Alicia's JULY Photo Challenge: Post Editing

Welcome to another photo challenge! To read about Alicia's Photo Challenge go HERE.

You guys have been doing great! It's been a lot of fun. But I bear unhappy tidings. I'm going to start doing these challenges MONTHLY. It takes a little too much work for me to do them weekly. Mostly mentally because I'm constantly thinking about it when I should be doing other things...

SO. This challenge will be for JULY. We'll link up at the end of July. That will give you plenty of time to actually PRACTICE.

K?

...

Today I'll tell you a few of my post-editing secrets. I really try to get as close to my wanted results with my camera, but most of my pictures are freshened up just a bit in Post editing.

And guess what? (This is the secret)

I. Don't. Use. Photoshop.

Nope! I have two programs I use, and between the two they do everything I could want. And guess what else? (another secret)

They. Are. Free!

Yah. Free downloads.

You want them, don't you?

ALLLRIGHT... I'll share them with you! :) Mostly, I use Photoscape. I increase the contrast a tinsy bit, brighten them up and add a little vignetting. Then if I need to soften/smooth the skin tones... I use GIMP. GIMP is like the free Photoshop. You'll love 'em.

There are things you can do with your post-editing that your camera may not be capable of. You can play with effects that add time and emotion to your photo. It's a lot of fun.

You can brighten up the colors. Change a photo to black and white, or sepia. You can add borders. You can heal blemishes. You're imagination is your limit (usually).

So July's challenge is: to get familiar with your Post-Editing program, and try some different effects and filters. Learn how to crop your photo. Learn how to increase the contrast and balance it with brightness. Then, on July 30th (Thursday), choose you're favorite (or favoriteS) to post, and we'll link up! I recommend sharing the original and final product. (You can post your photo anytime during the month, and then just add THAT link.)

Don't forget to take a button and put it on your post (Thanks!). Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, and I will do my best to answer them!

Now, go have fun!