May 1, 2024
Updated May 11, 2025
20 minute read
Photo editing is the process of altering an image, whether it's a digital photograph, a scanned image, or an illustration. This can range from basic adjustments like cropping and brightness correction to more complex manipulations such as color grading, retouching, and compositing. At its core, photo editing aims to enhance an image, correct flaws, or create an entirely new visual expression. The ability to transform an image can be incredibly rewarding, allowing for artistic interpretation and the refinement of visual narratives. For those with a keen eye for detail and a creative spark, photo editing offers a compelling blend of technical skill and artistic endeavor.
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Reading list
We've selected 36 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Photo Editing.
Is an excellent starting point for those new to Adobe Photoshop, a widely used software in photo editing. It provides step-by-step lessons covering fundamental techniques. This is often used as a textbook in educational settings and valuable reference for beginners.
This official guide from Adobe provides comprehensive information on using Photoshop, making it suitable for users of all levels.
Scott Kelby's books are highly regarded for their practical, step-by-step approach to learning software like Lightroom Classic. focuses on a workflow for photographers, covering essential editing tasks and organization. It's a must-read for anyone using Lightroom and serves as a great reference.
Is suitable for advanced photo editors who want to learn professional-level techniques.
This guide covers the full range of image processing techniques, including photo editing.
Offers a comprehensive guide to Adobe Photoshop, covering both basic and advanced editing techniques. It is suitable for beginners who want to learn the basics of photo editing or for more experienced users who want to enhance their skills.
Offers advanced techniques for creative photo editing, making it suitable for experienced photographers who want to enhance their skills.
Dives specifically into the techniques for retouching portraits in Photoshop. Given the prevalence of portrait photography, this book valuable resource for those looking to specialize in this area. It provides practical, step-by-step guidance for achieving professional results.
For those interested in a powerful, free alternative to Photoshop, this book offers a comprehensive guide to GIMP. It covers essential skills and delves into the software's many features in detail. It valuable resource for both beginners and those looking to deepen their understanding of GIMP.
Focuses specifically on mastering layers in Photoshop, a fundamental concept for advanced editing and compositing. Understanding layers is crucial for non-destructive editing and complex image manipulations. This book is valuable for users looking to deepen their Photoshop skills beyond the basics.
Provides a complete workflow from setting up lighting to capturing the image and then retouching it. It's a practical guide that connects the shooting process with the editing process, offering a holistic view. It is particularly useful for those looking to understand the entire image creation pipeline.
This workbook offers a collection of tips, tricks, and techniques for professional retouching and compositing in Photoshop. It's a practical guide for photographers looking to elevate their editing and image manipulation skills. It serves as a good reference for specific techniques.
Provides a comprehensive overview of photography techniques, including digital editing. It is suitable for beginners and intermediate photographers who want to improve their photo editing skills.
Considered a comprehensive reference for GIMP, this book goes beyond the basics and explores advanced techniques and customization. It's suitable for users who want to delve deep into GIMP's capabilities and workflow. It serves as a detailed reference for both photographers and digital artists using GIMP.
Covers advanced photo editing techniques, including compositing, HDR, and panoramas.
This guide covers photo editing using both Photoshop and Affinity Photo, offering a broader perspective on different software options. It provides a definitive look at post-production techniques, making it a useful resource for users of either program or those deciding between them. Published recently, it covers current workflows.
Focuses on the critical first step of photo editing: processing RAW files. It provides a high-level understanding of working with digital negatives in Adobe software. While slightly older, the principles of RAW processing discussed are foundational for achieving the best image quality.
This practical guide focuses on using Lightroom Classic for photo editing, making it suitable for photographers of all levels.
This practical guide offers hands-on tutorials for photo editing in Photoshop, making it suitable for beginners and intermediate users.
Provides a step-by-step guide to using Adobe Lightroom Classic CC and Photoshop CC together for a complete photo editing workflow. It is suitable for photographers of all levels who want to streamline their editing process.
Martin Evening's books are well-respected in the photography community for their in-depth coverage of Photoshop from a photographer's perspective. While this edition few years old, it still provides comprehensive guidance on core Photoshop tools and techniques relevant to photographers. It's a valuable reference for intermediate to advanced users.
This e-book specifically targets understanding and utilizing layers in GIMP, mirroring the importance of layers in Photoshop workflows. It's a focused resource for GIMP users wanting to master this essential aspect of photo editing and graphic design within the software.
While not strictly a photo editing book, this classic focuses on the fundamental principles of composition and design, which are crucial for creating impactful images regardless of the editing applied. Understanding these concepts will significantly enhance the results of any photo editing work. It's a must-read for anyone serious about photography.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/topic/5vf5im/photo
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