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Photo Thursdays- When your photos give you the blues

April 22, 2010 by Wifeeclectic 37 Comments

This is a how to fix for a reader. If you get home and your photos look something like this, there is something you can do to fix it.
In Picasa, you can open your file and go to tuning then play with the color temperature. That should help but it won’t be perfect. If you want to really be able to fix it, find someone with Photoshop and follow this simple process.

1. Open PhotoShop.
2. Go to “Image,” “Adjustments,” “Levels”
3. Press the “Auto” button. This fixes most of the problems 90% of the time. You may have to do further touch up. Either way, proceed to the next step. If it looks awful, press “Ctrl-Z” on your keyboard. Even when Auto looks pretty good, I do further touchups almost every time.
4. In the dropdown menu above the picture in the Levels palette, select “Blue”
5. Carefully and slowly move the shadows and midtowns to the right. Start with the midtones. Be careful. The more you do this, the more it tends to suck out the red and add the green in the photo.
6. You will probably need to add some red back in the photo, so select “Red” from the dropdown menu above the picture in the Levels palette.
7. Carefully and slowly move the highlights to the left. As you do this, it might blow out the picture. To compensate, carefully (and in a minor way), move the shadows to the right.
8. Your picture should look good. Press “OK.”
9. Now, your picture may be a little flat, so add some contrast by going to the Contrast palette. Don’t add too much.

With this picture, I added some overall highlights and I cropped the photo because I felt it showed too much nothing. I am more than willing to help you guys fix your photos. I prefer if you upload them to flickr or picasa web albums and send me a link from their sites, so I know where you are sending me to. My husband would be angry for days and days if I got a virus on my computer, so I am trying to be careful.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Photo Thursdays

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lu says

    April 22, 2010 at 4:09 pm

    How (mostly) simple! It's so sad that I've had Photoshop for 2+ years now and have NO idea how to edit most photos… Fail! 🙂

    Reply
  2. Sarah says

    April 22, 2010 at 4:44 pm

    Thanks so much! I am SO getting my brother to buy me photoshop with his student discount now.

    Reply
  3. Lady Hill says

    April 22, 2010 at 6:08 pm

    WOW.
    What a difference! That's great. Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial!

    http://fromlazytolady.blogspot.com

    Reply
  4. Nikki says

    April 23, 2010 at 1:07 am

    Hey, I found you blog from TMC. I'm a huge photography fan and just recently bought Photoshope Elements and it's so flippin complicated!! Love the tutorials!!
    Plus I love to cook and finding new recipes. Glad I found you blog…new follower! Hope you will stop by and visit!

    Reply
  5. Krissy @ ArtsyMom says

    April 23, 2010 at 4:26 am

    Visiting and following from Friday Follow!! Hope you stop by our site and do the same!

    I always use photoshop to clean up my pictures. I love my camera, but I can never get the lighting right naturally!!

    http://theartsymom.tk

    Reply
  6. Rebecca says

    April 23, 2010 at 4:34 am

    Follow you through Follow Friday! You can follow me back at http://beyondmeasuring.blogspot.com

    Thanks!

    Reply
  7. The Baby Store Plus says

    April 23, 2010 at 4:53 am

    Hi Popping in from the Follow Friday Celebration! I'm now following your blog. Hope you can visit my blog too! http://thebabystoreplus.blogspot.com/2010/04/follow-friday-celebration-of-followers.html

    While you are there, please feel free to enter our ERGObaby Infant Carrier Giveaway! http://thebabystoreplus.blogspot.com/2010/04/win-ergobaby-infant-carrier-then-get.html

    Have a Wonderful Friday!

    Reply
  8. Lindsay says

    April 23, 2010 at 5:16 am

    FOund your blog through Follow Friday. Im really loving the photo tutes you have on here! (along with the cute pictures of your kiddos!) I'm following you now. Hop on over to my blog and do the same if you'd like!
    BecauseHeGave.blogspot.com

    Reply
  9. Miss. Clippy says

    April 23, 2010 at 6:08 am

    Stumbled into your blog through friday follow 🙂 Really helpful tips, thanks for sharing! Although I don't think I've ever used Picasa before… Hmmmm…

    Anyway, new follower from FF! Hope you can visit mine too! 🙂

    Reply
  10. InspiredGifts.com says

    April 23, 2010 at 7:46 am

    Nice Photoshop work!!!
    We are your newest followers from Friday FOllow.
    Hope you have a great weekend.

    The Moms @ Inspired Gifts
    http://inspiredgiftsblog.blogspot.com

    Reply
  11. janetfaye says

    April 23, 2010 at 8:46 am

    Hi! I am now following you on GFC – janetfaye from Friday Follow!

    http://grammyjanetsplace.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  12. Alyssa says

    April 23, 2010 at 9:28 am

    Hi. I'm your newest follower from FF. I am sure I could benefit from your tips. I hope you'll visit my blog too and enjoy it.

    Reply
  13. Trac~ says

    April 23, 2010 at 9:50 am

    Stopping by from Friday Follow to say hello. I am your newest follower. I can't wait to check up on your tips – I could use all the help I can get! LOL Hope you have a wonderful day. Please stop by and say hello if you get time. :o)

    Reply
  14. Lafe's Hidden Treasures says

    April 23, 2010 at 10:32 am

    Love Picasa! Happy Friday Follow and enjoy your weekend. http://lafeshiddentreasures.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  15. Ashley says

    April 23, 2010 at 10:35 am

    Must have been a pretty gloomy day out 🙂 Happy Friday Follow 🙂 http://mommyandchild.blogspot.com

    Reply
  16. Huckleberrygal says

    April 23, 2010 at 11:46 am

    Followed your blog thanks to Friday Follow. Nice tip for the picture.
    Thanks!
    http://huckleberryhome.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  17. Midday Escapades says

    April 23, 2010 at 12:02 pm

    Good to know and great job. I often have pics like that I will need to fix. Happy Friday Follow!

    Lynn

    Reply
  18. Jen says

    April 23, 2010 at 12:11 pm

    I'm stopping by from FF! I am now following you. When you get a chance stop by my blog.

    I love the camera tips. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  19. Blackberry Jam Cafe says

    April 23, 2010 at 12:40 pm

    Great tips – thanks. Visiting from Friday Follow – I'm now following so I don't miss all the fun!

    Stop by and see me – I have a great give away for a Mother's Day Gift Basket from Bea's Gift Baskets.
    Susan
    http://www.BlackberryJamCafe.blogspot.com

    Reply
  20. Smart Money Mom says

    April 23, 2010 at 1:45 pm

    I am already a follower! Stopping by to say hi! Happy Friday!

    Reply
  21. Kathleen says

    April 23, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    I'm your newest follower from Friday Follow! Oh am I glad I found your site – great photography advice! Hope to see you at my blog too!

    http://widdlebugs.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  22. 21st C. DG says

    April 23, 2010 at 3:19 pm

    Always love to see other photogs helping the masses with hints & tutorials! New FF. Look forward to reading more!

    Reply
  23. Robyn Jones says

    April 23, 2010 at 3:33 pm

    I just purchased photo shop elements, but I haven't had time to go through the program yet…Picassa is pretty good..I have done some good work with it…

    Reply
  24. Julee says

    April 23, 2010 at 4:11 pm

    Beautiful Temple Picture.

    I'm a new Friday Follower! Visit me at http://www.jonbonjovious.blogspot.com and sign up for my newest giveaway!

    Reply
  25. Puanani503 says

    April 23, 2010 at 4:54 pm

    I love photo tutorials..I'm your newest Friday Follower! Happy Friday:)

    Maopa
    http://lusciousdeals.blogspot.com
    http://mpuanani.blogspot.com

    Reply
  26. Milena says

    April 23, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    Saying- Hi from Follow me Friday- New Follower!

    Reply
  27. The Graves Family (Monkey Tales) says

    April 23, 2010 at 5:15 pm

    follow you from follow friday!! I would love if you could come follow my blog!
    mylittlestgravesies.blogspot.com

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    Reply
  28. cfoxes says

    April 23, 2010 at 5:26 pm

    I did not know that. Thanks for the new info…I am here from Follow Friday!

    Reply
  29. Steve and Ashley says

    April 23, 2010 at 6:19 pm

    Thanks for fixing that picture! I'll get to doing the rest of them now! Your the BEST! OH, and can I count on you to do some pics of Capriel when we all get to Utah for Scotts wedding, or will you be swamped? Just let me know, I sure wish you would be around to do newborn ones for us.

    Reply
  30. Steve and Ashley says

    April 23, 2010 at 6:22 pm

    Oh, and just for the record- It was a beautiful, sunny day when those shots were taken. The idiot who took them just did an outdoor shot with her white balance on indoor incandescent lighting. Duh. Another thing for the record- it wasn't me who took the pic. 😉 I know better thanks for my photo guru. ( That would be you Deb.)

    Reply
  31. casey aubut says

    April 23, 2010 at 6:45 pm

    I am your newest follower from Friday Follow! Would love for you to follow me back! 🙂
    http://www.aubutfamily.com

    Reply
  32. waterwaif says

    April 23, 2010 at 7:02 pm

    I'm your newest follower through Friday Follow.

    http://waterwaif.blogspot.com

    Reply
  33. ashley says

    April 23, 2010 at 7:48 pm

    love the style of your blog, found you on friday follow, follow back!
    http://adailydoseofdieting.blogspot.com/
    can't wait to read MORE!!

    Reply
  34. Tree says

    April 24, 2010 at 2:33 am

    Hi there! Stopping by for the Friday Follow! You have a great blog!

    I'm now following you with both of my blogs. Look forward to reading more from you!

    Tree (aka Mother of Pearl)
    Mother of Pearl It Is
    Mommies Faves Top Sites and Blogs

    Reply
  35. Denise says

    April 24, 2010 at 2:41 am

    Following you from Friday Follow!

    Stop by and enter my giveaway for Rachael Ray Bakeware:
    http://extremepersonalmeasures.blogspot.com/2010/04/do-you-know-about-family-of-csn-stores.html

    Reply
  36. MelissaAggie98 says

    April 24, 2010 at 3:11 am

    Just stopping in from FF! Have a great weekend!

    Reply
  37. Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend says

    April 24, 2010 at 6:49 am

    I am new to FF and love it….thanks for all the tips…Had a few hours to blog hop tonight……so glad that I stopped here….Be sure and stop by and read about a miracle in our family….
    http://teresa-grammygirlfriend.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-think-god-smiled.html
    http://grammyababychangeseverything.blogspot.com/

    Reply

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Welcome to Housewife Eclectic

Debra Hawkins - Housewife EclecticHi, I'm Debra. I am a craftaholic photographer married to a web-programming amateur chef with two sassy littles keeping it interesting. It gets crazy around here. Read More…

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