Photo Editing by Using Pixlr-E

🔍Overview

In this image, I enhanced it using Pixlr-E, experimenting with various tools to highlight colors, adjust the composition, and add creative effects. The experience was both challenging and rewarding as I explored Pixlr-E’s features in depth. While I had a basic understanding of Photoshop, I found Pixlr-E to be much easier and more effective in achieving my desired results. The first image, featuring a garden, was taken with my Huawei phone camera last summer.

Detailed Description of the Changes:

📌Light and Color Adjustments:

I adjusted the brightness and contrast to give the image a more vibrant look. By intensifying the color saturation, I made the flowers appear more vivid, especially the purple and pink ones. This transformation improved the overall colors and made the scene more visually appealing.

📌Crop and Rotation Adjustments:

I made a simple crop to remove unnecessary background elements and frame details, allowing the focus to be on the flowers and the sky. This cropping tightened the composition and directed attention to the main subject. Additionally, I rotated the image of the plane and man and birds to create better balance.

📌Brush Adjustments:

Using the brush tool, I selectively highlighted specific areas of the image. For instance, I added more detail to the clouds and enhanced the flowers to make them pop. The brush tool also allowed for subtle highlights and shadows. I even added some vibrancy to the roof of the house, giving the image more depth, texture, and color balance.

📌Gradient Adjustments:  

I applied a gradient effect to the sky, blending pink and green tones for a surreal look. This contributed a creative and almost magical feel to the image, and the gradient added a nice contrast to the natural colors of the garden and sky.

Obstacles and Struggles:

One of the challenges I encountered was finding the right balance in color saturation and gradient adjustments. Initially, I over-saturated the colors, making them appear unnatural. It took several attempts to reach a harmonious balance. Learning the nuances of the brush tool required practice, as I aimed for precise and effective changes.

Favorite Tools:

My favorite tool in Pixlr-E was the gradient adjustment. It allowed me to create a dramatic effect between the colors of the garden flowers and the sky. Additionally, the color adjustment tools helped the flowers stand out while maintaining the natural feel of the scene. The brush tool was also invaluable, enabling me to make precise adjustments to enhance specific areas of the image.

🔍Overview

In this image editing project, I utilized various features of Pixlr-E to enhance a vibrant autumn landscape. The original photo, taken last fall at the University of Arkansas Park, beautifully captured the season’s colors. Leaves were scattered throughout the scene, adding to its charm. My goal was to amplify the atmosphere and draw more attention to the tree in the foreground.

Detailed Description of Changes:

📌Light and Color Adjustments:

I adjusted the brightness and contrast to make the colors of the leaves more intense and vibrant, with a particular focus on the reds and oranges. By enhancing these colors, I aimed to create a more immersive experience and highlight the warm tones of autumn.

📌Crop and Rotation Adjustments:

Since the image was already well-composed, I made only minor cropping adjustments to create a balanced frame and eliminate distractions at the edges, such as people in the corner of the walkway. This helped direct the viewer's focus to the tree and the path lined with falling leaves.

📌Brush Adjustments: 

Using the brush tool, I created a subtle decorative effect by darkening the edges around the tree. This technique directed the viewer's eye toward the center of the image, making it feel more intimate and visually appealing. I also added lighting effects to the lamps.

📌Gradient Adjustments: 

I incorporated a warm gradient layer to enhance the autumnal feel. I applied a soft gradient over the sky to create a warm, soothing glow, which contrasted nicely with the darker edges, giving the image a charming appearance.

Obstacles and Struggles: 

One challenge I faced was achieving vibrant colors without making them overly saturated. Intense orange hues can be harsh on the eyes, so I experimented with different color densities to find the right balance while incorporating darker edges to soften the orange glow. Additionally, I spent time refining the decorative effect, as too much darkening could detract from the natural look I wanted to maintain.

Favorite Tools:

The brush tool was one of my favorites during this edit. It allowed me to add specific highlights and shadows to make the tree stand out without altering the entire image. I also enjoyed using the gradient tool, which introduced a warm layer to the sky and helped create a cohesive color scheme.

💻Future Uses for Pixlr-E

After completing this assignment, I can see numerous ways Pixlr-E could be beneficial for future projects. It is excellent for creating vibrant, high-quality images for educational presentations, social media, or digital portfolios. With its extensive range of tools, I can use Pixlr-E to create themed edits for seasons or special events, add creative effects to regular photos, or design custom images for any professional or personal project.
Overall, this assignment helped me understand the nuances of photo editing and how subtle changes can dramatically impact an image. Working with Pixlr-E allowed me to explore creative edits that transformed both the garden scene and the clouds in the first image into a more dynamic and visually appealing composition. Additionally, I enhanced the natural beauty of the autumnal scene in the second image. I enjoyed experimenting with Pixlr-E and look forward to using it in future projects to enhance and transform my images.