In my last post about my own photography, I told you all that I have spent the last year really focusing on seeing the light. I set out to really watch where the light is coming from, where it is falling, how strong is it, what color is it...and many more questions. Many, many, many times I just observed, without my camera. I wanted to become a master of the light in the same way that we attempt to become masters of our equipment. The equipment is only a piece of metal and plastic that allows us to capture the light. Sometimes you have to sit back and drink it all in. You have to watch without trying to capture the moment. I feel like over the last year of truly focusing on the light I have nearly mastered it.
"Ask yourself, where the light is coming from, where it is falling, how strong it is, and what colors can you see"
This year, I have decided to focus on perspective. Sometimes, the best pictures are the ones where the subject is not looking directly at you and smiling. For instance, my dogs look out the window every evening, waiting for my husband to come home. With my eye newly trained on perspective, I would take a picture from behind them to capture what it looks like from their perspective. Here is an example of a composite I did last week.
I took three separate images (because life just doesn't happen like this in my house) of these three looking out the window waiting for Daddy to get home. I used the Absence Collection (Actions) and Light Bokeh (Overlays) for the lights.
This year I really want to focus on mastering perspective, it truly makes images much more interesting and ultimately better quality. In the image above of my 14 year old cocker spaniel, I got down really low and photographed him on his level, head on, and centered. You can see how I achieved the dark, moody, edit below in the video tutorial using the Absence Collection and Moveable Haze from Spring IV. 
Video Tutorial
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As I mentioned in my 5 for $5.00 post about Spring V, I have been a little absent from my usual daily blogging here at MLC. My sweet girl is back in preschool and so I am finding a little more time to get back to work.
Today I have a video for you on how to remove a common lens distortion called vignetting. We all know about vignetting because at times we add it to our images to draw focus toward our subject. While this kind of vignetting is a creative license we all take from time to time, there is a darker side (no pun intended...hardy har har) to vignetting. Generally this kind of distortion occurs with lower level lenses, but that isn't always the case. Take my image for example, it was taken using a Canon 5d Mark III and a mid-range 85mm prime lens. You can see the edges are considerably darkened.
While it wasn't immediately apparent to me, once I ran the new (free) Correct Camera Distortion Action I am releasing today, I noticed a big improvement. I rarely notice the vignetting problem unless it is overcast outside and I am underexposing the image.
Watch Me Fix It!FREE PHOTOSHOP ACTION
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| File > Open > Choose Your Image 
| I chose this image from a new Spring product line and applied the Wanderlust Action (coming soon). 
I created a beautiful color block using the $5.00 Magic Finish© Set, and added a new paper with texture (coming soon). 
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Step 2: Choose Your Font & Size
| Select The Text Tool, located on the left of the screen. 
| Select the font you would like to use. My new favorite is Butterscotch from Creative Market (see below). I also love Country Chic. I usually pair them with Avenir Light or Avenir Next Medium. 
| Choose the font size. 
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My two new favorite fonts!
Both of these fonts are available at Creative Market really cheap. I have both and recommend/love them! Click the images to head over to Creative Market and check them out (plus more...trying not to spend the whole day! haa haa)
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Step 3: Start Applying Text
Hover over the area you would like the text to appear. Click and the begin to write your message. If you need to move the text simply select the move tool and move it wherever needed.
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Step 4: Customize The Color Of The Text
Highlight the text by clicking and dragging over the area. Click the color picker at the top (it is a colored rectangle (shown below). Choose a color that compliments or contrasts with you image by using the eyedropper (your mouse cursor has now turned into and eyedropper) and select colors in the image until you find what you like. Your done!
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More Photoshop Tutorials
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From time to time Magic and Light Collection recommends products or services. We may earn a commission for this. MLC only recommends products that we use ourselves or would purchase from companies we know and trust.
Magic and Light Collection is an affiliate of Creative Market. Disclosure and Privacy Policy.
Magic and Light Collection is an affiliate of Creative Market. Disclosure and Privacy Policy.
Step 1: Open the image you want to work with.
| Choose File>Open, and then pick the file you would like to work with. In our case, this image is severely cropped. The subject is looking directly into the edge of the image. It is important to give your subject what is known as "lead room". 
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Step 2: Extend The Canvas Size
| Choose Image>Canvas Size from the Menu at the top of the screen. 
For my purposes, I want to extend my canvas to the right, I click on the left side of the Anchor box to push the canvas extension to the right. Make sure you click on the opposite of what you want to do. If you want to extend down, click the top of the box. If you want to extend left, make sure you click the right side of the box.
I want to change my dimensions to be double the original width. I multiplied the existing pixels by two, and typed the numbers in the box. Click Ok, and the canvas will expand. 
| This is the original size of my image. It is displayed in inches, but I want to see the dimensions in pixels. 
Change your dimensions to pixels by clicking the box to the right of the height and width field and selecting pixels. 
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Step 3: Blend The Color Of The New Canvas Size
We need to make a solid color adjustment layer. In the layers panel, choose the half black, half white, circle. Then choose Solid Color. Just choose whatever color comes up and press OK.
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The Solid Color layer will cover your image, that's okay. 
Click on the layer mask to select it and then press Ctrl (PC) or Command I, this will invert the layer mask and the solid color layer will disappear. 
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Next, select the brush tool, set the brush hardness to 0%, and then select the solid square to the left of the layer mask.
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Double click on the square of color in the new layer you have just created. Select a color with the color picker that is closest to the edge of the original image. Next, select the black layer mask, and make sure that you are working with a white brush. See our tutorial on using layer masks if you aren't sure. Brush over the area outside your original image making sure that the edge becomes concealed and the image is seamless.
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It should look like this when you are finished!
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Step 1: Open Your Image
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Step 2: Select The Area You Want To Keep
Pictured, Quick Selection Tool | Using the Quick Selection Tool (pictured left) with the + selected at the top of the screen, begin to select the area you would like to keep by clicking the area and dragging the mouse. If you have gone too far, select the - at the top of the screen and repeat the same clicking and dragging motion. Continue to use the + and - until the area you have selected is correct. 
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Step 3: Remove The Background In One Click!
In the Layers Panel, find the layer mask tool. Click it one time, this will instantly remove the background!
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I usually do video tutorials for you guys, but this week I have been looking for some information myself on the internet and just didn't have time to sit through video tutorials. I needed the information quickly. It occurred to me that I should probably put some instructions into print for quick viewing. If you want to see this information in action (pun intended) head over to our Video Library and watch this video.
Step 1: Add A Layer
You can add a layer a few different ways. In the picture on the left, I have added a "new layer", by clicking the square at the bottom of the screen with the corner turned up. In the picture on the right, I have added an adjustment layer by clicking the half black, half white circle and choosing "Hue/Saturation". There is a big difference between these two pictures. One has a layer mask, and one does not. The picture on the right has a white box. This is called a layer mask. There are many different ways to add a new layer, for todays purposes, we will use these two examples. A layer is any level that is on top of the "Background" layer.
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Step 2: Decide If Your Layer Is Black or White
I realize this may sound ridiculous but it is an important step. If the layer mask is white it means that you can see the effect on the image. If the layer mask is black it means that you cannot see the effect on the image, it is hidden. In the two pictures below, you can see that I have played an Action from our new Essential Vintage Action Set. Many layers have popped up, all of them with a white layer mask. In the third picture, you can see that the two layer masks are black.
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REVIEW:
A Black Layer Mask conceals the effect.
A White Layer Mask reveals the effect.
STEP 3: Select The Brush Tool & Set Your Foreground Color
Brush Tool
| The BrushIf your layer mask is white, you will need to use a black brush on it. If your layer mask is black, you will need to use a white brush on it. Think opposites. The picture to the left shows the brush tool highlighted. If you look at the bottom of the picture, you can see two squares, one is blue, one is white. 
This is known as the foreground and background colors. The square on top is the foreground color, and the square at the back is the background color. When you are working with layer masks your foreground and background colors should be set to the default provided by Photoshop. Black and white. If yours is a different color, as pictured below click the little squares at the top right just above the big squares. This will set it back to the default.
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Step 4: Brush Off On The White Layer Mask
In this image you can see that I have played an Action from the Essential Vintage Action Set called Afternoon Sun. It has a white layer mask and because of this, I can see the effect on the image.
| In the image above you can see that the white layer mask is not selected. You will need to select the white layer mask by clicking on it. When it is selected, it will look like the image to the left.Make sure that you set your brush opacity by using the slider to move the percentage between 0 and 100 percent. The lower the brush opacity, the less of the effect you will remove. |
Brush On, On The Black Layer Mask
In this image, I have played the Flower Child Action from the Essential Vintage Action Set, flattened, and played the Light/Dark brush which has black layer masks. When this Action plays, nothing happens. This is due to the black layer mask concealing the effect. This is done so that I can brush on light and dark only where I choose.
| Select the layer mask by clicking on it. Make sure that your foreground color is set to white and that the brush tool is selected. Set the brush opacity to whatever works for your image. Click the image and drag the cursor to reveal the effect. In this case, I lightened the right 1/4 of the image. |
But what if there is no layer mask?
No problem, you can add one. Simply click on the rectangle with a circle in it and a layer mask will pop up in the layer. It will automatically give you a white layer mask. If you want the effect concealed, you can do the following to change it.
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Press Ctrl + I (PC) or |
I hope you found this helpful! You can watch the video here. Subscribe to our Free Photo Tips to have them delivered to your inbox!
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In this video tutorial, I will show you how to easily get white, bright, polished teeth in Adobe® Photoshop®. Our dynamic Portrait Magic Action Set includes everything you need to successfully edit your portrait photography. This set includes Magic Smile which is the focus of this video tutorial.
This is an incredibly easy set to use and will save you a ton of clicks. If you are a beginner, there is no need to worry about learning all of the steps it takes. You simply press play and brush on the effects. Pro-photographers will appreciate how much this set shortens their workflow. The Portrait Magic Action Set is available for Instant Download.
Video Tutorial
Before & After Magic Smile
Portrait Magic
$75-
AVAILABLE FOR ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CS4-6 & CREATIVE CLOUD
Hi! I'm Amy,
a former commercial photographer turned Mom-tographer. I started Magic And Light Collection 8 years ago and have loved watching it grow over the years! I am currently working hard on raising those littles, and sharing all the Photoshop shortcuts that help me work smarter, and not harder!
a former commercial photographer turned Mom-tographer. I started Magic And Light Collection 8 years ago and have loved watching it grow over the years! I am currently working hard on raising those littles, and sharing all the Photoshop shortcuts that help me work smarter, and not harder!
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