Photo editing basics before you start your book
Simple editing adjustments that make your photobook images look their best in print.
By the Studio6 min read
You do not need professional software or years of experience to prepare photos for a beautiful book. A handful of simple adjustments, made with the editor already on your phone or computer, will make a noticeable difference in print. The goal is not to make photos look edited. It is to make them look like the moment felt.
What edits should I make before printing photos?
Focus on five basics, in this order:
- Straighten. Level the horizon and straighten tall buildings. Tilted photos are one of the most noticeable flaws in print.
- Crop. Remove distractions at the edges and strengthen the composition.
- Exposure. Make sure the photo is neither too dark nor too bright.
- White balance. Correct colour casts so skin looks natural.
- Shadows and highlights. Recover detail in the brightest and darkest areas.
How bright should photos be for printing?
Slightly brighter than you think. Paper reflects light rather than glowing like a screen, so prints usually look a little darker than the same photo on your phone. Before editing, lower your screen brightness to about half. Edits that look right at that brightness tend to print well. Lifting the shadows slightly is often better than raising overall exposure.
How do I fix skin tones that look orange or blue?
That is white balance. Indoor bulbs often make photos too warm and orange; shade and overcast days can make them too cool and blue. Most editing apps have a temperature slider. Move it gently until white objects look white and skin looks like skin. If there is a white wall or shirt in the photo, use it as your reference.
Should I use filters?
Use them lightly, if at all. Strong filters can look dated quickly and often exaggerate colours in ways that print poorly. If you like a particular look, apply it consistently across the whole book rather than switching filters from page to page. Consistency matters more than any single effect.
How do I make photos from different cameras match?
Photos from different phones, cameras and people rarely match out of the box. Choose one photo you love as a reference and adjust others towards it: similar brightness, similar warmth, similar contrast. You do not need perfect matching; you need photos that feel like they belong in the same book.
What should I avoid?
- Over sharpening, which creates harsh outlines around edges.
- Heavy noise reduction, which makes faces look waxy.
- Extreme saturation, which turns skin orange and skies electric.
- Crushing blacks, which loses detail in hair and clothing.
Edit a copy, keep the original
Always keep your original files untouched. Edit copies, so you can return to the original if you change your mind. Many apps do this automatically, but it is worth checking.
Then trust the print
Once your photos are straight, well exposed and natural in colour, they are ready. Soouvenir checks resolution as you design, and every book is reviewed by a person before printing. A few minutes of careful editing now pays off on every page.
