Learn the craft, not just the sliders
Short, practical guides from a working photographer. Read one, then try it in the free editor.
The five-step edit that works on almost any photo
White balance → exposure → black and white points → color → sharpen. The pro sequence that makes every edit faster and cleaner.
How to make your photos look like film
Lifted blacks, color in the shadows, soft highlights, and fine grain — stacked gently.
Why your edits look fake (and the fix)
The most common over-editing mistakes — and the simple fix for each. Make your photos look edited, not overcooked.
The 4 corrections that fix 80% of photos
White balance, exposure, contrast, crop. Get these right before any preset.
How to color grade: shadows, midtones, highlights
Grading is choosing which color lives in the dark, middle, and bright parts of your photo.
Black and white that doesn't look flat
Control the mono conversion per color — reds, blues, greens map to gray independently.
Portrait retouching without the plastic look
Three layers of work, in order — exposure, distractions, then gentle shaping.
How to use presets the right way
A preset sets a direction. Every photo still needs a small adjustment after.
White balance, explained for beginners
Temperature and tint, in plain language. Set this first — everything else depends on it.