Apple Photo for Ipad and Mac
Photo comes free with all Apple devices. It is straightforward to use and has a full array of controls.
Importing Photos
When you open the app go to the file menu and choose Import. locate your photo and choose Import. The photo will appear on the home page with all your other photos. If you are connected with the iCloud your phone photos will appear here too. Double-click on the photo you want to process and it will appear in the editing window.
Processing
1. For a quick enhancement click the Auto Enhance button beside the Edit button.
2. Find more detailed editing click the Edit button.
3. To change Light drag the slider on the image left or right or click Auto
4. For more detailed editing click the Options button and slide the adjuster for whatever adjustment you chose. Note the effect on the photo.
5. Do the same with Colour and Sharpen options.
Note your changes save as you go. If you change your mind you can Revert To Original tapping the button at the top left.
Affinity Photo for Ipad
Affinity Photo is available for a one off cost of $30.99. After photos are imported to a Home Screen where they can be organised into Projects.
The other main screen is the Workspace where the editing takes place.
Importing Photos
When you open the app you will go to the Home Page. It will be empty until you open a photo (Affinity calls them documents).
1. Tap on the Open button with your pen/finger and select Import Document
2. Find your photo and will appear in the Workspace (see below).
3. To go back to your Home Page click on the button in the top left and you'll see your first photo
4. Import a second photo and return to the Home Page
5. To edit a photo tap on the one you want to work on and return to the Workspace
Getting around the Workspace
Most of your time will be spent on the workspace screen.
With the iPad version you will use a pen or your finger to make selections, move things or make them perform functions.
These actions are called GESTURES
If you have a keyboard attached to the iPad you can use keyboard shortcuts as well.
Try out the following:
1. Full View
2. Pinch with two fingers to shrink the photo or Command - if you have a keyboard.
3. Put two fingers on the screen and widen to enlarge
4. Hold down on the Navigate button and drag up and down
5. Tap on the Navigate button and select 100% then 200%
6. Tap the Zoom button (magnifying glass) at the top right of the screen
7. Click on the hand on top left and move picture around
8. Use Zoom to put it back where it belongs.
9. Tap the Navigate button and, holding down on the Zoom circle, swipe left, then right
10. Leave the Rotate button alone unless you're really adventurous.
NOTE: Your changes are being saved as you go. If you want to UNDO any change you make tap the photo with two fingers.
Adjusting Exposure
1. To adjust exposure tap on the Adjustment button on the right of the screen.
2. Look down through the list and tap on Exposure.
3. A control panel appears at the bottom of the screen.
4. Hold down on exposure button and swipe left to lighten or right to darken.
More..
1. Tap on metadata button and select Histogram.
2. Note the shape of the graph. The base of the bell curve should stretch from left (black) to right (white).
3. To adjust the right hand side swipe Exposure button right.
3. To adjust the left hand side swipe Exposure button left.
4. Note effect on appearance of image.
Note...
If you extend curve too far in either direction you will clip the pixels in the image and lose them. You can retrieve them by swiping back.
Check out the Exposure Fixes video
Note...
There are options other than exposure to adjust the apparent lightness of an image. Exposure impacts more on the highlights or lighter areas of the image. Brightness is preferred to affect the overall lightness of the image. Contrast can be used to impact the variation of light and dark areas within the image.
Layers
1. Click on the Layers button on the right hand panel.
2. Note that you now have two Layers, a background and an exposure adjustment layer.
3. Tap the dot on the right of the Exposure to turn it off and note the effect on the image. Turn it on again.
Note...
A layer affects all the layers underneath it.
