Digital Basics IV Video Series: $146.00 for all five videos/save $50.00.

I have some fabulous new image optimization tips, techniques, and tricks to share. As the Digital Basics III Video Series proved to be so popular, I have decided to run it back in the form of Digital Basics IV. Most importantly, Volume I eliminates the confusion that resulted from the changes to AI Noise Reduction (under the Details tab) in the latest update (17.5) to Adobe Camera Raw (in both Photoshop 2025 Release 26.10.0 and the latest version of Lightroom). As you will see below and in the Volume I video, the new interface represents a significant improvement on the results obtained with the Enhance dialogue box in previous versions of ACR. 

My new workflow includes the use of the masking feature in Adobe Camera Raw (thanks to Anita North), the use of the Point Color eye dropper to tame super-saturated colors during raw conversions (discovered in tandem with Anita), a fabulous new Remove Tool trick that makes my favorite Photoshop Tool even more powerful than before -— that one discovered by me. In addition, I have recently begun doing some Curves work during my ACR raw conversions.

My basic workflow remains much the same as is detailed in both DB II and in the DB III Video Series: 

1- Setting the Color Temperature (when and if needed).
2- Setting the White and Black Points and adjusting the Highlights and Shadows sliders.
3- Setting the Clarity and Dehaze sliders.
4- Fine-tuning color using the Hue/Saturation/Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool, a huge step up from the Color Mixer Tool.
5- My 2-step noise reduction technique (with most images). 

Once I have the .TIF file in Photoshop, I still use my usual cadre of clean-up tools and techniques including the Remove Tool, the Clone Stamp (only rarely), Divide and Conquer, Quick Masking, Layer Masking, Gaussian Blurs, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other image optimization strategies and methods adapted from previous versions of Digital Basics. I also demonstrate the selective use of Topaz Sharpen AI utilizing the masking feature. And last but not least, I share my JPEG creation methodology. 

Volume I of Digital Basics IV details the image optimizations of six images. Most everything above but for the use of the Point Color eye dropper to tame super-saturated colors during raw conversions is at least touched upon in Volume I. Most of it is covered in great detail. 

There will be five volumes in DB IV, each featuring 5 or 6 complete image optimizations.