In the world of branding and communication, it’s often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. When it comes to conveying your message effectively, images play a crucial role.
In this article, we will explore ten simple ways to edit photos and enhance them, ensuring that you consistently put your best foot forward.
Research indicates that the human brain processes images faster than any other form of data. If you’re seeking an effective means of connecting with your audience, imagery is the most potent tool at your disposal.
Whether it’s your marketing materials, photo books, or social media posts, experimenting with visual content can yield remarkable results.
HubSpot has gathered compelling statistics that underscore the power of visual content:
- Content featuring relevant images receives 94% more views than content without images.
- People remember information better when it’s accompanied by visuals, with a retention rate of 65% for audio + visual information compared to just 10% for audio alone after three days.
- Visual content is 40 times more likely to be shared on social media platforms.
Clearly, imagery is an essential component of effective communication, making your projects more memorable and impactful. To stand out amid the constant flood of images your audience encounters, it’s crucial to ensure your visuals are of the highest quality.
Whether you are working with your photography or sourced images, here are ten simple techniques to enhance your pictures:
Cropping: Transform your photo by cropping it, removing distractions, improving composition, or emphasising focal points. Remember to start with a large image to retain quality.
Blurring: Use blurring to create smooth, uncluttered backgrounds in your designs, making text easier to read while retaining recognisable shapes in the background.
Saturation: Adjust colour intensity by increasing or decreasing saturation. Be cautious not to overdo it, as excessive saturation can make images look unnatural.
Contrast: Enhance your image’s pop and drama by increasing contrast, which produces a wider range of tones from light to dark. Avoid excessive contrast, as it can lead to blown-out highlights and overly dark shadows.
Brightness: Correct lighting issues by adjusting brightness incrementally, taking care not to create overly bright areas. Simultaneously adjusting contrast can improve results.
Filters: Apply filters for artistic effects or to correct image issues. Filters can balance colours and enhance picture quality, but use them sparingly.
Arrangement: Create a clean and organised layout by aligning design elements to a grid. Grids are also excellent for showcasing multiple images.
Frames: Use frames to draw attention to images, whether simple or decorative, colored or not, depending on your project’s style.
Layering: Make images less noticeable for better text visibility by adding transparent screens or overlays. Adjust the opacity to strike the right balance between image clarity and text legibility.
Text: Combine images and text for effective graphic design. Add relevant information to your images by placing text on top, using open spaces like sky or water for clear typography.
Bonus Techniques:
Auto Enhance: Save time and effort by using the Auto Enhance effect, which corrects and enhances photos with a single tap.
Photo Effects: Explore Canva’s library of photo effects, including background removal, face retouching, and more, to create delightful and unique photo enhancements.
Harnessing the power of image editing and enhancement can significantly elevate your visual content.
By following these ten techniques, you can consistently produce high-quality images that captivate your audience and effectively communicate your message.
Whether you’re a professional designer or a casual creator, these tools and tips will help you put your best foot forward every time.