This PhotoTools preset starts out with Kevin Kubota’s Daily Multi-Vitamin effect to increase the contrast as well as pump up some of the blues in the photo. Next on the list is the Kubota Radiance Landscape which is a great effect that boosts the color and vividness of the photo without softening it or adding any glow. The last step was to add the Velvia effect in PhotoTools which simulates the look achieved with Fuji Velvia film.

Before PhotoTools

I think one of the most important things to be careful of when enhancing any file is to not go overboard with whatever is you’re doing. That being said, I can see times when going overboard might be what you indeed want to do, but in general, knowing when to stop is always a good thing.

Here’s a case in point, this photo (courtesy of Fotolia.com) was processed with PhotoTools Professional Edition, but only a little bit. Just enough though where I think the change is flattering without going over the top. Usually I post before and after photos on top of each other, but with this one the change was subtle so I wanted to put them side by side.

The preset combines three effects including the Jack Davis Diffuse Glow to soften the image (primarily the skin) set to 64 percent; the onOne Turbo Boost effect to boost colors overall set to 22 percent (remember, going overboard isn’t always good!); and finally I added the onOne Black Soft effect for just a bit more of that diffused look.

Photo provided courtesy of Fotolia.com