How to improve any photo using Photoshop

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A quick, easy (and uncommon) way to improve your pictures.

There are many good ways to improve a lifeless photo with Adobe Photoshop. In this lens I'll go over a method you probably haven't seen before.

I came across this improvement technique entirely by accident and fell in love with it because in a few simple steps it can make an image "pop". It deepens the shadows, increases the sharpness and helps the saturation in a natural way... all in a matter of a few clicks. It works on both color and grayscale images. Have fun!

Step 1: Duplicate the photo layer

So we'll start with a photo of this kindly old gentleman. Notice that that image is a little "lifeless"... it lacks a certain "zing".

In your Layers menu, grab the photo layer and drag it over the "new layer icon" so you have a copy of your photo sitting directly on top of itself. This is the layer we'll be working on.

Step 2: Apply a full Unsharp Mask to the new layer

Under your Filters menu, select "Sharpen" and "Unsharp Mask".

Leave the Threshold at "0", but bump the "Amount" and "Radius" sliders all the way to the top.

Your image should now look like it's on a 60's acid-trip.

Step 3: Gaussian Blur that sucka!

Still working on your copy layer, apply a Gaussian Blur filter to the layer (Filter menu --> Blur --> Gaussian Blur).

The amount you enter will vary depending on the size of the picture. Aim for a "ghostly" effect, where all the edges are softened, but you can still make out what the picture is... kind of like this...

Step 4: Change the blending mode to soft light...

We're nearly there.

The next step is to find the "blending options" drop down list in your Layers pallete and change the blending mode on your wacky new layer to "Soft Light".

Now your "wacky" layer becomes slightly transparent and you can see the normal photo showing through it. It should look a bit like you're looking through a set of colored gel filters...

Step 5: Back off the opacity to 15-20%

Now that effect is kind of cool but it's too strong for a natural looking photograph so there's one thing we have left to do.

The final step is to back off the opacity of your colorful layer until the image looks right. I usually find somewhere between 15-20% opacity works well.

At first you might think the picture looks almost the same as it did when you started, but you're wrong... click the "eye" icon on your new layer on and off so you can see what a difference you made.

Congratulations... you just brought a picture to LIFE!

It works on black and white images too!

One final example with a cute little kitten...

Need Photoshop?

No creative mind should be without it.

You can purchase Photoshop as a stand-alone program or as part of the powerful Adobe Creative Suite 4. If it's beyond your budget you can also purchase a "lite" but still very versatile version called "Photoshop Elements".

Enjoy Photoshopping?

Improve your skills with these great books!

Layers: The Complete Guide to Photoshop's Most Powerful Feature

Geek-wear for designers

Photoshop - Helping the Ugly Dark T-Shirt

Did the effect work for you? Please let me know.

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lc2u2 lc2u2 May 19, 2009 @ 5:02 pm

Great tutorial! I can't wait to try this out on some of my photos.

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Light-in-me Light-in-me May 19, 2009 @ 1:17 pm

Very cool, I will have to try that...

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slc slc May 19, 2009 @ 3:27 am

handy little hint
well done

Reply

GreenEcoBean GreenEcoBean May 18, 2009 @ 11:07 pm

wow that is a really cool, AND uncommon ;-) trick

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PerCapitaSmile

by PerCapitaSmile

I'm PerCapitaSmile (aka Craig Watson) and I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I'm a professional graphic designer for large engineering firms. I hope this... (more)

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How to improve any photo using Photoshop