9 basics of image editing: A getting started guide for beginners

Our 21st-century technology grants us the power to capture and preserve memories like never before. Social networks invite us to share stunning photos, so it’s no wonder why taking care of our pictures is more important than ever. However, and being honest, taking pictures is easy, but making them stand out is a whole different ball game. 

Lucky for us, with the amazing array of cameras and tools at our disposal, anyone can easily turn their ordinary photo into a professional-looking masterpiece! Boosting brightness levels or experimenting with contrasting hues will upgrade even standard shots to soaring heights. And best of all: you won’t have to break the bank while doing so! This blog post is here to share with you some handy tips for getting started with image editing no matter your level of expertise in photography or editing. Grab your camera and discover the image editing basics  – let’s polish those pics!

What are the basics of image editing?

What exactly do we mean by “basics”? Well, even if the abundance of tools and features makes it a bit intimidating, there are some simple settings that can be used to make any image a piece of art with ease. You will no longer need to sign up for a photography course – by just following some basic editing tips, your pictures will be gallery worthy.

But before we get into those juicy tricks, you need a picture editor tool! Don’t go searching for the perfect software – with Wepik’s photo editor, you’ll get everything you need to get started on your journey! 

Understanding the basics of photo editing

Unleashing your inner artist has never been easier, and funny! Get ready to learn and take good notes – you won’t believe how cheerful transforming images can be.

Shoot photos in RAW mode

Firstly, before you start fiddling with the editor buttons, it is important to work with the correct image format. You’re certainly familiar with JPEG, but shooting in RAW mode is the way to go for editing. Not only it provides more control over how your images look but also preserves practically every detail seen with the naked eye. 

Moreover, it offers a huge range of adjustment options without sacrificing quality, giving you stunningly polished images that are sure to make the right impression.

Adjust the exposure and the contrast

Ok now let’s get down to business! Adjusting the exposure and contrast of a photo is essential for creating a visually appealing photograph. Exposure determines how light or dark a picture appears, while contrast refers to the difference between the brightest and darkest parts of an image. With just a few simple adjustments, any picture can be elevated to an extraordinary level!

Mockup that shows the users how to adjust the exposure of a picture using Wepik's online phoyo editor tool.

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Cropping your images

Surely you know how to handle this one: with careful cropping, you can eliminate distracting elements from your photos to zero in on the main subject. Creative framing with cropping will give a professional polish to all of your images, plus make it simple for sharing across online platforms. So if you’re ready to step up your photo editing game, don’t forget to give cropping a try – less is more!

Check white balance

White is undoubtedly the most important color to balance in your picture. Achieving accurate colors and tones in your images is essential, and a good white balance guarantees that the scene looks natural, vibrant, and true to life! Your camera may already apply a white balance setting, but it’s worth double-checking to get those precise hues just right. Keeping this in mind, you will be able to create dynamic visuals with brilliant realism

Modify sharpening

Sharpening photos can make them come alive! Yielding precise lines and shapes as you emphasize certain elements in the shot, sharpness adjustment charts an image’s transformation from blurry into a delicacy. All it takes is a careful examination of individual areas on the frame to check the effect – for social media posts, you can get away with a small-scale picture, but if your goal is a large printout, detail is everything!

Reduce image noise

Do you ever wonder how an image can contain noise? Yes, there is such a thing as visual noise and refers to anything that is not displayed clearly or is of poor quality. Adding a touch of luminance and color saturation will make your images more vivid and realistic, conserving all their details! Have fun playing with settings – just start with minor tweaks in each slider until you get your desired result.

Color correction

Here is more information on color adjusting! Photographers have the power to elevate an image from merely great to truly mesmerizing by correcting colors, bringing a captivating richness that unifies the entire look. Remember: adding vibrancy to your shots can breathe new life into neutral tones, while saturation will take it one step further and wholly intensify the entire image frame, creating an eye-catching result. The choice is yours!

Mockup that shows the users how to adjust the color correction of a picture using Wepik's online photo editor tool.

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Export photos and repeat!

Ready for your images to bloom? The last secret ingredient is practice! It may take a few tries, but every time you snap and edit, it’s an opportunity to learn. With time and dedicated effort, each click will become more golden until your pictures shimmer with brilliance which no one can deny!

 

Are you ready to embark on a thrilling journey? With Wepik, even absolute beginners can come up with exquisite skillful pictures like pros! Our intuitive editor offers unbeatable convenience and comes packed with all the features needed for killer snapshots. So what’s stopping you from unlocking your full creative potential? Check our website and experience a whole world of possibilities!