You must have noticed how some images on, let´s say, fashion sites like
Lookbook.nu just look so much better than others. They´ve all been edited! And people love to read blogs that have beautiful pictures. I want my blog to have quality photos in all post, especially when I post pictures of my own creations, but sometimes it is hard cause I don´t own a high tech camera or Photoshop and similar photo manipulation software. The only one I have is the
Polaroid making software (you can download it for free) but it requires the photos to be square, and sometimes I don´t want to crop them. I love the sepia,
iPhone Hipstamatic and
Lomo photography styled old looking images and was so happy to find today an online photo editor software that has these functions available -
Phixr. Now I can make all photos to look nice, even if the original isn´t so darn special to begin with. Phixr has the basic tools, like flipping the image horizontally/vertically and rotating it, cropping and enlarging canvas. But I´m more intrested in the color manipulation. I recommend only subtle changes, so that the images don´t become too treated and the subject is still well viewable. Also pick one style and stick to that. It makes the blog look more harmonious. If manipulating each posted photo sounds like a lot of hassle, I say "get used to it" if you want a stylish blog. Looking good takes time and effort. Have fun!!
This is the original image I started with:
70's STYLED OLD LOOK:
Go to Color Effects, choose Make Love, Not War tool. Change Opacity to 70, the colors of the original image come through. Finally add just a little Contrast, here 8 points.
VIGNETTE TOOL:
This effect will give your image a darker shade on the picture edges. Go to Camera & Lens Effects and choose Vignette. Change shade color to black 000000. Drop Covarage to 0. Raise Inner Blur to 10 and sharpness up, here to 8. Drop Opacity, here at 65.
LOMO EFFECT:
Go to Camera & Lens Effects and choose Lomo Effect. Choose one of the effects from the drop down list, I chose Hard Light. Bring Opacity down to 70. Add more Intencity.
SEPIA TOOL:
Go to Color Effets - Sepia tool. If the brown shade is too dark, you can choose a lighter yellow by clicking Base color. I chose ba8a52, a slightly pinkish brown. This sepia color is a mask/layer on to of your old image. By changing Opacity to 65, the colors of the original image come through. Finally add Contrast 15-20 points.
OLD B&W PICTURES:
Go to Camera & Lens Effects and choose Holga Effect. Add Grain to nro 2. Add Intencity. Drop Opacity to 75.
If you want the image to be sepia colored after this lens effect, go to Color Effets - Sepia tool. Drop Opacity to 50. Add Contrast if needed.
Try also other combinations from the shown effects, like 70's styled + holga lens (opacity at 40 points). Or 70´s styled + Vignette tools.
Tekstit
