Basic software skills are the backbone of your yearbook success, regardless of the publisher's software platform you use. As the adviser, you are an instructor and researcher. You are responsible for enriching your expertise with new information, learning how to use it, and teaching it to your staff. Here are the basic software skills to use as a foundation:
Photo Formats
Photo formats are digitally stored in these most common types: Raw, JPG, TIF, PNG, and HEIC. United Yearbook prefers PNG because it provides the best print quality. Yearbook, a print media, requires image resolutions at 300 dpi (dots of ink per inch) regardless of the size of the image. However, digital media (any screen) requires 72 ppi (pixels per inch on screen) for the clearest view. If you print the image, save it at a larger size and scale it down.
Photo Editing
A basic photo editing software performs the basic editing functions. There is photojournalism and there are photographs treated with special effects. When editing, you are capturing the truth of a specific moment. The entire scene needs to be carried cleanly in the lighting and color, and the location, nothing changed. Editing is using an artful intent to support a storyline. These are the common editing actions:
Some common editing actions:
Mode refers to the type of color in an image, or in which the image can be changed. Adobe is the premier service that offers help and explanations to assist the novice and the expert. Check this resource here.
Layers are often used in image editing to track and manage the changes made to the original file.
Auto Adjustments are automatic corrections to amplify or reduce Tone, Contrast & Color. Vibrancy, Saturation, and Level&Curves are other adjustments typically available. Experiment with special effects through the use of filters which can add dramatic and fun effects.
Cropping offers the opportunity to eliminate unnecessary elements from a photograph. Use multiple examples of cropped and uncropped photos to teach how to determine what is important to keep. Highlight the changes and the reasons for your choices.
Transform keeps the scaled image in the right aspect ratio. It changes the size and rotates an image.
Many reliable online photography sites provide a wealth of information for novice, intermediate, and professional photographers. Some of the sites include REI COOP’s Expert Advice, Photo Composition: Seven Tips to Take Better Photos, Photography Life, What is Aspect Ratio and How to Use it in Photography, the MastrClass, and How to Edit Photos: Essential Photo Editing Techniques.
Cutouts
Cutouts are dynamic ways to add interest to a layout design. When a Cutout is created, the subject of a photograph is isolated by any number of Select and Mask tools in photo editing software. Each tool comes with built-in tutorials that have ‘Learn more’ buttons. Again, as with most available Photo Editing software, use what’s most reasonably available and accessible to students. Here’s an example with the current version of Photoshop with the Object Selection Tool:
Most yearbooks have several examples of Cut Outs integrated throughout the book. This design concept adds dynamic features to a Page Spread. If you have Adobe products, the Make It site contains basic cut-outs of an image, and you can access a tutorial by clicking here. Canva Pro and other template-driven design software include cut-out features. Here is the Canva tutorial version.
Clipping Mask
Use a Clipping Mask design strategy to increase the number of student faces and representation in a page spread. Select a robust, dense letter form to add pictures using a Clipping Mask. PHLEARN, an online Photoshop, Lightroom & Photography website has a straightforward tutorial. Click here to view. Photoshop Essentials is another informational website that does an excellent job providing step by step instructions for Clipping Masks. Click here for their tutorial.
Special Effects
Digital special effects are a selective tool when applied to photographs. They can ignite powerful emotional responses. To aid in decision-making of what effects to use, look into Digital Photography School and its 26 Unique Special Effects Photos to Spark Your Creativity; befunky’s Amazing Online Photo Effects; and PhotoshopRoadmap which has 27 Super Creative Photo Effects Tutorials for Photoshop. These are terrific ‘fun factors’ but should be applied with discretion.
United YearbookPrinting is available to assist you throughout the year as you navigate the ins & outs of software. Subscribe to our blog, podcast, and newsletter, and visit our website at www.unitedyearbook.net. Or schedule a one-on-one consultation with our representatives.
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Editor: Donna Ladner obtained a B.A. in Education and a minor in English from California Baptist University, and a M.S. in ESL from USC, Los Angeles. After she married Daniel, their family moved to Indonesia with a non-profit organization and lived cross-culturally for 15 years before returning to the U.S in 2012. Donna has been working as an editor and proofreader for TSE Worldwide Press and its subsidiary, United Yearbook since 2015.
Contributor: Lucy McHugh comes to United Yearbook Printing from a 39-year career in public and private school education. She was a former visual art teacher and yearbook adviser. She received a Bachelors of Science in Art from Columbia College in Columbia, SC, a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Nebraska in 2000, and in 2014 earned a Certificate in Catholic School Leadership from Loyola Marymount University. Lucy enjoys her family, making art and gardening.
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