Intro guide to post-processing

[Jay.Yang]

Hi all,

As a total newbie to photography, I always thought that how a picture turns out depends mostly at the time you are shooting it. However, now I realize that post-processing is just as important as nailing the right exposure for the shots. But I am clueless of how to get into post-processing. Is there a basic guide to introductory post-processing that I can read up? And what software should I have? I only have Photoshop CS (not CS3 or CS4). The only post-processing I can do is to load my picture into Photoshop and make auto-level and auto-colour. To my surprise, some of the pictures already looks much much better (I post an example below). If I know all the tools available...

Thanks a bunch,
Jay

p.s. First attached picture is BEFORE auto-level and auto-colour. Second attached picture is AFTER.

[jabber]

Hi, Jay--well, post-processing is not as important as nailing the shot itself, but it's pretty important. My recommendation, after five years of fiddling with various pieces of software: get Lightroom and buy a month's subscription to Lynda.com where you can learn the program online in a very helpful and thorough way. Good luck.

[ocular]

It's been a while since I've used photoshop cs uhhh I think u go to new layer> and there a bunch of options that u can use like photo filters ect ra.

Here's a picture incase you don't know where the layers are..



^^ You drag ur layer down to little folder icon next to the garbage can. You're left with a duplicate of your original copy (if you don't like the result u can delete) , now you can go to new>layer> I think there are adjustments here ( I can't remember :wall-an ).

Anyway You can also add a curve adjustment, best to shape it like an S if you can but make very small adjustments until your happy with the result.

[F8&Bthere]

I agree with Jabber, for the most part. I love using Lightroom, because it can organize and do most basic image improvement/adjustment chores, and makes batch processing easy. But it is kinda pricey, so if you wanted to try a program that is free, can convert RAW files, and perform some basic adjustments and editing, you might look into Raw Therapee. Not sure what O/S you are using and if it is compatible...
I suppose you can keep using Photoshop too, since you already have it. But for me, I find it overkill for most of my work, unless I have something very specific I need to do that LR can't.

[Jay.Yang]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm using mac OSX. I check out the price for Lightroom and it's indeed quite pricey (>$300). Lucky one of my friend has a copy of Apple Aperture, so I guess this is where I am going to start. I hope Aperture is not too bad in comparison to Lightroom.

[F8&Bthere]

Aperture is very comparable to Lightroom in many regards from what I read so enjoy!