The 10 biggest mistakes people make when using Adobe Photoshop
After years of working with Photoshop, we here at www.FixUpPix.com have seen (and made) our fair share of mistakes. However, it seems that people are bound to repeat the same simple mistakes over and over, and for that reason, we've assembled a list of 10 common mistakes people make when using Adobe Photoshop.
10. Photoshop is NOT for logos.
We've all heard it, but for some reason people just refuse to listen. Logos should be created as vector artwork in a program like Adobe Illustrator. Great logos don't have fancy drop shadows, bevels, or lighting effects.
9. Not EVERY photo needs color correction.
Sure, maybe that photo needs a little sharpening or a powerline or two removed from the background, but MAKE SURE that you know what you're doing when you start messing around with color corrections. Only the Hulk has green skin.
8. Sepia tones are great if you’re trying to impress mom.
But if you’re not trying to impress mom with all the cool stuff you can do on the computer, or if you don’t run a booth at the county fair where you dress people up as gangsters and cowboys and then print out their photo, don’t mess with sepia tones.
7. Drop shadows.
"You know what would make this photo better? How about I add a drop shadow!" How about you don't.
6. Avoid excessive bevel and emboss filters.
Unless you're working on an image of a bright, shiny penny, you probably don't need to use the bevel and emboss filter. Nothing cheapens an image more than rounding the edges and making them look shiny.
5. Do you really need to add that "faux paper" edge?
Lets face it, unless your photo was ripped in half by a huge Rottweiler, you don't need to use torn-edge plug-in. Put down the "Crazy Cool Photoshop Tricks You'll Never Use, Volume 37" book and walk out of Borders. Quickly. Don't look back. There are plenty of people out there who will actually pay you to remove torn and burnt edges from photos.
4. Even great photos have noise.
It's easy to get carried away when you're retouching a photo. You've got the airbrush tool, the Motley Crue CD from the 80's blaring, the [digital] fumes going to your head… Before you know it, half the photo is airbrushed and it’s smoother than a baby’s bottom. Remember to add in a little noise to help your image look realistic.
3. Sketch? Stylize? Leave them alone!
Any filter that appears under the sketch and the stylize menu probably shouldn't be used. There is, of course, the rare exception: If you're doing a trendy poster for the coolest grunge band that's coming to town for one night only, you might (and I emphasize the word might) find a use for them.
2. Two words: render clouds.
Two even better words: Hell no! If ever there was a filter that shouldn’t be used, it’s render clouds. It’s just bad, really bad. Look, if you need clouds for an image there’s a really easy way to get them: walk outside and take a picture of the sky. BAM! You’ve got clouds. If you happen to reside in some obscure part of the world where there aren’t clouds or sunlight, just remember, there are lots of great stock photos out there.
1. That lens flare filter looks like crap.
It looks really cool in the movie theater. You know the shot I'm talking about. The camera pans over the hot desert sand, and the sun rises. That awesome lens flare flashes across the screen. It’s really cool. Well, unless you're in Hollywood producing the latest film, don't use the lens flare filter. It’s not as cool on the picture of your little brother’s new bike.
