Do you Photoshop your photos?

CPT Jack Durish — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 11:25:29 -0400

I use Corel PhotoPaint to crop photos, adjust colors, and remove red eye. However, there is a part of me that thinks about buying PhotoShop and diving in. In the days of film, I loved working in the darkroom. PhotoShop fulfills that purpose today. It definitely makes "seeing is believing" a thing of the past...
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Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jul 30 at 2015 11:30 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 11:30:06 -0400

I generally don't run my photos through Photoshop. Unless I am adding actual effects to it.

Response by PO1 Brian Schletty made Jul 30 at 2015 12:05 PM

PO1 Brian Schletty — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 12:05:48 -0400

I use Photoshop for Vector drawings (usually 100+ layers), creating panoramas, HDR, or adjusting Curves, Levels, Hue if something went wrong during exposure.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 30 at 2015 12:31 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 12:31:12 -0400

Almost never. I like the composition I get on my own

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jul 30 at 2015 12:55 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 12:55:36 -0400

I use ImageJ.

Response by SGT David Ewers made Jul 30 at 2015 1:20 PM

SGT David Ewers — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 13:20:12 -0400

I use Photoshop extensively, most of the time Photoshop gets a bad name, I look at it like being creative in the dark room. When I would add color dye to a high contract sunset to bring out the color of the sun, or use different filters on the enlarger to create different moods of the nature photos I'd shoot. I consider photoshop a digital version of the darkroom but in my opinion, photoshop can't be used to adjust composition, poor lighting or out of focus images. They have tools for that but then you're changing the nature of the photo.

Creative Cloud is what I use, it's about $10.00 a month and you get the full version of Adobe Photoshop, Light Room and Bridge, as long as you're paying the subscription you get access to free upgrades and patches. I highly suggest to take a class at the local community college on Photoshop so you get the most out of the program. Some of the basic actions are not real intuitive as they are in other programs but you have a lot more control over those basic actions.

Response by GySgt Carl Rumbolo made Jul 30 at 2015 5:56 PM

GySgt Carl Rumbolo — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 17:56:05 -0400

Photoshop is my preferred tool for manipulating images, primarily when working with portraits. Particularly when adjusting skin tones, removing blemishes and similar enhancements or effects. The range of filters, actions and plugins for Photoshop is fantastic.

I shoot using Canon DSLRs and have a established workflow. All the images are shot in RAW mode which gives me control over exposure, ISO, lighting, etc. Images are copied from the media car (either SDHD or CompactFlash) to a work drive.

1. I open all the images using Digital Photo Pro (a Canon software package) and tag all the keepers, deleting the rest. I then go through the keepers, adjusting as necessary exposure, sharpening, fix the lighting, etc.
2. The processes images are then cropped as needed and then renamed using the event or location, date-time stamp and sequence. (images taken with the 7D Mark II are geo tagged as well).
3. The RAW images are converted to TIFF file format for editing as needed in PhotoShop - I don't use JPEG format, it is a "lossy' format. TIFF preserves layers and is a 'lossless' format.

The RAW images (think negatives) and the TIFF images are then stored on disk storage. I have a storage array at home and do online backups nightly. Plus I dump each year's photos to DVD (using blu-ray for maximum capacity).

Photoshop is perceived as expensive, but using the subscription model it's a few dollars a month, and you stay current with patches. The software is actually on your computer (you are not running from the 'cloud'). Right now Photoshop and Light-room are covered under the same monthly price and you can install and run it on two machines. I have one copy on my primary machine and a 2nd copy on a Mac Air that I use for trips.

It has a fairly steep learning curve - just beware of that.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2015 8:47 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 08:47:00 -0400

Lightroom is my main post production tool. I love that I can perform batch corrections or edits across multiple images (a lifesaver when we're talking hundreds of images). I delve into Photoshop every once in a while when I want to perform more precise edits, though.

Response by PO3 Sherry Thornburg made Aug 3 at 2015 8:42 PM

PO3 Sherry Thornburg — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 20:42:42 -0400

I'm learning photoshop a bit at a time. I do most of my basic composition, cropping, light and color balancing in Photo Gallery. Some extras such as removing red eye in animals, I have Photo Elements 13 for. These days I do a lot of wildlife photography, so cropping and brightness/contrast/shadow level changes are mostly what I need done.

The mockingbird picture had to be cropped in about 50%. the contrast had to be increased a bit and the shadows had to be brightened up to make his dinner more visible.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2015 11:41 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 23:41:43 -0400

Yes, one can use it (photoshop), but like any device in the 'wrong' hands, if used improperly it becomes evil. In the past, I've mostly used it to make seamless collages. When I do that, it's clearly for a purpose as to not mislead or mistake the viewer into thinking it's still a photo (they become 'images' at that point).

For better editing purposes, I suggest using Lightroom or Camera Raw (you do shoot in RAW, correct?)

Use photoshop for good, not the forces of evil. :-)

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2015 7:38 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 19:38:26 -0400

Most definitely, I make some sort of adjustment to nearly every single photo I take. Of course, I shoot in RAW to the product straight out of my camera is essentially unusable. There are some purists who feel it is wrong or cheating to post-process photos, but it is really not that different from film photographers adjusting exposure in their dark room. Mind you, we now have the ability to change a background, remove a person, add a person, etc. which takes things into a new realm. I don't get into that much since I do most of my post processing in Lightroom where most of the tools are for correcting a photo, not creating a new image.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2015 12:42 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 00:42:51 -0500

If GIMP and Pinta can't do it, it won't get done.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Dec 8 at 2015 12:57 AM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 00:57:10 -0500

I don't even know how to use Photo Shop.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2015 2:14 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 14:14:58 -0500

In short yes - but we also use Lightroom etc. When I am shooting for Instagram I used Pomelo on my iPhone 5S.

Response by SPC Johnney Abbott made Jan 15 at 2017 3:56 PM

SPC Johnney Abbott — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 15:56:58 -0500

It depends on what I am trying to achieve. If I'm just taking pics to take pics then no. If it's for someone, or for something I want to submit to GettyImages then yes.

Response by MSgt Mark Bucher made Jan 21 at 2017 5:57 PM

MSgt Mark Bucher — Sat, 21 Jan 2017 17:57:52 -0500

I use PS on all my images. In the day, I was a beta tester for Adobe. Now that I'm retired, I shoot what I want, when I want to. If I could, I'd still be shooting everything with a Blad on Ektachrome or VHC. I still have about 50 rolls of chrome that I'll probably never use. Oh well, the days of E-6 and Tri-X are long gone

Response by SPC James Harsh made Jan 21 at 2017 6:46 PM

SPC James Harsh — Sat, 21 Jan 2017 18:46:37 -0500

I use Corel Paint shop pro and for under $100 it is close to PS, it's nice feature to open PS projects there if need be. I learned some photoshop in high school and this one product is similar if that's what you need there are products for artists I have paint shop pro x8 and it works like a photoshop generally

Response by PO1 Kevin Dougherty made Nov 15 at 2017 11:45 AM

PO1 Kevin Dougherty — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 11:45:29 -0500

I do use Photoshop, especially Lightroom in my post processing. I have played with several other products, Corel's Paint Shop Pro On 1's suite, etc. But I keep coming back to Photoshop, maybe because it's what I'm used to but the work flow just seems smoother.

My processing is usually pretty minimal. I try as much as possible to compose in the camera, it's a lot easier and better to get it right there than it is to tweak it extensively in processing. I'll adjust the exposure a little, maybe touch the saturation and color balance a bit, and on occasion throw in a filter or two, but rarely more than that. On rare occasions I'll play with more extreme editing, but mostly I'm just looking for an image that pleases the eye.

One nice thing about digital vs film, you're free to experiment since it costs no more to take 10 images than it does to take 1.

Response by PO1 Kevin Dougherty made Nov 15 at 2017 12:02 PM

PO1 Kevin Dougherty — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 12:02:40 -0500

One I did play around a lot with ... Just for fun.

Response by PO1 Kevin Dougherty made Nov 28 at 2017 7:48 AM

PO1 Kevin Dougherty — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 07:48:53 -0500

An update on my earlier post. I have been playing around a bit with Photo Raw 2018 from On1 Software, and so far I am liking it a lot. Very similar to Lightroom, and is frequently on sale for $19.00. The first product I have found that is close to being on par with the PhotoShop products at anything close to that price point.

Response by MSG David Johnson made Jan 14 at 2018 12:46 PM

MSG David Johnson — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 12:46:02 -0500

I use the Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, for $10 I get Lightroom, Photoshop, a Portfolio page, and some other goodies.
I also use Photomatix Pro on some of my long exposure night shots.
You can go from just brightening up the shot, to making it a painting and just about anywhere in between.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2018 5:38 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 17:38:09 -0400

Photoshop to hard for me, I just never learned it, I use an old software, Photo Paint Pro 7.

Response by SPC Perry Gresham made Jul 9 at 2020 3:56 PM

SPC Perry Gresham — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 15:56:08 -0400

I photoshop or light room or dark room my photos most of the time because i shoot in raw and they need something almost always. Raw has just too much information in them and it leaves them looking pretty drab. When i do landscapes whether its for decor work or fine art. I will do all kinds of things to include complete sky replacements.

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Nov 8 at 2020 12:34 PM

Maj Kim Patterson — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 12:34:56 -0500

CPT Jack Durish rarely. The photos I take have the elements I want. Occasionally I’ll give photoshop a go but it always ends up looking worse than the original.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2020 6:05 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 18:05:22 -0500

I've used it to restore old films scanned. The Corel Suite is overwhelming to a novice, so that's the extent of my usage. Older brother is accomplished with camera and used it some. My Nikon FM is on a shelf somewhere, but served me well before digital.

Response by SPC Perry Gresham made Jul 24 at 2021 11:13 PM

SPC Perry Gresham — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 23:13:29 -0400

unless you show your photos in only raw format (wouldnt recommend it) you are showing images that have been proccessed. No one should try to be a puritan in the age of digital photography. the simple reality is almost every image you see is altered. Post proccessing is just to prolific and is used for all kinds of reasons in the comercial cross platform industry. I love to shoot and develop my own black and whites using film. get a great shot into the camera and then out of the camera is a great feeling of accomplishment to me.

Response by SSgt Michael Anderson made Aug 31 at 2021 2:58 PM

SSgt Michael Anderson — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 14:58:11 -0400

Only when they need a little more work than nature could do!

Response by David Klayer made Mar 18 at 2022 11:21 PM

David Klayer — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 23:21:41 -0400

I often use photoshop to create interesting pixel art images. You can explore the pixel art images here: https://pixelart123.de/

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Auf Pixelart123.de finden Sie Modelle zum Drucken, um eine Pixel Art zu erstellen, sowie Diagramme und Tipps, um schöne Zeichnungen zu erstellen.

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made Oct 22 at 2023 4:22 PM

A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney — Sun, 22 Oct 2023 16:22:37 -0400

NOPE, I Do NOT Photo Shop,
It Takes Up Too Much Time.
So I Just Pay Full Price,
And Just Buy My Photos At Wal-Mart..

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Oct 22 at 2023 9:56 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Sun, 22 Oct 2023 21:56:55 -0400

What's a photo?