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Post Processing in Photoshop - Quick Fix For Washed Out Photos

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Real Estate Agent with Real Estate Showcase Photography

      Selective Color Options - The Quick Fix for Washed Out Photos

If you have Photoshop, (I have the CS version), you have the ability to improve the look of a washed out photo with ease. Using the Selective Color Options from the 'new adjustment layer' icon, (the one at the bottom that looks like a black and white full moon), you can easily change this:

Mountain Scene faded photo

To this:

Improved photo

Open the Selective Color Options box:

 

Selective Color Options box

Clicking on the 'Colors' drop down box, you will see the choices of Whites, Neutrals, and Blacks toward the bottom of the drop down. To get rid of the washed out grayish look, click on Neutrals, then adjust the 'Black' slider you see above. Then go to the drop down box again, selecting Blacks, and again, using the black slider seen above, adjust the color. Follow once again with  choosing Whites in the drop down box.

    Voila! A quick and simple fix!

Now your photos, whether for the MLS, your blog, or your website, will have more WOW factor!

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Photos taken by Debi Boucher, all rights reserved, may not be reproduced without express written permission.  Memories DVDs Photo Slideshow DVD and Web Presentations, "Real Estate Showcase", to assist with marketing and advertising endeavors. More affordable, more interesting, and more captivating than a virtual tour!

Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Debi, you certainly fixed this photo. I have Publisher and it has also some correcting abilities with photos. Thanks for the tips with Photoshop.

Jan 28, 2009 08:43 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Hi Debi-That is a great photo save. I am going to be taking a 8 week community group course on photoshop so it should be fun. I hope you've had a great day. :-)

Jan 28, 2009 09:18 AM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Gary, You're welcome! I love photoshop- So many fun and creative things that one can do!

Sharon, You will really enjoy your class! Good for you - a big learning curve, but so much information available online too! I think you could live to be 200 years old, and still not have learned everything you can do in PS....

Debi

Jan 28, 2009 09:25 AM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Hi Debi. I don't have Photoshop....:-( but I have been pretty successful with Picasa -- what's your impression of Picasa....for just improving the quality of a picture? Also I have Camedia.. which came with my little Olymppus camera several years ago, it has quite a few more tools than Picasa.....

Jan 28, 2009 09:49 AM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Mary, Picassa has some terrific tools, Camedia I'm not familiar with. I use Picassa as a storage/organizing tool, and I love it's redeye goody. The difference is with PShop, you can do so much more if you choose to, and make changes to portions of the photo, rather than the entire photo, at one time. Such as  changing only the neutrals, or grays, in the photo if that is all that it needed. Or creating more depth and contrast to a black and white photo than Picassa allows. It's all in what you need. I love the tools in PShop that allow me to remove unwanted things in the photos, such as dust on my sensor when it shows up in my photos! Nothing ruins a great shot faster than THAT!

Debi

Jan 28, 2009 10:44 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Hi Debi-The good thing about the class is, it is free. The church sponsors it and the folks are real knowledgeable that teach it. It starts in acouple of weeks. Do you just google photoshop to find stuff about it. You are right. There is a lot to learn and it can be overwhelming. Have a great night and I'll talk again soon. Can't wait to see what you will have next. :-)

Jan 28, 2009 11:59 AM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Sharon, Google whatever it is you'd like to do, for example, to learn to do amazing B&W conversions - Google Photoshop B&W Conversions - you'll get hundreds of hits, and about as many methods! LOL Or need more info on how to use a tool? Google Photoshop Brushes, etc. Tons and tons of info there. Have fun! Free is GOOD!

Debi

Jan 28, 2009 12:06 PM
Toula Rosebrock
Diane Turton, Realtors, Forked River, NJ - Lacey Township, NJ
Broker/Sales Associate, Realtor, Lacey Township,

Hi Debi:

Great example!  I enhance photos all the time too...

ToulaRosebrock.com - DianeTurton.net

Jan 28, 2009 11:22 PM
Michael Swinney
Select Realty Services, LLC - Alexandria, VA

That's a great tip.  Thanks.

Jan 29, 2009 01:41 AM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Toula, Not EVERY shot we take comes out perfect....Most, but alas, not all! LOL

Debi

Jan 29, 2009 03:09 AM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Michael, Thanks! Hope you find it useful.

Debi

Jan 29, 2009 03:09 AM
Diane Aurit
LKN Realty, LLC - Mooresville, NC
Lake Norman Real Estate

What a difference!  I don't have photo shop but use other programs to try to achieve the best quality.  Thanks for this  insight into photo shop!

Jan 31, 2009 09:35 AM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Hi Diane, You are welcome. This is just one of many approaches - Photoshop can do so much! Thanks for having a look.

Debi

Jan 31, 2009 10:12 AM
Mark Bruno
Monterey Peninsula Home Team - Carmel, CA - Keller Williams Coastal Estates - Pebble Beach, CA
Monterey Peninsula Home Team Leader

Thanks Debi!  Great tip!  I'll be using it on my next listing shoot.

Mark

Feb 05, 2009 05:23 AM
Linda Bourgault
lulugraphix-creative photography & fine art - Flower Mound, TX

Debi—Terrific post. I love Photoshop! It's only limitation is one's imagination. It's the absolute best photo software I've ever used. I encourage people to experiemnt with it and learn on their own or in a class - it's worth the investment in time as the results, as you've demonstrated, are very worthwhile.

Feb 07, 2009 03:07 PM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Hi Mark! I've been out of town, sorry for the delay in responding. I'm glad you'll find it useful! Always nice to find an easy fix!

Linda, I love it too! I'm sure you could live forever, and not have figured out everything this program can do! It really is amazing! Thanks for stopping by.

Debi

Feb 09, 2009 11:22 AM