A beautiful image of the Andromeda Galaxy, with its satellite galaxy M32 and the distant M33 visible as brightly as if the picture was taken from nearby

First off, the images you see on paper and on digital media are actually nothing compared to how they look in real life. Do you know what the Sun looks like if you were to view it from outer space? Yes, it would look white. There is no color in outer space that you can distinguish unless you were close to that object. If you were to look at the Andromeda Galaxy through a telescope, this is what it would look like:

We’re being far too kind here, there would be far less detail visible through a telescope than through a processed image. So how do we make this image suddenly appear detailed and full of vibrant colors? Well, simple. Photoshop! Ladies and gentlemen, we give Photoshop far less credit than it’s actually worth. It is a powerful image-processing tool that is capable of bringing out colors that we thought weren’t even there.

We begin the processing by selecting Curves from Image>Adjust>Curves. If you adjust the line that comes out, you can actually control the level of brightness from 14 different regions. You can adjust the shadows without changing the highlights. The X-axis represents the input level and the Y-Axis represents the output level. Click on the line and adjust to your heart’s content until you’re satisfied with the image.

A simple adjustment. Just drag the line upwards a little and you should see an instant increase in brightness in your image

The image should look something like this now:

Stunned? There’s more to follow. You can already see some of the details beginning to pop into existence that you thought weren’t even there. Photoshop can detect every detailed pixel count that is present in this image and if a bright spot is there but just isn’t bright enough for you to see it, it will bring you up to date with a little processing!

If you fine-tune the curve to represent an S slightly, it should come out like this:

Already you can see the colors coming out. This is just the beginning. We hit the final nail in the coffin by visiting the Color Balance section. Here, we tinker with the various colors a little until it looks like a proper color photo to the naked eye. This is where you get creative, because you need to pay attention to details with regards to the color you’re matching tinkering with:

The final processed image should look like this:

There are more advanced image-processing items that are available on Photoshop, including using Levels to adjust the level of detail that is visible in a photograph, as well as making sure noise is reduced on an image. However, with these fairly simple instructions, you could get to process your own photos, and make tiny little details come out that you thought were invisible all along.

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NOTE:  FEB 27th, 2012 

DUE TO HOSTING CHANGES, THIS WEBSITE IS A TEMPORARY SITE WHILE THE OLD IS BEING MIGRATED TO A NEW ONE.  WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.

A little humour

Click-It Photography now a Treasury Board of Canada approved photographer!

(Tony Clement address this week)

Click-It Photography now listed as a Royal Bank of Canada preferred photographer!

(RBC internal staff website)

Click-It Photography named ‘Top Photography’ in City Life Magazine Wedding Guide!

(See our News page)

Click-It Photography……smile, and we’ll shoot you!

We specialize in location photography for any purpose. Our range of services covers weddings, headshots, portrait, intimate / boudoir, family, children, etc. We photograph all types of events, sports, anniversaries, parties, indoors or outdoors. 

Wedding photography, engagement photography, portrait photography, product photography. Click-It Photography provides fresh and creative colour and B&W photos.