer’.

Step 6: Filter 2

Once again go to the filter menu but now  go to the sketch section and select chrome.

You will then get a menu with the option Detail on it. Set it to 0.

Step 7 : Inverting the image

Now you must invert the image. Select image, adjustment and then click invert

Step 8: Layer Blending

Now to blend the layers. To do this you select  Layer ,  Layer style and then blending options.

Once you’ve made the selection you  then chose linear light.

Step 9: Final Product.

You should now have and image like this.

This is a very basic exercise for absolute beginners that will simplify your Photoshop experience. 

Each layer is automatically given a generic name. It is a good idea to rename each layer with a descriptive name to avoid confusion later. 

Step 1 – Renaming layers

Double-click the layer name and the name should highlight.

Type in a new name for the layer. (Name it anything) and then click elsewhere.

Remember that you can’t rename or move the Background layer.

Step 2 - Converting the background layer

The Background layer acts like the canvas of an image. To be able to manipulate the Background layer just like other layers, you can convert it to a layer.

Double-click the Background layer and type in a new name (optional) and Click OK.

Step 3 - Deleting layers

Select the layer in the Layers palette and click on the Delete layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette and click Yes on the warning box.  Alternatively you can drag the layer on the Delete layer icon.

Step 4 - It’s Finished                                                                                                  Those are the basic steps you need to know about layers.

This is a simple exercise to demonstrate how to feather an image.

Step 1 New File

Go to the Menu bar, select File and then New.

Step 2  Choose an image

Select an image to be feathered

Step 3  Change Feather setting and use Elliptical  Marquee

First change the Feather setting to 15 px

Next use the elliptical marquee to select the desired area.

Its best to have your cursor at the center of what your selecting then you can hold down the ALT button as well to make it easier.

Step 4  Final steps

After using the Elliptical marquee  on the desired area you then

Use control C  to  make  copy what you’ve done

Press control N to open a new file

Then control V to paste it into the new file

Your final image should look something like this.

In Photoshop, There is a big range of brush types to choose from. Not all are regular round shapes. 

Step 1 – List of Brushes

Select any tool that uses the brush options, display the brush options and you get a list of custom brushes as seen below.

Step 2 – Custom Brushes and Create Own Brush

Scroll far down the list and you’ll see some custom brushes that simulate various types of brushes, pens and charcoal.

So how do you make your own? You just need to start with the picture you want to use as the beginning for your brush and then begin.

Step 3 – Select Image

In the example below, we’ve opened a picture that represents one of the finest logos going around, MTV. You, however, may select a different image.

Step 4 – Copy the part that you want to use as a new brush

Start by selecting the image that you want to use and then go to Edit>Copy (in the drop down menu) or use the short cut Ctrl + C  to copy the selection to the page.

From the Edit menu>Define Brush Preset and Enter a suitable name (such as image) in the Pattern Name box>Click ok.

Step 5 – Test And Save Brush

Create a blank image to test your brush on and save it and then your new brush will be selected in the brushes palette and will be at the end of the list.

Finished

If you want to make sure your brush is kept in case you need to re-install photoshop, you can save it. From the Brush options, display the menu (top right corner of the options. About halfway down the list you will see a Save Brushes option, which allows you to save the set.

This is a simple exercise to help you learn about and use the many PhotoShop tools and to see what kinds of inventive techniques you can use.

Step 1 New File

Go to the Menu bar, select File and then New.

Step 2 Dialogue Box

A dialog box  will appear. Look for the labels WIDTH and HEIGHT. Click on the down arrow and change the options to PIXELS. Then make the WIDTH  200 pixels then the HEIGHT  200 pixels.

Next you’ll see the word Colour Mode in the same dialogue box. Make sure that the file is in RGB mode and click OK.

Step 3 Foreground Colour

In the Toolbar on the left hand side, click on the Current Colour Selection tool at the bottom for the Foreground. You’ll see the Colour Picker box appear. Select a light blue and click OK.                                               

Step 4 Background Colour

Next click on the Background box (also in the Current Colour Selection tool) and select a DARKER blue for the background colour.                    

Step 5 Filter 1

Go to the Menu bar and select Filter -> Render -> Clouds.

The clouds filter uses the foreground and background colours you have chosen to create a clouds effect.

Step 6 Filter 2

Then return to the Menu bar and select Filter -> Render -> Lighting Effects.

You will see your image with an ellipse drawn around it. Click on one of the small circles on the edge of the ellipse and change the shape to a circle that is centered inside your image.

Step 7 Focus

On the right side of the dialog box, you will see a Focus setting. Click and drag that to about 14-15 and then click ok.

Step 8 You’re Done

You’re Finished.

This exercise is good if you need to lighten up a dark photo. Just follow the steps below to do this simple task. You will learn how to:

• Copy and paste an image
• Adjust the Levels
• Save a file as a JPEG
• Use Auto Levels

Step 1 – Copy and paste image

Right click on the under exposed image and select copy. Go to Photoshop page and select Ctrl+n (or select file/new document from the drop down menu). Press enter on the new document panel, paste the image into the new window by pressing Ctrl+V.

Step 2 – Adjust Levels

Choose image > Adjustment > Levels. To reduce the tonal range of the photograph to a more ideal range, drag the middle slider toward the left where the histogram begins to climb. This will force those shades of black to lighter values while still retaining the lighter tones on the right side of the histogram.

Example of Levels Histogram

Step 3 – Save Image

Histogram after Adjustment

Choose File > Save > As JPEG.

Step 4 – Alternative Step:

A quick way to adjust the levels of an image is using Auto-Levels:
Choose image > Adjustment > Auto Levels (or short cut: Ctrl+Shft+L)

The results are amazing!

Their services are free of charge for clients that qualify as a non-profit organisation.

Due to being a volunteer organisation we have a pool of temping designers and a small group of commited assistants. The art director is Federico Viola, a Melbourne based Communication Designer and Illustrator.

IT DG is based in Melbourne, Australia. We work globally.

Requests can be made here by leaving a comment and e-mail address. Contact details will be treated confidentially.

PR Team
IT Design Group