When working in Photoshop, there are two ways of fixing an image: Destructive and non- destructive.
Destructive Editing
Destructive editing pertains to the pixels in an image or photograph are altered. It is called “destructive” because the original state of the pixels are considered destroyed. For example: Using a soft- healing brush on a model’s face in the photograph would be considered as destructive editing. When you use this tool you are taking pixels from another area of the model’s skin that has consistency, it digitally manipulates each individual pixel that is selected to fix the any blemishes on the model. Ultimately, the finished result of using destructive editing usually improves the image.
Long ago, destructive editing was the only way to edit digital photos. Adobe Photoshop is considered destructive editing software. However, if you have the intellectual capacity to expand your knowledge on Photoshop, then editing photos can be edited non- destructively.
Non- Destructive Editing
This type of editing allows the designer to adjust and manipulate and image without messing with the original photograph. There are several techniques to using non-destructive methods like adjustment layers, smart filters, and a multitude of other methods.
Using adjustment layers allows to add color without altering any pixels from the original pictures. To access adjustment layers in Photoshop click Choose Layer> New Adjustment Layer and choose and option. Transforming with Smart Objects in Photoshop allow the image to be warped, skewed, rotated, and scaled with out any pixels being broken. Images that aren’t smart objects already can be converted by clicking Layer> Smart Objects> Convert To Smart Objects.Most casual designers fail to crop non-destructively. It can be easily achieved by selecting Hide from the options bar to hold the cropped area in a layer. To adjust it, click Image>Reveal All or by dragging the crop tool past the edge of the image. One of the easiest ways to work non- destructively is by simply adding another layer to retouch certain inconsistencies will help not damage the original image; specifically, this can used for tools like healing brush, spot- healing brush, and clone stamp. Lastly, masks are used non-destructively to hide and reveal certain adjustments made to an image without damaging any pixels. To do this you can make a group with a layer mask and with the brush tool you can select which parts you want to hide.
Photo by Peter Clarkson on Unsplash
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