Branded Content by Cosmic Press

If you’ve got a presentation to put together, using photos can take it to the next level. Of course the images need to be fit for purpose and professional-looking if you want to impress your peers and your professors.

To that end, here are some skills to foster so that your next presentation looks the part, rather than seeming hastily cooked up.

Mastering the Basics

Before getting into the weeds on specific techniques, let’s start with some photo-editing basics. Having a firm grasp of the following fundamental concepts will pave your way to successfully edit images:

• Workspace Navigation: Be familiar with your editing software’s interface, icons and tool locations. This takes time initially, but will save you much more in the long run.
• Layers: Understand how layers work, as these are key in non-destructive editing, letting you keep the original image intact while making changes on separate layers.
• Resolution/DPI: The higher the resolution or DPI (dots per inch), the clearer your image. Be sure to balance the quality and file size for presentations, as otherwise you might struggle to showcase your work effectively.
• Adjustments Tools: Prioritize gaining proficiency with entry-level image adjustment tools like brightness and contrast levels. Tinkering in your spare time and comparing your efforts to professional photos is a good way to learn the ropes.

The more comfortable you are with these concepts, the easier it is to move onto more advanced skills. So take time to get a handle on them before moving forward.

Enhancing Color Quality

The color quality of your photos can heavily impact the visual clout of your presentation, and help you conquer this experience overall. Here’s how you can enhance it:

• Saturation Adjustment: Changing the saturation alters the intensity of colors in an image. Be mindful not to overdo it, as unnatural colors will look unrealistic.
• White Balance Correction: This tool helps correct overly yellow or blue images due to lighting conditions when the photo was taken.
• Vibrancy Control: Similar to saturation, but vibrancy impacts duller colors more than already well-saturated ones, so it’s great for balanced color enhancement.

As with all aspects of photo editing, less is often more. Subtle edits typically appear more professional and natural, so don’t overdo it.

Removing Distracting Objects or Marks from Photos

When tailoring your presentation, a clean image can command more attention than one bogged down with distracting elements. Here’s how you can go about removing unwanted objects or marks:

• Healing Brush/Stamp Tools: With these tools, you can replicate the texture of one part of an image to another. They’re ideal for erasing small items.
• Clone Stamp: This tool is great for larger distractions. It clones patches in your images and pastes them over the undesired parts.

You can even use AI-enhanced software tools to erase unwanted watermarks from photos, without having to go through the rigmarole of doing this manually. This is a real time-saver if the presentation deadline is looming large.

Implementing Creative Cropping Techniques

Cropping is not just about fitting your image into a specific space. It’s also an artful technique that can focus attention on key elements of your photo, removing unnecessary portions and enhancing composition. Here two major tips:

• Use the Rule of Thirds: By dividing your image into nine equal parts, you can position the important elements along these lines for a balanced look.
• Get Familiar with the Golden Ratio: This cropping strategy adds intrigue as it draws viewers’ eyes to specifics in an organized swirl pattern.

The main aim is to guide your viewer’s eye towards what matters most, so get cropping with this at the front of your mind.

The Bottom Line

Take advantage of the editing tools at your disposal, take the time to tinker with photos well in advance of your presentation, and ask for help from friends who’ve got more experience if you really get stuck!