You bought a camera and decided to edit your own pictures.
You bought yourself the latest edition of Photoshop and you stare at the screen.
Where do you start? First step: File On the left hand top corner of the screen you will see File.
Click on this and it will show New or Open.
Let us begin by opening an image you loaded onto your computer from your camera.
Use open and look for the picture.
For the easiest way put an image on your Desktop.
Now make sure you have Desktop in the top frame where it says Look in.
Open the image until you can see it in the Photoshop screen.
Step two Layers (copy of original picture.
Still on the top bar click on Layer now.
Click on duplicate and okay.
The reason is that your original image stays the same.
You are going to edit the copy and if you make a mess delete this copied layer and start again.
At this point they are exactly the same.
Step three Image The third word on the top bar is Image.
Click on image and then on Adjustments.
The list is long but you do not need to know everything now.
You only want to enhance your picture now.
We are only going to do automatic adjustments which will make a huge difference in your pictures to begin with.
This is a trial and error.
Once you click on anything you can decide if you like the result or not.
Step four Adjustments We are going to do 3 automatic adjustments.
After each adjustment you need to go back to Image then Adjustments before you can do the next automatic adjustment.
Step five Contrast First click on Auto Contrast.
If you like this effect keep this, if not click on previous step in History.
Step six Auto Levels Now do the Auto Levels and if satisfied move on or go back using the History on the right hand side of your screen.
Step seven Auto Colour Now do the Auto Colour.
If you are satisfied then go to File and Save as.
Give your new picture a new name or number.
This way your original image will still be on your computer to compare the two.
Your image will be a much better image.
What if I do not like an adjustment? Before you start to make adjustments find the History on the right side of your screen.
If it is not there you go to Window on the top bar and click on History.
It should appear on the right side now.
Great, watch this every time you do something.
Each step is recorded here and if you do not like what you see then click on the previous to undo the last step or go straight to the first step to start over again.
Photoshop must be the most amazing tool a photographer can have besides his camera.
However it is something you will need to learn before you can use all the different parts.
The best way is to start with a set of automatic settings.
Learn the basic steps to enhance your pictures first.
Do this a few times to make sure you understand what you are doing.
After that you take one function at a time and see how they change your picture.
You will never regret this.