Understanding Value Using Adobe Photoshop CS to adjust, improve and repair digital images

© Mariah Fox Hausman Art 109: Introduction to Electronic Media University of Miami Spring 2011

What is value?

In art, value refers to the variation of light and dark areas in an image

Detail • Contrast and good value reveal and define detail • Contrast can make images look sharper in Photoshop

Learn to define value visually Look for the light source: • Highlights • Midtones • Shadows

Position of the light source •  Objects farther away appear darker •  Objects closer to the light will have a greater tonal range •  Objects closer to the light will have larger shadows " than those farther away •  As objects move further away from the light source, " the position of the shadow moves

Light source effects Computer software defaults the light source to the upper left corner

Light source effects Light coming from unusual directions can create mood

Consistency of light source is required to create a suggestion of realism or a believable image

Special effects

Dark These images have predominantly dark values but can be lightened in Photoshop

Dark: “muddy,” “clogged,” “heavy”; little contrast and clarity

Light Here is an image with predominantly light values. "It can be “balanced” in Photoshop by adding black.

Combo image Most problem images with light areas also have dark areas– these are harder to fix in Photoshop and require various intermediate skills

Monochromatic One color images: bad and good

High contrast Fewer “midtones”, often midday sun

Value is relative Adjacent values often appear different when color is adapted or removed

Value conveys mood Value and color can help set an emotional tone for the work

Organizing an effective sequence of tasks in Adobe Photoshop Most retouching follows these eight general steps. Usually, you should complete them in the order listed. Otherwise, the results of one process may cause unintended changes to other aspects of the image, making it necessary for you to redo some of your work. Some steps can be skipped depending on the needs of your image.

Later, you’ll get experience using adjustment layers, which is another technique that gives you great flexibility to try out different correction settings without risking damage to the original image.

8 Steps to Image Improvement 1.  Duplicate the original image or scan. (Always work "

in a copy of the image file, so that you can recover "the original later if necessary.) 

2.  Check the scan quality and make sure that the resolution is appropriate for the way you will use the image. 

3.  Crop the image to final size and orientation.  4.  Repair flaws in scans of damaged photographs "

(such as rips, dust, or stains)  5.  Adjust the overall contrast or tonal range of the image.  6.  Remove any color casts.  7.  Adjust the color and tone in specific parts of the image "

to bring out highlights, midtones, shadows, and desaturated colors. 

8.  Sharpen the overall focus of the image. 

Step 1 Duplicate the original image or scan. (Always work in a copy of the image file, so that you can recover the original later if necessary.)

Photoshop skill(s): 1. Choose File > "

Save As > .psd)

2. Locate the layers palette and duplicate the background layer

3. Select the new layer and begin work

Step 2 Check the image quality and make sure that the resolution is appropriate for the  way you will use the image.

Photoshop skill(s): Go to Image > Image size and review settings. Adjust as needed. (You may not always need to change all fields in this dialog box, it depends on the end-use of the image)

Crop the image to final size and orientation.

Photoshop skill(s): Use Crop tool "and/or Image > Image Rotation, "or Edit > Transform (command + “t”)

Step 3

Repair flaws in scans of damaged photographs (such as rips, dust, or stains) 

Photoshop skill(s): Use Healing and Clone tools to repair. Remember to use the option keyboard command. (Healing is generally easier to use, but Clone can yield better results for trickier tasks). Remember, most tools (especially repair tools) have additional options located at the top of the workspace that maximize their ability.

Step 4

Step 5 Adjust the overall contrast or tonal range of the image.

Photoshop skill(s): Go to Image > Adustments > Levels. Apply what you have learned about value (highlights, shadows, midtones, contrast) to improve the quality of your image   

Step 6 Photoshop skill(s): Go to Image > Adustments > Levels or explore

other adjustments such as Curves, Hue and Saturation or "Color Balance. Tip: as opposites on the color wheel, blue and red can “balance” each other and affect each other dramatically

Remove color casts.

Step 7 Adjust the color and tone in specific parts of the image to bring out highlights,  midtones, shadows, and desaturated colors.

Photoshop skill(s): Dodge / Burn / Sponge and Blur / Sharpen / Smudge tools (Note: some tools share the same button position in the tool bar)

Step 8 Sharpen the overall focus of the image.

Photoshop skill(s):  Go to Filter > Sharpen > Smart sharpen. (Note: you can add grain, blur, art effects and more under the filter menu, too)

Last…

Photoshop skill(s): File > Save As from Photoshop into the format you want to use it in. (See File Prep Guidelines on Bboard for "Art 109 project submissions and other suggested file formats)

Enjoy your finished image!