I need your help in naming my newest free portrait action (which is being fine-tuned as you read this). This action is your one-stop action for portraits and should be run on an unedited image. It does everything CoffeeShop PowderRoom 2 does, but includes 1) Levels adjustment layer for color/contrast correction 2) High Pass filter sharpening layer 3) Brighten layer 4) Vivid color layer filled in with a black layer mask so you just paint in vivid color where you want it 5) Soft color pop layer 6) dodge/burn layer 7) and completely automatic vignette layer. All of these layers can be turned off and on and are completely adjustable.
The image below shows all of the layers involved in this action. This action is not for the faint-hearted new user as it involves layer masks and some basic understanding of Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. You can also check out my CoffeeShop Layer Mask Tutorial . If you want to be a successful image editor, you need to learn layers! Don't be scared of them, once you pick it up they are simple.
People always ask me where to start when you are first trying to learn Photoshop Elements or CS. I always tell them the only photo-editing books I have bought are Scott Kelby's. His sense of humor might not thrill everyone, but he is an excellent teacher and his books are so easy to follow and actually fun. I still refer back to them all of the time. You can find the links to his newest Photoshop Elements and Photoshop CS4 books to the left. Check them out, they will save you so much time! I also have the link to my favorite photography book of all time, UnderStanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. This is the book that finally helped me understand how to use my camera and not set it on the "idiot" mode. He explains exposure, aperture, and ISO and how they all work together. If you are scared to stop using the A or P mode, please read his book!
I was calling this CoffeeShop Pretty Portrait, but I am not happy with that name as it excludes males. ;-) I would love if you could leave comment with a name suggestion. Hope everyone is doing well and editing their Christmas photos!
