Photo Editing

Edit and enhance photographs through color correction, retouching, and creative processing using professional tools and workflows.

Overview

Photo editing transforms raw captures into polished final images through color correction, exposure adjustment, retouching, and creative enhancement. This skill covers Lightroom and Photoshop workflows, non-destructive editing techniques, and preparing images for various output formats.

Lightroom Workflow

Import and Organization

Import:

• Copy files to organized folder structure
• Apply import presets for consistency
• Add keywords and metadata

Culling:

• Flag or star best images
• Remove obvious rejects
• Select candidates for editing

Basic Adjustments

Exposure and Tone:

• Exposure: Overall brightness
• Contrast: Tonal separation
• Highlights: Recover blown highlights
• Shadows: Lift blocked shadows
• Whites/Blacks: Set white and black points

Color:

• White Balance: Correct color cast
• Vibrance: Subtle saturation boost
• Saturation: Overall color intensity

Presence:

• Clarity: Midtone contrast
• Texture: Fine detail enhancement
• Dehaze: Atmospheric haze removal

Color Grading

Color Wheels:

• Shadows: Tint shadow tones
• Midtones: Overall color mood
• Highlights: Tint bright areas

HSL Sliders:

• Hue: Shift specific colors
• Saturation: Intensity of specific colors
• Luminance: Brightness of specific colors

Local Adjustments

Tools:

• Graduated Filter: Gradual adjustments (skies)
• Radial Filter: Circular adjustments (vignettes)
• Adjustment Brush: Freehand painting
• Masking: AI-powered selections (sky, subject, background)

Photoshop Workflow

Non-Destructive Editing

Layers:

• Keep original layer intact
• Adjustments on separate layers
• Easy to modify or remove

Adjustment Layers:

• Curves: Tonal and color control
• Levels: Contrast and tonal range
• Hue/Saturation: Color adjustments
• Color Balance: Color correction

Smart Objects:

• Non-destructive transformations
• Editable filters
• Preserve original quality

Retouching

Spot Removal:

• Healing Brush: Blend texture and tone
• Clone Stamp: Copy pixels
• Spot Healing: Quick blemish removal

Skin Retouching:

• Frequency Separation: Separate texture and tone
• Dodge and Burn: Sculpt with light and shadow
• Subtle smoothing (avoid over-smoothing)

Advanced Techniques:

• Content-Aware Fill: Remove objects
• Liquify: Reshape and adjust
• Selective Sharpening: Enhance details

Masking

Layer Masks:

• Non-destructive hiding/revealing
• Paint with black (hide) or white (reveal)
• Feathered edges for smooth transitions

Selection Tools:

• Quick Selection: AI-powered selection
• Select Subject: Automatic subject detection
• Select and Mask: Refine selections

Color Grading

Workflow:

1. Correct white balance and exposure
2. Apply creative color grade
3. Refine with HSL or Color Balance
4. Add finishing touches (vignette, grain)

Popular Looks:

• Warm and Faded: Lift blacks, warm highlights
• Cool and Moody: Cool shadows, desaturated
• Cinematic: Teal shadows, orange highlights
• Black and White: Convert, adjust contrast

Export Settings

Using the Reference Files

/references/lightroom-editing-guide.md — Read when learning Lightroom workflows and adjustment techniques.

/references/photoshop-retouching.md — Read when performing advanced retouching and compositing.

/references/color-grading-techniques.md — Read when applying creative color grades and looks.

/references/export-and-delivery.md — Read when preparing images for various output formats and platforms.