Using Adobe Photoshop for the first time can be daunting. There are so many tools within the program that most people give up too soon, but here are some simple tools that can get you started.

Landscape photography is one of the most popular genres of photography, and for good reason. The beauty and majesty of the natural world is truly awe-inspiring, and capturing it in a photograph can be a rewarding experience. However, even the most beautiful landscape photo can benefit from a little editing to make it truly stand out and if you shoot RAW (which you definately should) editing is an essential process. Photoshop is one of the most powerful tools available for editing landscape photos, and in this guide, we'll explore some of the best tools and techniques you can use to take your landscape photography to the next level.

Crop Tool

The crop tool is one of the simplest but most powerful tools available in Photoshop. It allows you to trim away unwanted portions of an image and focus the viewer's attention on the most important parts of the scene. For landscape photography, cropping can help you create a more balanced composition or emphasize a particular element of the landscape. You can also use the crop tool to straighten a crooked horizon line, which is a common issue in landscape photography!

Levels Adjustment

The levels adjustment tool is a powerful way to adjust the tonal range of your image. It allows you to adjust the brightness, contrast, and tonal balance of your image to create a more balanced and visually pleasing composition. In landscape photography, the levels adjustment tool can be used to adjust the brightness of the sky, enhance the contrast in the landscape, and bring out details in the shadows. Used in combination with luminosity masks, or masks in general, the levels adjustment tool can be very powerful.

Curves Adjustment

The curves adjustment tool is similar to the levels adjustment tool but offers greater control over the tonal range of your image. With curves, you can adjust the brightness and contrast of your image in specific areas of the tonal range. For example, you can darken the shadows while keeping the highlights bright to create a dramatic, moody effect. The curves adjustment tool is a great way to add depth and dimension to your landscape photos.

The line will sit diagonally from bottom left (blacks) to the top right (whites). Moving the line down darkens, and upwards lightens. So if you move the curve down on the right hand side, you will darken the blacks and shadows.

Dodge and Burn Tools

The dodge and burn tools are two of the oldest and most essential tools in the Photoshop toolbox. The dodge tool is used to lighten specific areas of an image, while the burn tool is used to darken specific areas.

In landscape photography, the dodge and burn tools can be used to bring out details in the shadows or add depth and dimension to the landscape. However, it's important to use these tools sparingly and with a light touch, as too much dodge or burn can make your image look over-processed.

Gradient Tool

The gradient tool is a powerful way to add color or tonal changes to specific areas of your image. In landscape photography, the gradient tool can be used to enhance the sky or add a color cast to the landscape.

For example, you can use a blue gradient to enhance the color of the sky, or a warm orange gradient to create a sunset effect. The gradient tool is a versatile tool that can be used to create a wide range of effects in landscape photography. These are best used with either a luminosity mask or a different belnding modes to not make the image look unnatural.

A black to transparent gradient tool, used with the soft light belnding mode can easily add extra contrast and pop to the sky!

Cloning and Healing Tools

The cloning and healing tools are used to remove unwanted elements from an image or to repair imperfections. In landscape photography, these tools can be used to remove distracting elements such as power lines, cars, or people. Also they should be used to remove any dust spots you may have, please do this!! No-one wants to view a dirty image!!

They can also be used to repair imperfections in the landscape, such as blemishes on rocks or trees that may be distracting. However, it's important to use these tools with care, as overuse can create an unnatural-looking image.

Sharpening Tool

The sharpening tool is used to increase the apparent sharpness of an image. In landscape photography, this tool can be used to bring out details in the landscape or to create a crisper, more defined. There are also third party sharpening tools such as Topaz AI which have integrations into Photoshop to allow you more creative control over how sharpening is created and applied.