Introduction to photo editing

Editing can correct brightness, colour, crop and small distractions, or deliberately change the look of a photograph. The aim is not to move every slider. Decide what the photograph needs before touching a control.

Start with the big decisions

Straighten and crop first if the framing needs it. Then check overall brightness, highlights, shadows and white balance. Only after that worry about fine adjustments such as sharpening and noise reduction.

Keep a way back

Use non-destructive editing when available or keep an untouched original. Compare the edit with the starting photograph regularly. Eyes adapt quickly, so an extreme edit can begin to look normal if you stare at it for long enough.

Try it for yourself