There are always new techniques to learn whenever Adobe releases an update, with much of our attention focused upon the headline-grabbing new tools. However, it’s also important to recognize when an update includes improvements to existing tool that make them faster and more effective.

To complicate matters, whether you edit with Lightroom or Photoshop, there are typically more than one way to skin a cat, and sometimes this means understanding the difference between new and pre-existing tools so you can take the best approach for the specific task at hand. That’s the topic of this lesson; specifically with regard to Point Color vs. Saturation in Lightroom and Photoshop.

Instructor Matt Kloskowski is a pro photographer and post-processing expert who says, “I feel that Photoshop and Lightroom are WAY too complicated.” That’s why today’s tutorial, like others of his we shared in the past, is all about simplifying common  tools and techniques.

Here’s the impetus for the Matt’s 13-minute episode: “When examining the difference between Saturation and the newer Point Color tool (which also includes Saturation), I started wondering if I took my masking tools and wanted to adjust a color in an are within the frame, which of these tools should I use. As you might expect with a question like this, the answer is “it depends.”

Matt takes a unique approach to illustrating the benefits and drawbacks of the two tools in question, while demonstrating the straightforward manner in which both work. He dives in with a “geeky” theoretical illustration, followed by several creative and practical methods for achieving a perfect result.

Here’s a clue: The key difference has to do with adjusting one color like red that’s at 100%, versus dealing with all the variations of a color.” We’ll let the expert supply the rest.

There are many more straightforward instructional videos on Matt’s popular YouTube Channel, so be sure to pay a visit when you can.

We also recommend that you watch the earlier tutorial we featured with another post-processing expert who demonstrates how to enhance boring outdoor photographs by unlocking the power of Lightroom’s Color Contrast tools.

Here’s a reassuring claim from the folks at First Choice Photo: “Capturing amazing photos doesn’t have to be challenging” if you understand the concept of EXIF Data and how it can be used to evaluate images. After watching today’s 11-minute primer your photography skills will improve, and you’ll also learn how to safeguard your precious files.

Instructor Mike Patterson is a Canadian pro with 35 years of experience who “shares honest real-world advice” to help less experienced shooters up their game. If you’ve ignored EXIF data in the past, we’re pretty sure this oversight will end today.

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, EXIF Data is information embedded in the digital file every time you make a photograph, and this holds true whether you capture the shot with a DLR, mirrorless camera, or your smartphone. And, as you’ll see, some of this data is super useful in a variety of ways.

Patterson provides a list of the types of information included in the EXIF Data, which includes the camera make and model, as well as exposure information like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO—and whether or not you employed EV Compensation and to what degree. It also indicates the lens you used and the specific focal length if it was a zoom.

The list goes on and we won’t repeat here, but the bottom line is that EXIF data is comprehensive and it’s a great tool for evaluating what went right (or wrong) with every image you make. At this point you’re probably wondering, “what does all this data mean to me and my photos?” and that’s the next topic of conversation.

Patterson provides practical examples of images that would be much better straight out of the camera if you have taken advantage of EXIF data to choose a more appropriate setting on the camera’s mode dial, or used different variables for exposure, white balance, and numerous other options. He also provides a warning about potentially incorrect data.

You’ll also learn how to use EXIF data to troubleshoot a lens, and ways to keep photos safe by not accidentally sharing too much of this valuable information. The First Choice Photo YouTube channel is a great source of instructional videos like the one you just watched.

And for another helpful primer don’t miss our recent post with a comprehensive beginners guide to unlocking the magic of capturing epic cityscape and landscape photographs after the sun disappears beneath the horizon.

Today, I’m excited to announce the newest edition of “Creative Landscape Photography: Light, Vision, and Composition”! Along with many smaller changes, Nasim and I have added two major new chapters that cover post-processing with artistic intent. The book is now 167 pages long (up from 149) and stands as our most detailed tutorial on landscape photography yet.

We’ve all come across an interesting scene that would make a spectacular shot in better light. Sometime the problem is a bland day, while other times your vantage point relative to the sun is not where you need it to be. In either case, this tutorial from the PHLOG Photography YouTube channel demonstrates how to win the challenge—even if you have to create glorious light of your own during post-processing.

Instructor Christian Mohrle is a very successful photographer based near Germany’s beautiful Lake Constance. He’s also an image-editing expert, and in this episode he demonstrates a powerful workflow that never fails when the light just isn’t right. We suggest downloading his sample Raw file with the link beneath the video so you can emulate his changes as they’re explained.

This minimalist shot with a pretty building on the horizon has potential, but the sky is really bland, there’s no light hitting the structure, and the foreground is dark and dull. But watch what happens when Mohrle gives mother nature a helping hand by using Lightroom masks to introduce stunning golden light while balancing out the tones to perfection.

Mohrle’s goal for the original image is to “create a beautiful light effect coming in from the left side of the frame, hitting the landscape in the foreground and the subject in the center.” The sky gets a spectacular boost as well. Mohrle anticipated problems with this contrast-rich scene and shot multiple images at different exposures. Thus the first step is merging all five shots into a single HDR image.

Next on the list are a few basic adjustments to the merged file to make it as good as possible for the masking magic that follows. He changes the profile from Adobe Color to Adobe Landscape which immediately bumps up saturation. He also increases base exposure, gently brings up the whites, and drops highlights to retain as much color information as possible in the sky.

After a few more straightforward local adjustments, the fun begins by employing masks to achieve the local adjustments necessary for creating the beautiful effect. Mohrle walks you through the simple step-by-step process for enhancing specific areas within the frame without affecting others.

All that’s left to create the dramatic transformation is some thoughtful color grading and sharpening. You’ll definitely be impressed after viewing Mohrle’s before/after images.

There’s much more to learn on the instructional PHLOG Photography YouTube channel, so make sure you pay a visit and explore what’s available.

And don’t miss the tutorial we featured recently with another post-processing expert who demonstrates how to restore image quality to blurry, pixelated photographs with a straightforward editing technique.