Dear Debbie. . .

Look Ma, No Photoshop

This week's issue People magazine makes a big fuss over the fact that ten big stars appear in their pages baring all with no makeup and no retouching. That's cool, only there are so many camera tricks involved that the photos are essentially manipulated anyway. It just goes to show you that there are plenty of ways to bend reality that don't necessarily involve Photoshop.

In a post over at the Pop Photo Flash today, I deconstruct just what makes these women look great without makeup (and no, it's not just because they're all naturally beautiful and under forty). Check the post out here, and tune into the Pop Photo Flash daily for more daily tips and fun picture-taking ideas.

Hand Coloring Help

Dear Debbie,

I have both Photoshop Elements and Photoshop. If I want to color the berries red in a grayscale image, how do I do it? How do I colorize part of a picture that I changed from color to black-and-white?

Thanks for the help,

Stuck in Monochrome,
Central Lake, MI

Anyone Else Confused By Masks?

Dear Debbie,

In your Digital Toolbox column (Save Those JPEGS, March 2007) you describe a way to adjust certain areas of a photo. You say "paint the mask." Nowhere do you describe how to do that! I am brand new to Photoshop and am trying to demystify it. I think you pros all think we novices know as much as you do!

I tried just doing things hoping the mask would "paint itself" and I could figure out what I did. No luck. Please describe in detail how to get the mask painted so I can proceed.

Thanks,
Unmasked 

An Unsavory Character

Dear Debbie,

I have a photo that was taken on a trip to a baseball game in Philadelphia. We just wanted a picture of the family, but this individual behind us made a very rude hand gesture! How can I get him out of the enclosed photo?

Sincerely,
Flabbergasted
Walnut, California

Lunatic Fringe

Dear Debbie,

I read somewhere that removing or repairing fringing on high-contrast photos is a snap in Photoshop, but I don't remember if I ever saw the solution spelled out.  Any suggestions?  I use Photoshop CS (8.0).

Sincerely,
A Fringe Element

A Spotty Problem

Dear Debbie,

I have a portrait of someone with a real blemish issue, and I need to make her skin clear. I'm using Adobe Photoshop Elements, and the only way that I can see to fix blemishes is to use the Spot Healing Brush. Can you suggest something faster? I'll get carpel tunnel if I have to remove each and every spot this way.

Signed,
Impatient Retoucher, Alto, Michigan