Editing
The photo is just the beginning. With the right workflow, you transform good shots into great images — no magic, just control.
Play with Brightness, Contrast & Color
Editing isn't magic — it's targeted adjustments. Drag the sliders and see live how the image changes.
The RAW Workflow in 4 Steps
From memory card to finished image — every pro follows this process. Click the steps to see details.
Click a step for details
- Copy RAW files to your hard drive — never edit directly from the card
- Rate with stars: Mark the best images (e.g. 1–5 stars) to stay focused
- Tags & collections: Organize by subject, date, or project
- Never delete files from the filesystem — only hide in the catalog
- Exposure: Correction in stops (+/- 1–2 EV is usually no problem in RAW)
- Highlights: Pull back overexposed areas (Highlights slider)
- Shadows: Lift shadows to rescue detail — but not too much (noise!)
- Contrast & curves: S-curve for punch, reversed S-curve for soft look
- White balance: Choose the right Kelvin value or use the eyedropper white balance
- Saturation & vibrance: Vibrance protects skin tones, saturation affects all colors equally
- HSL: Selective color correction — only intensify the orange of the sun
- Sharpness: Apply edge masking to spare skies and skin
- JPEG for web: sRGB color space, 80–90% quality, long edge 2048 px
- JPEG for print: Adobe RGB or sRGB, 100% quality, at least 300 DPI
- TIFF/PNG: Only for further editing or print shop
- Keep RAW: Never delete the original RAW file — it's your negative
Your Tool Kit
Each tool has its strengths. Choose based on platform, budget, and requirements. Click a tool for details.
The 4 Pillars of Editing
No matter which tool you use — these four principles apply everywhere. Master them, and you master every editor.
RAW files contain more information than you see. Under- and overexposed areas can often be rescued. Work in this order: Exposure → Contrast → Highlights → Shadows.
White balance is the most important color control. A wrong Kelvin value makes warm sunsets cold. Use HSL for selective corrections — e.g. only darken the green of trees.
A good crop can rescue a mediocre image. Remove distracting edge elements, place the subject on rule-of-thirds points, and keep horizons straight. Crop before sharpening.
Not every image needs global changes. Masks, gradient filters, and brushes allow targeted edits: darken only the sky, brighten only the face, sharpen only the eyes.
Editing on Smartphone
You don't need to sit at a computer for great results. Modern apps bring desktop power to your pocket.
RAW Instead of JPEG
Shoot in RAW mode (DNG) if your smartphone supports it. Lightroom Mobile and Snapseed edit RAW files with full dynamic range — that makes the difference.
Presets as Starting Point
Presets (Looks, Filters) are not cheating — they are a starting point. Choose a look close to your image, then adjust the sliders individually.
Selective Adjustments
Snapseed and Lightroom Mobile allow point adjustments. Tap an area and adjust brightness, contrast, or saturation only there — without affecting the rest.
Cloud Sync Workflow
With Lightroom Mobile, edit on the go and find your edits later on desktop. The workflow is seamless — ideal for on-the-road and at home.
The 80/20 Rule of Editing
80% of the result comes from 20% of the sliders. Focus on: Exposure, Contrast, White Balance, and Cropping. Everything else is fine-tuning. A well-captured image needs barely any editing.
Smartphone tip: Use the "Auto" feature as a starting point, but always check white balance and exposure manually. AI often gets it wrong.
Practice: Editing Training
Three exercises that sharpen your workflow:
Exercise 1: The Same Look
Edit 5 images (different subjects) with the same style:
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Create a presetEdit the first image until satisfied. Save the settings as a preset/Look.
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Apply to 4 more imagesImport 4 more images and apply the same preset.
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Adjust individuallyEach image needs fine-tuning. Exposure and white balance will differ for every image.
Learn how differently the same preset affects various subjects.
Exercise 2: Rescue Mission
Choose a technically bad image (underexposed, wrong color, blurry):
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Rescue exposureLift shadows and pull back highlights. Where are the limits of the RAW file?
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Correct white balanceUse the eyedropper white balance on a neutral area. Compare with manual Kelvin.
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Best possible resultEdit the image as well as possible. When does it become too much? When does it look over-edited?
This exercise shows you the limits of post-processing — and why good captures matter.
Exercise 3: Mobile Editing Challenge
Edit an image completely on your smartphone:
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Shoot RAWUse Pro mode or RAW mode on your smartphone. Photograph a subject with high contrast.
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Edit in Lightroom MobileExposure, contrast, color, sharpness, cropping — everything on the phone.
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Compare in SnapseedExport the image and open it in Snapseed. Which app feels better? Where are the strengths?
Compare the result with a desktop edit of the same image.
Quiz: Editing
Why should you always shoot in RAW format if you plan to edit?
What is the first step in the RAW workflow?
What is the difference between saturation and vibrance?
Which tool is best for free desktop RAW editing?
Which format is best for web export?
Your Learning Progress
Check off the points you have understood.
Module completedWhat's Next?
You now master the complete workflow — from capture to finished image. Now it's time for your masterpiece.