INTRODUCTION TO ICT SPECIALIZATION 2

SUBJECT CODE: TLE 025

TOPIC OR LESSON: IMAGE EDITING
WEEK: 4
SUB-TOPIC/S:

OVERVIEW OF THE TOPIC

This lesson will cover the basics you'll need to know to get started on how
any image can be improved with some slight editing, how to make photo look a lot
better with a few simple adjustments. You should be able to apply these techniques in
almost any image editing software. You are expected to accomplish the content of
this module within a week and to achieve the desired learning outcomes.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the unit, the students should be able to:
a. gain better understanding of the basics of image editing;
b. apply image editing techniques using editing software; and
c. appreciate the importance of image editing in producing learning materials.

ENGAGE

Retouched
Directions: Analyze the following images below. List the adjustments

made.

Based on my observarition the original picture.

It does not look good to the eye due to lack of light and intensity of color.

and can't immediately recognize what's in the picture.

while the second one. the editing picture is beautiful to

look at because of the balance saturation of the color that

gives life to an image.

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1. Pixels
2. brightness
3. Contrast
4. Dimensions
5. resolution
6. pixelated
7. degradation
8. saturation
9. vibrance
10. temperature

Directions: The letters of the words below are jumbled. Figure out what the
word is and write it on the blank line provided.

UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS

We see digital image files every day in a wide range of places. Whenever you see
a picture on a computer or smartphone, you're looking at a digital image file. When you
take a picture with a digital camera, you're saving it as an image file. Even the images
you see offline, like those in newspapers and magazines, probably started as digital
image files before they were printed.

Have you ever thought about how image files actually work? Here are some
of the basics.

Pixels

Every digital photo is made up of pixels, often abbreviated as px. You can
think of a pixel as a tiny square that uses a specific color. When you look at an image
file on a computer, you're really looking at thousands and thousands of pixels. But
because each pixel is so small, you normally won't notice each of them unless you
zoom in.
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Dimensions

When you refer to the height and width of an image, you're talking about its
dimensions. For example, if an image is 500 pixels wide and 200 pixels high, you could
say that its dimensions are 500px by 200px (the width is usually listed first). The image
below is 450px by 300px. Because this image is wider than it is tall, it's using a
landscape orientation.

The image below is 300px by 450px. Because this image is taller than it is wide,
it's using a portrait orientation.

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Resolution

You can think of an image's resolution as the amount of detail contained in

the image. The higher the resolution, the more quality the image will have.
Resolution is especially important if you're thinking of printing or resizing an image.
This is because you can generally make an image smaller without noticing much of a
difference in the quality. However, making an image larger than its original size will
usually result in a noticeable loss in quality.

In the example below, the smaller version still looks sharp and

clear.

If you try to make a low-resolution image any larger, it simply won't have
enough detail to look good at the new size. As you can see in the example below,
the resized image is blurry and doesn't have a lot of detail. You might also notice that
some parts of the image look blocky, or pixelated.

Image File Formats

There are several file formats used with images. It's important to understand the
basics of image file formats, along with the most common ones you'll see when working
with images.

File size and image compression

Digital image files can be very large and take up a lot of hard-drive space.
Because of this, many file formats use compression to reduce the file size. There are
two main types of file compression:

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• Lossy: This compression type removes some information from the

image and lowers the overall quality to reduce the file size.
• Lossless: This compression type does not remove any information
 from the image, but it typically cannot reduce the file size as
much as lossy compression.

Images that use lossy compression can be saved at different quality levels. The
lower the quality, the smaller the file size. This is because lowering the quality also
removes more information from the image. In the example below, you can see the
same image saved at different quality levels.

Recommended File Formats

These are the most common file formats. We recommend using them most of
the time:
• JPEG: Pronounced jay-peg, this file type is commonly used for
photographs, and most digital cameras save photos in this format
by default. JPEG uses lossy compression, which means it provides
a reasonably high level of quality without a very large file size.
• PNG: Pronounced ping or p-n-g, this file type is commonly used for
graphics and illustrations, although it can also be used for
photographs. PNG uses lossless compression, meaning
photographs saved with this format will usually be of a higher
quality than JPEG images, but the file size will be much larger.

Other Common File Formats

There are several other image file formats you may encounter. One common
image format is GIF. Pronounced gif or jif, the GIF file type was originally designed for
graphics but is now most commonly used for simple animated images online. The image
below is an animated GIF file.

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 There are also some file formats that do not use compression, like RAW and
BMP. Some digital cameras use a RAW format to save very high-quality images.
Because these formats are uncompressed, the files tend to be much larger than JPEG
and PNG files.

Keeping Your Originals

Whenever you edit an image file, there's a chance some of the original
information from the image can be lost. Also, if you edit the same file over and over
again, the edited image can begin to look much worse than the original. This is
called image degradation, and it's especially problematic for files that use lossy
compression, like JPEG images.

The good news is there's an easy way to avoid this problem. If you're planning
on making even basic changes to an image, like cropping or resizing, you should also
keep an original unedited version of the file. We recommend making a habit of doing
this whenever you're working with image files. This way, you'll always be able to go
back to the original version.

Basic Image Editing Software

While there are many applications you can use to edit images on your computer
or mobile device, the software you use will largely depend on your needs. Some
applications allow you to make only a few basic changes, while others give you
access to advanced and powerful tools. We'll cover some of the most popular image
editing software available today, including both free and paid options.

If you just need to make simple adjustments to an image, like cropping,

resizing, or rotating, there are many free applications available to you. This includes
the built-in software on your device, as well as some third-party software.

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Built-in Software

Most computers and mobile devices come with some type of basic image
editing program. Review the list below to learn more about the tools on your device:

• Windows: Almost every Windows computer includes Microsoft Paint.

You may already know that Paint is a simple drawing
application, but it can also be used for basic image adjustments.
Another option is Microsoft Photos, a free application that includes
more advanced editing tools and lets you easily organize photos.

• macOS: All Macs include Preview. While this program is primarily

used for viewing images and PDF files, it also includes several
basic editing tools. New Macs also come pre-installed with Apple
Photos, which you can use to organize and edit photos.

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• iOS: Photos taken on an iPhone or iPad will appear in the Photos

 app. From here, you can make a few basic adjustments to any
image.

• Android: Photos taken on most current Android devices can be

adjusted in the Google Photos app or the Gallery app.

Third-party Software

There are many third-party image editing applications you can use on your
computer or mobile device. Some are free, while others are paid. One example is Pixlr,
which is a free editor that runs in your web browser. For quick edits, Pixlr has a basic
version called Pixlr X, which is also available as a mobile app. We'll be using Pixlr X
throughout this tutorial to demonstrate various editing tasks.

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If you have a smartphone or tablet, there are many free apps you can use to edit
images, including Instagram, VSCO, and Photoshop Express. Most mobile apps don't
include as many features as you'd find in a desktop application, but they do make it
easy to make basic edits on the go.

Editing images with Microsoft Office

While you may not realize it, some programs in the Microsoft Office suite -
such as Word, PowerPoint, and Publisher - include image editing tools. These tools
will be especially helpful if you want to make simple adjustments to an image in a
document or presentation.

Advanced Image Editing Software

If you need additional editing tools, you may want to use an advanced image
editing application. You can learn more about some of the most popular ones
below, but keep in mind that these are just a few of the many available options.

Adobe Photoshop

Even if you've never done

much image
editing, you may have heard of
Adobe
Photoshop. Available for both
Windows and
Mac devices, Photoshop is an
extremely
powerful application that's used by
many
professional photographers and designers. It's
also very expensive, so unless you need to edit
photos professionally you may want to
consider getting one of the more affordable
(or free) options below.

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Pixelmator

While it's only available for Mac, Pixelmator Pro includes many of the advanced
features found in Photoshop and usually costs less.

GIMP

Designed as an open-source alternative to Photoshop, GIMP is free to use on

both Windows and Mac. While it's a powerful application, you may find the interface
confusing and difficult to use if you aren't somewhat familiar with other image editing
software.

Pixlr

Like Pixlr X, the full Pixlr Editor is a free application that runs in your web browser. It
includes several advanced features and in many ways is like Photoshop.

Photo Management Software

Many professional photographers prefer to use a photo management application,

such as Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC, Microsoft Photos, and Apple Photos. With
organizational tools like tagging and folders, these applications make it easy to view
and manage a lot of photos. Conveniently, they also include many editing tools,
which means you can use a single application for all of your image editing needs.

Making Basic Adjustments

Image editing is all about adjusting your images to make them look better. We'll
cover some of the most basic image adjustments, along with some common problems to
watch out for when making these changes. The adjustments we'll cover in this lesson
include:

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• Cropping: If you want to remove parts of an image, you can crop it.
 You can think of cropping as using a pair of scissors to cut out the
parts you no longer want.
• Resizing: If you want to make an image smaller or larger, you
can resize it. However, keep in mind that making an image larger
than its original size generally does not make the image look good.
• Rotating: If you want to change the orientation of an image, you can
rotate it to the left or right.

Image Editing Tips

Here are a few important things to keep in mind as you start working with images.

• Keep your originals: If you're planning to make even basic changes

to an image, you should also keep an original unedited version of
the file. We recommend making a habit of doing this whenever
you're working with image files. This way, you'll always be able to
go back to the original version.

• Check the zoom level: When you're editing an image on a

computer, you'll usually be viewing it at less than 100% of its full size.
This is because most modern digital cameras take large high
resolution images. These images are so large, in fact, that most
computer screens can't display all of the pixels in the image at
once. This is actually a good thing because it means you'll have
extra detail to work with as you edit the image.

• Higher resolution = more detail: Whenever you crop or resize an

image, you're also removing pixels from the image. This means
you'll have fewer pixels to work with, which will give you less
flexibility. If you want to print a photo, having extra pixels will help
to make the photo look as sharp as possible because photo prints
have a higher resolution than most computer screens. If you're
creating a desktop background, you'll want to ensure that the
final size is at least as large as your screen resolution.

• Experiment: There's no perfect formula for editing images. As long

as you keep a copy of the original file, you should feel free to try
out different adjustments to find what works for that image. If you
change your mind later on, you can always go back to the
original version and start over.
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Cropping Images

There will often be times when an image includes a lot of extra space or content
you'd like to remove. You can solve this problem by cropping the image. In the example
below, we cropped the image to show less of the background and emphasize the
butterfly.

You can also use cropping to completely change the composition or subject of
an image. In the example below, we focused in on just one part of the image - the
lanterns on the left - and cropped out everything else. You may have also noticed
that by cropping this way, we changed the image's orientation from landscape to
portrait.

Resizing images

Because digital images can be displayed at different sizes, you probably

won't need to resize your images most of the time. However, resizing is an easy way to
reduce the file size of an image, which can be helpful if you want to send an image as
an email attachment or upload it. You can see an example of resizing below.

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Remember, you should avoid making images larger than their original size.
When you do this, the image simply won't have enough detail to look good at the
larger size. As you can see in the example below, the resized image is blurry and
doesn't have a lot of detail.

Preserving Aspect Ratio When Resizing

When resizing an image, it's important to make sure the new version uses
the same proportions, or aspect ratio, as the original. For example, take a look at this
image.

If you want to resize it while maintaining the same aspect ratio, you'll need
to change both the height and width by equal proportions. Most image editing programs
can do this automatically when you resize an image. However, if you simply try to
guess which proportions to use, or if you're using sizing handles, it's easy for an image
to become distorted. A distorted image may look too wide or too narrow, as in the
examples below.

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While it may not always be this obvious, these examples illustrate why it's so
important to preserve the original aspect ratio when resizing an image. There are a few
easy ways to make sure a resized image will use the same aspect ratio as the original:

• Most applications will give you the option to preserve the aspect
 ratio when resizing. In Pixlr X, this option is called Constrain
Proportions, but in other applications it may be called Keep
Proportions or Maintain Aspect Ratio. In some programs, like
Photoshop, it is represented by a lock icon. Make sure this option
is turned on before resizing an image. From here, you should only
need to adjust the height or the width; the other dimension will be
adjusted automatically.

• If you're using sizing handles to resize an image, be sure to use a

corner sizing handle rather than a side handle. Some applications
also require you to press and hold a key on your keyboard, like
Shift or Alt, to lock the aspect ratio when using sizing handles.
• If you need to fit an image to a new aspect ratio - for example, if
you need to print a 4x6 version of a square image - it's best to
crop the image to the new aspect ratio. Simply resizing the
image to match the new aspect ratio will result in image
distortion.

Rotating Images

Sometimes an
image may
be rotated the wrong
way. This
can happen if the camera
was
turned on its side when
taking the
original image. It's easy to
fix this
by rotating the image, as
in the
example below.
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Fixing Common Problems

Images that come straight from a digital camera aren't always perfect. As you
start to gain more experience with image editing, you may notice some recurring
problems with images that you'll want to fix. For example, some images may be too
bright, while others may be too dark or blurry. There are many corrections that can
make your images look dramatically better. Some of the corrections we'll cover in this
lesson include:
• Brightness and contrast: If an image is too bright or too dark, you can
adjust the brightness and contrast.
• Color: If the colors in an image are muted or dull, you can use a
variety of color correction tools, including saturation.
• Sharpness: If an image is less clear than you'd like it to be, you can
sharpen it.

Want to see the difference corrections can make? Take a look at the
example below. It only took a few quick corrections to make the image look
brighter, clearer, and more colorful.

Image Editing Tips

Here are a few important things to keep in mind as you start working with images.

• Keep your originals: If you're planning to make even basic changes

to an image, you should also keep an original unedited version of
the file. We recommend making a habit of doing this whenever
you're working with image files. This way, you'll always be able to
go back to the original version.
• Combine different adjustments: You may find that images are often
in need of more than just one correction. For example, some
images might be improved by both brightness and color
adjustments, while
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others can benefit from cropping and sharpening. It's all about
finding what works to bring out the best in each image.
• Experiment: There's no perfect formula for editing images. As long
as you keep a copy of the original file, feel free to try different
adjustments to find what works for your image. If you change your
mind later on, you can always go back to the original version
and start over.

Brightness and Contrast

Sometimes an image may look too bright or too dark. This can be caused by
several factors, including the lighting where the photo was taken and camera settings.
You can offset this by adjusting the brightness and contrast of the image.

Brightness

When you adjust the brightness, you're changing the overall level of light and
dark in the image. If an image is too dark, you can try increasing the brightness, as in
the example below.

However, increasing the brightness for a very dark image can lead to a lot of
image noise, or graininess. This is because you're also brightening any noise the image
may have. In the example below, you may notice that the green background in the
image on the right looks rough and grainy. We'll cover reducing image noise later in
this lesson.

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Contrast
 When you increase the contrast, you're making the difference between the light
and dark areas of the image more noticeable. In other words, you're making the
dark parts darker and the light parts lighter. In the example below, notice how the sky
at the top of the image becomes brighter, but the trees and rocks become darker.

However, increasing the contrast too much can lead to a loss in image detail.
It will also usually increase the saturation of the image.

Color Corrections

There may be times when you want to adjust the colors in an image. For
example, you may want to highlight certain colors in the image or even change the
colors for artistic effect.

Saturation

Sometimes the colors in an image may appear to be dull or muted. You can
compensate for this by increasing the saturation, which can make the colors look
richer, or more vivid. You can see an example of this in the images below.

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On the other hand, you can reduce the saturation to make the colors less vivid.
If you remove the saturation completely, it will produce a black-and-white, or
grayscale, image. You can see an example of this in the images below.
Other Color Corrections

There are many other ways to adjust the colors in an image. Color correction
tools may vary depending on your image editing application, but you can learn
more about some common ones below.

• Vibrance: This tool lets you boost the saturation for the parts of the
image that are less colorful without oversaturating the parts that
are already colorful. This helps prevent the colors from looking
unnatural.
• Temperature: This tool adjusts how warm or cool the colors in the
image appear. In general, a warmer temperature will look more
red or orange, while a cooler temperature will look more blue.
• Filters: Many apps, such as Instagram, have predefined
combinations of color adjustments that you can quickly apply to
create interesting effects. For example, they can make your photos
look like they were taken with a vintage camera.

Sharpening

Sometimes an image may not be as clear as you'd like it to be. Sharpening can
help make them look crisp and clear by enhancing the edges of objects in the
image. However, adding too much sharpness can actually make an image look worse,
or lead to a loss in image detail. Take a look at the example below.

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As you can see, the right amount of sharpness makes the photo look very crisp.
In the center image, for example, it's easy to see the edges of the bird's feathers. But
adding too much sharpness can cause the edges to look exaggerated and unnatural, as
in the image on the right. You may have also noticed that the background in the
over sharpened image has a lot of added image noise.
Image Noise

Some images may have a lot of noise, which causes them to look grainy. You
can compensate for this by reducing the image noise, as in the example below.

Just like the other adjustments we cover in this lesson, you'll need to use this
feature carefully. Removing too much noise from the image can result in blurriness and
a loss of detail.

ELABORATE

Photo Editing Challenge

Directions: Download an image of your favorite celebrity and follow these
steps: 1. Open the image in an image editing application, like Pixlr X.
2. Try increasing and decreasing the brightness and contrast of an image. Take the
brightness or contrast to the highest and lowest settings to see the effect. Try to
find the settings that look best for the image.
3. Try increasing and decreasing the saturation of an image. Take the saturation to
the highest and lowest settings to see the effect. Try to find the setting that
looks best for the image.
4. Experiment with other color correction tools like Temperature and Vibrance to see
how they work.
5. Try sharpening an image to see if it can improve clarity.
6. Save a copy of the edited image. You'll want to choose a new file name to
avoid accidentally overwriting the original version. Post the original and
processed images on the provided Google Docs in our Google Classroom
classwork.

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RUBRIC FOR EVALUATION SCOR

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Y

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3 – A good deal 2 – Two (2) to three 1 – Four (4) or 0–
information was (3) information more information Has no
A

well-defined with were was submitted

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distinct and perception of perception of Has no

comprehensive information. information. submitted
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extensive range range of ideas no range of ideas Has no
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and plenty of
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of ideas with rare with few errors. submitted

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errors. errors. output
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assign task with assign task with assign task with Has no
N

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commendable proficient and proficient but submitted
performance. average below average output
F

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performance. performance.
D

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3 – Submit the 2 – Submit the 1 – Submit the 0–
P

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output on or output a day after output two (2) Has no
before the the submission days or more submitted
submission date. date. after the output
submission date.

OVERALL SCORE:

ASSIGNMENT

Yummier
1. Pick a kind of dish (like what you had for breakfast, lunch, or dinner) or a raw
ingredient.
2. “Style” the photo by arranging the food in an interesting way using dishes,
napkins or any other decorative elements. Be careful not to overdo it. Remember
that the food is the star! You want to get people’s mouths watering!
3. Once you’ve taken a bunch of photos, upload them to your editing software
and choose your favorite one to edit. Follow the instructions below until you’re
happy with how delicious your dish looks.
a. Start by adjusting your exposure. A lot of food photos are slightly
overexposed. A lot of light makes food look fresh (this is why a lot of
natural light is used), and a fresh look is what you want. Get the exposure
to where you want it, and then give the photo a touch more brightness,
being careful not to overdo it.
b. Adjust your contrast. A lot of food photographers stay away from heavy
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contrast. Too much contrast can give your dish unappetizing looking
shadows. Remember that light makes food look fresh. Bring down the
 contrast until you’re happy.
c. Fix the color balance. You definitely don’t want your food to have any
weird or otherworldly colors that your viewers aren’t used to.
Remember you want to “sell” your dish. Oranges should look orange not
orange with a bluish tone. Use the temperature tool to get your color
balance looking right.
Give the saturation a little boost. You’ll find that the colors in food
photography often “pop” a bit more in the photo than they do in real
life. This helps make the food look bright, fresh and delicious. Use the
saturation tool to increase your color levels just a bit. Don’t boost them
too high or you could risk losing the realistic look of your dish.
d. Find focus if you need to. Most food photos have a really narrow depth
of field. That means only on section of the dish is in sharp focus and the
rest of the photo has a pleasant blur (called a “bouquet”). If your photo
could use some focus help, use the tools you learned how to use in the
Finding Focus activity.
e. Crop the photo. Food photographers often take their food shots really
closeup so that the dish takes up most of the frame and truly is the star of
the photo. If you haven’t done this, not to worry. Experiment with
different compositions using the crop tool.
f. Finally, sharpen your photo only if necessary. You must be careful not
to sharpen your food photos too much. A little hint of soft focus is
good for occasionally offering a nostalgic note to some food shots. Add
a little sharpening if you think your photo needs it but remember that less
is more.
g. Once you’re happy with your food photo, save both your before and
after images and post it in the provided Google Classroom Stream.

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 REFERENCES

https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/imageediting101/

ADDITIONAL
MATERIALS

Platform: Google Meet; PPT

Prepared by:

ANTHONY C. CANDELARIO, LPT, MA. Ed

Instructor

Reviewed:

DECINA M. FRANCISCO ROSELL P. CULTIVO BTLEd, Coordinator, North

Campus BTLEd, Coordinator, South Campus

Recommending Approval:

DR. RAMONA A. PRADO

College of Education, Dean

Approved:

Atty. RODERICK P. VERA, LLM

Vice President, Academic Affairs

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