How to Edit Photos in Photoshop 7.0: A Practical, Pro‑Level Workflow

 How to Edit Photos in Photoshop 7.0: A Practical, Pro‑Level Workflow

As a longtime retoucher who started on Photoshop 7.0, here’s a modern, reliable workflow that respects the tool’s limits while delivering clean, professional results. This matches your search intent: step‑by‑step editing, best practices, and trustworthy settings you can apply today.

Set up and import

• Launch PS 7.0 > Window: enable Layers, History, Navigator.
• Edit > Color Settings: use sRGB for web, Adobe RGB for print.
• File > Open. Immediately duplicate the Background (Layer > Duplicate Layer) to preserve pixels.

Crop, straighten, and frame

• Crop tool (C). Constrain proportions if needed; straighten with the crop’s rotate handle.
• Keep important details inside the safe area; avoid over‑cropping.

Clean up distractions

• Healing Brush/Patch (J): Alt‑click to sample clean texture; paint over blemishes and dust.
• Clone Stamp (S): Low opacity (20–40%) for gradual blending; sample frequently.
• For heavy dust/grain: Filter > Noise > Dust & Scratches; mask the effect to protect edges.

Tone and color (core adjustments)

• Levels (Ctrl+L): Set black/white points by dragging end sliders to the histogram’s data; fine‑tune midtones.
• Curves (Ctrl+M): Gentle S‑curve for contrast; use on an Adjustment Layer to stay flexible.
• Color Balance (Ctrl+B) or Hue/Saturation (Ctrl+U): Remove color casts; keep Saturation modest (+5–15).

Local control with masks

• Add Adjustment Layer > Invert the mask (Ctrl+I) to black.
• Paint white with a soft brush (B) where you want the adjustment to appear (faces, sky, etc.).

Sharpen for output

• Filter > Unsharp Mask: start with Amount 80–120%, Radius 0.7–1.2, Threshold 3–8 for portraits; preview at 100%.
• Avoid halos by lowering Amount or Radius.

Save correctly

• Save layered master as PSD.
• Export: File > Save for Web (Alt+Shift+Ctrl+S), JPEG High, convert to sRGB for consistent browsing.

Pro tips and troubleshooting

• Use History snapshots before major steps.
• Banding in skies? Add slight noise (1–2%) to smooth.
• Batch repetitive tasks with Actions; review results at 100%.

With careful masking, subtle global corrections, and conservative sharpening, Photoshop 7.0 still produces crisp, publication‑ready images.

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