PHOTO EDITING • Momo Kariño Designs

Great moments are always happening, and photos can capture a memory to pass down for generations to come. But not all photos are able to record the scene as we may see it with our eyes or hearts. Thankfully, some gentle retouching will make it as though you've captured an image as perfect as we imagine it to be, and we can take it a step further and add some breathtaking effects, and you've got a fantasy come to life!

With Aperture 3 and Photoshop, I have been able to edit and enhance the photos below.

I am currently experimenting with Photoshop to elaborate on narratives by using color, and adding special effects to make for a magical piece like you've never seen before!

Photoshop Editing

•advanced retouching

•color alteration

•transformed lighting

•special effects

•"blemish" repair

•enriched atmospherics

Top/Left = Before Edit ~ Bottom/Right = After Edit

Special Effects and Lighting Edit Made alterations to the lighting and background, and also added special effects for dramatic parallel to the action-oriented pose.	Special Effects and Lighting Edit Brought up the light in the scene by carefully enhancing brightness, levels, exposure, and using layer masks to blend the enhancements. Created three "fairies" by using gradients and layer styles to make them glow, as well as custom brushes and sparkles to create "fairy dust". I also used my custom brush to create spots that I would transform into rays using radial blur. To strengthen the rays, I duplicated the layer a few times, and merged them, and used gaussian blur to soften them.	Special Effects and Lighting Edit Brought up the light in the scene by carefully enhancing brightness, levels, exposure, and using layer masks to perfectly blend the enhancements. Created three "fairies" by using gradients and layer styles to make them glow, as well as custom brushes and sparkles (also made by me) to create "fairy dust". Focus in background was softened using Gaussian Blur, and difference clouds and a gradient were added to create an enchanted atmosphere in the image.
Color and Lighting Transformation Filled in the gap in the hair to give it a true-to-character effect, and modified a leaf brush that I downloaded to create leaves blowing through the air. Background was softened using gaussian blur. Lighting on the subject was enhanced, and a dramatic sun flare from behind was added. Light beams and a lens flare also strengthen the look. A green hue was added to the left side to frame the warm colors and make for an analogous color story.	Fantasy Edit & Color Correction Altered levels, channels, brightness, contrast, exposure, etc. to tone down the orange glow from the sunset. Also used layer masks to play up the blue in the shadows to compliment the gown. For a magic touch, I added difference clouds to create a enchanting "mist".	Fantasy Edit & Color Manipulation Altered levels, channels, brightness, contrast, exposure, etc. to tone down the orange glow from the sunset. Also used layer masks to play up the blue in the shadows to compliment the gown. For a magic touch, I added difference clouds to create a cool "mist".

Aperture 3 Editing

•light retouching

•color correction

•lighting enhancement

•sharpen details

•minor "blemish" clean up

•set ambience with temperature

Top/Left = Before Edit ~ Bottom/Right = After Edit

Brighten Image Subtle enhancement's to color and brightened face so that shadow from the hat would not fade out the facial details.	Adding Focus and Enhancing Colors Brought out the blacks to add depth to the sticks, and a subtle vignette to bring the focal point towards the center. Increased warmth and saturation to enhance ambience, and brightened Tink's colors to make her stand out in the busy background.	Adding Warmth Brightened the image and added warmth to give the feeling of an evening sunset.
Color Pop and Brightness Enhanced color and brightness to give a comic book effect to the character.	Color Theming Smoothed out distracting bits in the scene and costume and created an eerie effect by adding a green cast, and dull vignette. Used cropping to bring attention to the character.	Flash Color Correction Corrected white balance to a more natural color, as one would see it in person.

Photoshop Editing

Special Effects and Lighting Edit

Made alterations to the lighting and background, and also added special effects for dramatic parallel to the action-oriented pose.

Special Effects and Lighting Edit

Special Effects and Lighting Edit

Color and Lighting Transformation

Fantasy Edit & Color Correction

Altered levels, channels, brightness, contrast, exposure, etc. to tone down the orange glow from the sunset. Also used layer masks to play up the blue in the shadows to compliment the gown. For a magic touch, I added difference clouds to create a enchanting "mist".

Fantasy Edit & Color Manipulation

Altered levels, channels, brightness, contrast, exposure, etc. to tone down the orange glow from the sunset. Also used layer masks to play up the blue in the shadows to compliment the gown. For a magic touch, I added difference clouds to create a cool "mist".

Aperture 3 Editing

Brighten Image

Subtle enhancement's to color and brightened face so that shadow from the hat would not fade out the facial details.

Adding Focus and Enhancing Colors

Brought out the blacks to add depth to the sticks, and a subtle vignette to bring the focal point towards the center. Increased warmth and saturation to enhance ambience, and brightened Tink's colors to make her stand out in the busy background.

Adding Warmth

Brightened the image and added warmth to give the feeling of an evening sunset.

Color Pop and Brightness

Enhanced color and brightness to give a comic book effect to the character.

Color Theming

Smoothed out distracting bits in the scene and costume and created an eerie effect by adding a green cast, and dull vignette. Used cropping to bring attention to the character.

Flash Color Correction

Corrected white balance to a more natural color, as one would see it in person.