Pixlr Photo Editing Tutorial
TLDRIn this tutorial, product photographer and educator Amy Eaton introduces Pixlr as the top free photo editing software, ideal for online business sellers. She explains why filters should be avoided in product photos and demonstrates how to crop, resize, adjust levels, and balance colors in Pixlr for high-quality, true-to-life images. Amy also offers a cheat sheet and additional resources to enhance product photography skills.
Takeaways
- π· Amy Eaton is a product photographer and educator who helps handmade sellers create product photos for their online businesses.
- π She recommends Pixlr (pixel.com) as the best free photo editing software, as it uses tools similar to Photoshop but with easier navigation.
- β Avoid using filters for product photos as they can alter colors and contrasts, making the products look less true to form.
- π Use the crop tool in Pixlr to resize images to 1000x800 pixels for an ideal 5x4 ratio on Etsy listings, which is recommended for visibility and loading speed.
- π The levels adjustment in Pixlr helps balance brightness and contrast, with the aim of making images appear bright enough for customers to get a clear view of the products.
- π¨ Adjust color balance to correct any color casts caused by lighting conditions, ensuring colors in product images are as accurate as possible.
- π The 'History' function in Pixlr tracks edits and allows for easy reverting to previous steps if needed.
- πΌοΈ Once the image is cropped, resized, and color balanced, it's ready to be saved in JPEG or PNG format at full quality for optimal product presentation.
- π Amy provides a cheat sheet outlining the steps discussed, along with additional resources for product photography styling and prop ideas.
- π£οΈ She also mentions a Facebook group dedicated to product photography for handmade sellers and an upcoming online photo school called Photocraft Academy.
- π Amy encourages viewers to try Pixlr, leave comments, and join her community for further learning and support in product photography.
Q & A
Who is the speaker in the Pixlr Photo Editing Tutorial video?
-The speaker in the Pixlr Photo Editing Tutorial video is Amy Eaton, a product photographer and educator.
What is Amy's main concern about using Pikm for product photography?
-Amy's main concern about using Pikm is that it involves a great deal of filters that can adversely affect product images by introducing different color casts and contrasts, which may not be suitable for product listing photos that need to look crisp and true to form.
Why does Amy prefer Pixlr over Pikm for photo editing?
-Amy prefers Pixlr because it uses the same tools as Photoshop but with easier to navigate menus and fewer irrelevant tools, making it a better choice for product photography where clarity and true color representation are crucial.
What is the recommended image size for Etsy listings according to Amy?
-The recommended image size for Etsy listings is 1,000 pixels by 800 pixels, which maintains a 5x4 ratio that is ideal for product photos on the platform.
What is the purpose of using the crop tool in Pixlr as demonstrated by Amy?
-The purpose of using the crop tool in Pixlr is to crop and resize the image to the desired dimensions, ensuring that the product is centered and the image maintains the recommended aspect ratio for online listings.
How does Amy suggest adjusting the levels in Pixlr to improve brightness and contrast?
-Amy suggests adjusting the levels by playing with the sliders in the levels adjustment tool. She recommends dragging the sliders to the edge of the histogram to achieve a well-balanced image in terms of brightness and contrast.
What is the importance of color balance in product photography as highlighted by Amy?
-Color balance is important in product photography to ensure that the colors of the products look as true to form as possible. This helps customers get an accurate sense of the product, which is essential for online sales.
How can one correct a color cast in an image using Pixlr according to the tutorial?
-To correct a color cast in an image using Pixlr, one can adjust the red, green, and blue sliders in the color balance adjustment tool. This allows for the reduction of unwanted color tones and the enhancement of the overall color accuracy of the image.
What are the steps Amy outlines for editing a product photo in Pixlr?
-Amy outlines the following steps for editing a product photo in Pixlr: 1) Open the image, 2) Use the crop tool to crop and resize the image, 3) Adjust the levels for brightness and contrast, and 4) Adjust the color balance to ensure accurate color representation.
What additional resources does Amy offer to help with product photography?
-Amy offers a cheat sheet outlining the steps discussed in the tutorial, a list of more than 90 prop ideas for styling photos, and membership to her Facebook group called 'Master Your Biz Photos with Amy Eaton'. She also mentions an upcoming online photo school called Photocraft Academy.
How can viewers stay updated on Amy's upcoming photo school and other resources?
-Viewers can stay updated on Amy's upcoming photo school and other resources by leaving a comment on the video, joining her Facebook group, or following her on other social media platforms where she shares tips and tricks related to product photography.
Outlines
πΈ Introduction to Photo Editing with Pixel
Amy Eaton, a product photographer and educator, introduces herself and expresses gratitude to Jamie for the opportunity to present a tutorial on photo editing. She acknowledges the challenges faced by handmade sellers in editing their product photos and recommends Pixel as the best free editing software. Amy explains her preference for Pixel over Pikm due to the latter's use of filters that can distort product images. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining the true colors and clarity of product photos, suggesting that Pixel's tools are more intuitive and similar to Photoshop, making it easier to navigate and use for beginners.
π¨ Cropping and Resizing Images for Etsy Listings
Amy provides a step-by-step guide on how to use Pixel to open and edit photos for online listings, focusing on the importance of cropping and resizing images to a 5x4 ratio, which is ideal for Etsy listings. She explains that a 1000x800 pixel size is recommended by Etsy for optimal image quality and loading speed. Amy demonstrates how to use the crop tool in Pixel, adjust the crop box, and center the product in the image. She also introduces the levels adjustment feature to control brightness and contrast, suggesting that images should be bright enough to attract customers but not overly so.
π Adjusting Color Balance for Accurate Product Photos
Continuing the tutorial, Amy discusses the importance of color balance in product photography. She explains how external factors like lighting can affect the color tone of images, causing them to appear green or yellow. Using Pixel, she demonstrates how to adjust the color balance by manipulating the red, green, and blue sliders to correct any color casts. Amy emphasizes the need for subtle adjustments and the use of the history function to undo changes if necessary. She also highlights the importance of true color representation in product images to ensure customers have an accurate view of the products.
π Finalizing Edits and Additional Resources
Amy concludes the tutorial by summarizing the key steps: cropping and resizing, adjusting levels for brightness and contrast, and balancing colors. She advises saving edited images in JPEG or PNG format at full quality for optimal display. Amy also mentions her intention to provide a cheat sheet outlining the steps discussed in the tutorial, as well as additional resources such as prop ideas for styling photos. She invites viewers to join her Facebook group, 'Master Your Biz Photos with Amy Eaton,' for further discussions on product photography. Finally, she announces the upcoming launch of her online photo school, Photocraft Academy, which will offer a comprehensive product photography course for handmade sellers.
Mindmap
Keywords
Pixlr
Product Photography
Filters
Crop Tool
Levels
Color Balance
Etsy Listings
Photoshop
Pixel Express
JPEG
PNG
Highlights
Amy Eaton, a product photographer and educator, shares her expertise in a tutorial for online business owners.
Pixlr is recommended as the best free photo editing software over competitors like Pikm.
Filters can adversely affect product images by altering color casts and contrasts.
Pixlr uses the same tools as Photoshop but with easier navigation.
A step-by-step guide on how to open and edit a photo for online listings using Pixlr.
The importance of cropping and resizing images to a 5x4 ratio for optimal Etsy listing visibility.
How to use the crop tool in Pixlr to focus on the main subject of the product photo.
The significance of levels in adjusting brightness and contrast for a balanced image.
How to adjust the histogram in Pixlr to improve the overall tones of the image.
The process of correcting color balance to ensure true-to-form colors in product images.
How to use the color balance tool in Pixlr to correct for yellow or green color casts.
The value of the history function in Pixlr for tracking and reverting edits.
Saving images in JPEG or PNG format with full quality for product listings.
The option to remove distracting elements from the Pixlr interface for a cleaner workspace.
Amy offers a downloadable cheat sheet outlining the steps discussed in the tutorial.
Additional resources provided include prop ideas for styling product photos and a Facebook group for further learning.
An upcoming online photo school called Photocraft Academy for comprehensive product photography courses.