Colours and how to make more vivid

[tom32y]

Hi,

This is my first post here so sorry if its in the wrong place or is always covered!!

Ive been taking loads of photos over the last 2 years but they all seem to come out a bit dull, and look like they should be a lot more vivid.

eg
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto..._162739831017_633351017_3584388_4184350_n.jpg

I know someone who does a lot of photos and they are all really colourful, how is this effect accieved in photoshop??

eg

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto..._223197600566_716140566_7998948_6041733_n.jpg

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...1263310880_111744830880_3149001_2174192_n.jpg

Thanks for your help
Tom

 

[Slimbert]

What camera are you using?

Do you mind if I edit one of your photos and post it here for you to look at?

 

[clicktor]

Do you own Photoshop?

 

[swanseamale47]

Theres a few things it could be, but we need more info to narrow it down. Most lightly it's
your camera/software set to adobe RGB colour space, this will look dull compared to SRGB on the web.
Are you shooting in jpeg or raw, and are you using any photo processing software before posting on the net.

 

[tom32y]

Thanks for all the quick replys

1. Im using a Canon EOS 1000d and yes please edit away!!!

2. Yep i have CS4 photoshop

3. That is with no editing in photoshop as yet, and im shooting in JPEG, i was going to have a play aroung with RAW later on to see how different it is. Most of the colour settings on the camera were set to the canon defaults.

Sorry im quite new to the whole photoshop altering process, most of my photos have been taken while backpacking so didnt have time to play.
Thanks
Tom

 

[Slimbert]

Does the Canon have a "Vivid" preset for when shooting JPEGs? My Sony does but I'm not familiar with the 1000d

Heres my quick edit:

Original:

My edit:

Nothing special being done, just uping the saturation and uping the contrast (and a tiny bit of sharpening!). Took about 10 seconds!

Shooting raw files will give you a lot more control and will give you better results.

CS4 can be a bit of a head scratcher sometimes (well that's what I've found anyway!), I use elements 7 and it's much easier to get used to and will do just about anything most people ever need to do!