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Blueprint: Add Drama to Your Edits

December 18th, 2009

Sometimes I like to have a bit of drama in my edits.  I would say that I add drama by bringing out details and adding contrast simultaneously. For this Blueprint, I wanted to create a really moody effect.

  • Cropped 1st – yes – often you will hear that you should crop last.  But rules are meant to be broken and since I did not like the composition, and since I knew what aspect ratio I desired, I cropped first.  I wanted to take her out of the center and add space where her eyes looked.
  • Then I started using actions. I turned to the “All in the Details” photoshop action set for this edit. I started by playing the “Urban” action.
  • Next I ran “Burnt Out” from this same action set.  It adds a custom vignette.

Believe it or not, that is all I did.  Yes – the 1st image looks more natural.  I could easily have edited this 5-10 different ways for different messages.  Remember as you work in Photoshop that you create art and a message with every image. Make it say what you desire.

blueprint12 Blueprint: Add Drama to Your Edits

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9 Comments

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  1. 1. Rick O Says:

    Nice job Jodi – FWIW I always crop first :)

  2. 2. Blueprint: Add Drama to Your Edits Says:

    [...] 2 votes vote Blueprint: Add Drama to Your Edits Sometimes I like to have a bit of drama in my edits.  I would say that I add drama by [...]

  3. 3. elena w Says:

    the tones are really cool and dramatic – beautiful edit!

  4. 4. Rene Skrodzki Says:

    That worked out nice, seems some actions really benefit from a darker image as there starting point.

  5. 5. MegganB Says:

    I like to crop first too most of the time – it helps dictate pping :)

  6. 6. Christy Lynn Says:

    Stunning Edit! Love the crop, really defined the emotion.

  7. 7. Alexandra Says:

    Wow. These are stunning.

  8. 8. Pam Says:

    I love your edit on this one. The crop, the actions you selected – really frame the subject well. It actually looks like something from the Anthropologie catalog!
    Thanks for sharing this simple, yet dramatic blueprint.

  9. 9. Krista Says:

    When you crop early, like you did in this instance, what size or aspect ratio to do you usually use?

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