My Favourite Photoshop Techniques

Adobe Photoshop is an incredibly powerful post-processing program, and I am certainly no expert when it comes to using this program to its full potential. I am always learning new techniques within Photoshop that make my workflow faster and more efficient with just the right amount of creativity. I do, however, have some favourite post-processing techniques that I readily use within Photoshop. Here are a few of my favourite Photoshop techniques when post-processing my images.  

1. Spot Healing Brush tool 

The toolbar in Photoshop holds many valuable tools. When using the Essentials (Default) workspace in Photoshop, the toolbar automatically shows. If you ever accidentally hide this bar, you can reinstate it under the main menu > Windows > Tools. A checkmark should appear next to the word "Tools."

The spot healing brush tool works like magic! When I require small image touch-ups like removing unsightly spots or marks in my images, this is my go-to tool. All I need to do is click on the tool and then click on the blemish in my image and viola the spot that needed attention is repaired.

2. Blend Modes

I enjoy creative editing and will often infuse creative layers like overlays and textures into my images. Blend mode options help me integrate overlays and textures quickly and seamlessly. All I need to do is simply apply my overlay then change the blend mode. Blend modes, in combination with masks, will help bring my vision for an image to life.   

3. Masks 

Many edits would be near impossible without masks, which is hands down my very favourite technique to use in Photoshop. White masks revel edits while black masks hide layer edits. Masks permit the application of an edit to precise areas within an image as opposed to an edit being applied globally to the entire image. On a white mask, I can use a black brush to hide edits within that layer. On a black mask, I can use a white brush to reveal specific edits. 

4. Dodge and Burn 

I'd be lost without the dodge and burn tool. I use these functions in almost all of my images, especially my landscape photographs. With these tools, I can paint light or darkness into an image. It's a fantastic way in which to make my image pop and add contrast realistically and beautifully. 

5. Gaussian Blur

You can find Gaussian blur under the Filter menu option located in Photoshop's main menu. This filter applies a blur to an image. It's great for softening the background of an image, a textured overlay or smoothing out the skin of your subject. This filter is powerful, and I find a little goes a long way.

Like Lightroom, Adobe offers a free trial of Photoshop. I subscribe to the Photography package offered by Adobe, which includes both Lightroom and Photoshop, as I use both programs in my post-processing workflow. I love infusing my vision for an image using the power of both these programs.