Craft Incredible Images this Summer3-Minute makeovers that will make your images pop!Presented by Mark Galer

Projects OverviewOne of the best ways to become comfortable with editing images in Lightroom is to follow along with a few simple ‘how-to’ projects.

I have put together three projects, each with five simple steps that will completely transform the images I have chosen for these 3-minute makeovers. I have provided links to download the image used in each of the tutorials and also a link to a movie if you prefer to sit back and watch the magic unfold.

Project 1

Project 2

Project 3

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Project 1: Sydney Harbour Bridge

https://adobe.ly/2gPybeU Download the tutorial image.

Lightroom Movie Tutorials

Sydney Harbour Bridge © Mark Galer

Step 1: Auto Tone

Select ‘Auto’ from the top of the Basic panel to correct the underexposed areas of this image. Although Auto rarely makes things ‘perfect’, it often speeds up the editing process, which is incredibly useful if you are trying to reduce the time needed to optimise the image.

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Step 2: Auto Upright

Select ‘Auto’ from the Upright section of the Transform panel (this feature used to live in the Lens Corrections panel). Upright will cleverly straighten or ‘keystone’ the converging verticals in this image (a result of the wide-angle lens used). Check the ‘Constrain Crop’ option to constrain the crop to the original image area.

Step 3: Crop

Click on the ‘Crop Overlay’ icon or press the later ‘R’ on the keyboard to enter the Crop dialog. Set the ‘Aspect Ratio’ or ‘shape’ to 16:9 (same as a widescreen TV). Press the letter ‘O’ repeatedly until you see the ‘Rule of Thirds’ overlay. Click and drag the image preview until the horizon line is on the lower line (you may need to reduce the width of the crop so you can access more water at the base of the image).

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Step 4: Presence and Shadows

Optimise the colours in the image by raising the Vibrance to +45 and the Saturation to +10. Raise the Shadows slider to +50 to render more detail in the darkest shadows.

Step 5: Graduated Filter

Click on the ‘Graduated Filter’ icon below the histogram. Double click on the word ‘Effect’ to zero all sliders. Click in the image preview and then click and drag down from the top of the bridge to the horizon line. Drag the Exposure slider to approximately -1.00EV to darken the sky and raise the Saturation and Clarity sliders to optimise the colour and tone.

Note > Feel free to fine-tune this image, but the major changes came about with just five simple steps!

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Project 2: Summer Beach Huts

https://adobe.ly/2hCAdMb Download the tutorial image.

Movie Tutorial

Summer Beach Huts © Mark Galer

Step 1: Auto Tone, White Balance & Presence

Select ‘Auto’ from the top of the Basic panel to make the tones ‘pop’ and then breathe additional warmth and vibrance into this image by raising the Temp to 5,800°K, Vibrance to +50, Saturation to +10 and Clarity to +20. Vibrance is a more usually better than Saturation for adding richer colours but sometimes summer sand needs a little help from the Saturation slider.

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Step 2: Auto Upright

Select ‘Auto’ from the Upright section of the Transform Panel to ‘keystone’ the converging verticals in this image. Check the ‘Constrain Crop’ option to constrain the crop to the original image area.

Step 3a: Sky Graduated Filter

Click on the ‘Graduated Filter’ icon below the histogram. Double click the word ‘Effect’ to zero all sliders. Click in the image preview and then click and drag down from the top of the huts to the horizon line. Drag the Exposure slider to approximately -1.00EV to darken the sky and raise the Shadows slider to restore shadow detail in the huts.

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Step 3b: Foreground Graduated FilterClick on the ‘New’ option. Double click the word ‘Effect’ to zero all sliders and then add a second graduated filter at the base of the image. Be sure to click and drag up, rather than down, for the second filter. Raise the Temp slider to +17 and the Exposure slider to +0.50EV to shine some warm summer light onto the beach.

Step 4a: Remove Telegraph Wires (Heal)

Click on the ‘Spot Removal’ icon below the histogram. Select the ‘Heal’ option and set the feather to zero. Paint over the telegraph wires avoiding the edge of the roof (adjust the ‘Size’ of the brush if required). If you paint over the edge you may notice a ‘smudge’ appear in the sky.

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Step 4b: Remove Telegraph Wires (Clone)Zoom in (Z), reduce the size of the brush and then paint over the edge of the roof. Change the Heal option to ‘Clone’ to remove the smudge. Click and drag the sample area if you need to make the alignment perfect. Click on the ‘Spot Removal’ icon to exit the panel.

Note > Heal produces the best repair in areas of continuous tone but will bleed tones when you cross an edge.

Step 5: Blue Luminance

Summer skies can also be enhanced by going to the HSL panel. Select the Luminance option and drag the Blues slider to the left. Click on the Saturation slider and drag the slider to the right if you need to render the blues more saturated.

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Fine-Tune Basic AdjustmentsAgain this image has been completely transformed with just five simple steps. You may choose to fine-tune some of the settings in the Basic panel to optimise the image for your own personal taste, e.g. I decided to raise the Exposure to 0.90EV to add some additional summer sunshine.

Project 3: Summer Snaps

https://adobe.ly/2hCEoIf Download the tutorial image.

Movie Tutorial

Summer Snaps © Mark Galer

Step 1: Auto Tone and Daylight White Balance

Select ‘Auto’ from the top of the Basic panel to correct the underexposed areas of this image. n click to the right of the ‘As Shot’ white balance and select ‘Daylight’ from the options.

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Step 2: Presence

Put some lovely summer colour and ‘pop’ back into this image by adding +40 Vibrance, +10 Saturation and +10 Clarity.

Step 3: Straighten Image

Click the ‘Crop Overlay’ icon or press the letter ‘R’ on the keyboard. Select the ‘Straighten Tool’ and then click and drag it along some, or all, of the horizon line to automatically straighten the image. Click on the ‘Crop Overlay’ a second time to exit the panel.

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Step 4a: Sky Graduated Filter

To restore the blue sky in this summer scene click on the ‘Graduated Filter’ icon (M). Double-click on the word ‘Effect’ to zero all sliders and then click and drag down from the top of the mans hat to the horizon line. Lower the Exposure by a value of -1.30EV and raise the Shadows to +50 to restore shadow detail in the guy with the phone.

Step 4b: Foreground Graduated Filter

I have added a second Graduated Filter to the foreground of this image. I have clicked at the base of the image then dragged upwards to the man’s feet. I have lowered the Exposure by -0.30EV and raised the Temp slider to +20.

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Step 5: Fine-Tune the Basics

After applying localised adjustments such as Graduated Filters it is often necessary to revisit the Basic panel and readjust some of the sliders to re-optimise the Tone and Colour. In this instance I have raised the Contrast to +30, raised the Shadows to +80 and lowered the Exposure to +1.50EV. These are relatively ‘subjective’ adjustments so it is fun to just play. Remember you can always hit ‘Reset’ and start again.

https://youtu.be/47IY3PRd3qUBonus Movie Project