Photo Editing Software

Overview

Framework:
RQF
Level:
Level 1
Unit No:
Y/618/3662
Credits:
3
Guided learning hours:
24 hours

Aim

Learners will understand how to use photo editing software to enhance and modify digital photos. They will develop the skills to correct photos and how to merge and combine photo elements to create digital images.

For the full unit details, please download the latest version of the qualification specification. This is available for download on the relevant qualifications page.

Unit Learning Outcomes

To view the assessment criteria and any additional content, please expand the relevant learning outcome below.

1 — Be able to use photo editing software for a specific purpose.

  • Image (photo) properties: file size (in memory), pixel dimensions, resolution, colour space (RGB/CMYK), file name/format, print size, number of pixels, layers, channels, paths, etc.
  • File formats: JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), TIFF (Tagged Image File Format), RAW, DNG (Digital Negative Format), PNG (Portable Network Graphics), GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), BMP (Bitmap), PSD (Photoshop Document).
  • Work space (will vary depending on software) but learners should be able to: explore and customise their work space/user interface, use the navigation tools, understand the difference between undo and the history panel, history brush, layers panel, channels panel.

Assessment Criteria

  • 1.1

    Identify image properties and file formats used in photo editing software.

  • 1.2

    Navigate and customise the photo editing work space.

2 — Be able to adjust, modify and prepare digital images to meet requirements.

Editing tools:

  • Quick edits for common problems: red eye, reducing noise, sharpening a photo, brightening and darkening an image, correcting image distortion, depth of field, applying filters and blurs, moving objects, adjusting facial features, adjusting perspective in an image.
  • Correction: cropping and straightening techniques, standard crop, non-destructive cropping, rotating with crop, straightening photos, perspective crop tool, image distortion.
  • Manipulation techniques: cropping, removing backgrounds, rotating, brightness/contrast, levels, colour adjustment, cloning, retouching, red eye removal, apply effects, filters, selections, use of layers, text, rendering, shadows, proportion, texture use, picking stock images, combining and merging multiple images, colour blending, extracting parts of images and combining, changing background colours.
  • Combine images together: combine/merge two photo elements into one image, placing an image inside of another, for example, placing an object on a different background.
  • Prepare files for publishing: create a flattened image and keep original layers, optimizing for the web, master file options, converting an image to CMYK, JPEG for printing.

Assessment Criteria

  • 2.1

    Use editing tools to correct a digital photo.

  • 2.2

    Manipulate and combine photo elements to create a new digital image.

  • 2.3

    Prepare digital images for publishing.