noob question on post processing images

[techead]

hi guys and girls

not really my forte here, but what happens if you take a pic and you not quite happy with the quality.

I see a lot of software packages advertising on the internet saying that can make your photo's look proffesional. They use some kind of image post processing I imagine.

so how does that work? removes blemishes/uneven tones etc etc

if these ARE for real, which ones is the best one to use??

please help

 

[Neverwhere]

I've not tried any of those, I'm assuming it just applies some colour filters and levels adjustments, and maybe removes noise.. There's no one-size fits all "effect" though, but if you're interested in making your photo's look great, get photoshop. It's expensive, so maybe try download a trial version, and use tutorials to get an idea of what's involved. It's not that difficult. You may enjoy it.

For example, google for tutorials on how to make your photo's look aged. Follow the steps, and just from that, you'll learn a bunch of tricks you can combine in different ways to get effects that are unique.

 

[Dolby]

so how does that work? removes blemishes/uneven tones etc etc

Are you talking portraits?

If so, check out Portrait Professional (http://www.portraitprofessional.com/).

It's extremely easy to use and you can download a free trial before buying. In my opinion, the models used when advertising are simply over the top (plastic looking skin etc) - but you can go from slight to over the top and everything in-between.

On this particular one, I added red tint to the hair, smoothed out her hair, widened/whitened the eyes, smoothed the skin, fuller and darker lips and removed loose hairs around. Then took it through PSE to blur the background even more and play with levels

 

[hilton]

Some of these programs are pretty good but the really good one concentrate on one particular issue. The good brands are;

Topaz Lans, Alien Skin, OnOne and Nik Software. These offer a bundle and individual programs.

Less popular brands are AutoFX, DFX, Digital Anarchy, Digital Film Tools, Image Trends, Imagenomic, Neat Image, Noise Ninja, Photowiz, PictoColor, Pixel Genius and Portrait Professional.

Some work with Photoshop only but some also work with Lightroom as well and alternatively as a stand alone program.

As Dolby said, Portrait Professional is pretty good but it's too easy to go overboard.

Bottom line, if you know photoshop well you probably don't need most of these but if you want a quick way of doing something specific then take a look.

Be aware though, to make the most of these software packages, you really want to be shooting RAW but Jpegs are still recoverable, just to a lesser degree.

Shout of you have further questions.

 

[techead]

thanks guys I really appreciate the help, this is exactly what I was talking about