AI images can feel too polished/simple—good for a start, but they often need a human touch to stand out. Here’s a tutorial showing how to add extra detail and fix issues in Photoshop. 1. Start with the Canvas: Use the Crop Tool to add space, then try Generative Expand to fill the gaps. 2. Tidy Up the AI Artifacts: Clean up extra fingers or odd textures with the Spot Healing Brush or Clone Stamp Tool. 3. Enhance the Background: Select it, use Generative Fill for stars, or drop in your own elements like planets or flames, blending with Adjustment Layers. 4. Get the Retro Look: Add bold color gradients and adjust tones with Replace Color or Gradient Maps. 5. Finish Strong: Add subtle film grain (Filter > Noise) and a vignette with the Burn Tool for that retro finish. 💡 Tip: Small details like glow effects or subtle grain can make a big difference. Jump into Photoshop and give it a go! Got questions or want feedback? Post your work here... Cheers, Elwyn

Hi all 👋 We’ve had a few good questions about image compression in our coaching community (https://skool.com/pixelhaze-community), so let’s tackle why it’s still important and how to approach it—especially if you’re using platforms like Squarespace. Why Does It Matter? If your site loads slowly, visitors won’t stick around. Google notices this, too, and your rankings can take a hit. A faster site = happier visitors = better SEO. But the balance depends on your audience: - Quick purchases? Speed is everything. - Creative portfolios? Quality needs to shine, so don’t over-compress. My Workflow for Squarespace Here’s how I handle image optimization without overcomplicating it: 1. Crop Before Uploading: Use the Squarespace photo editor to trim down your images—no need to load what won’t be visible. 2. External Compression: I use Compressor.io to reduce file sizes without losing quality. 3. Organize Your Library: Keep compressed images in a folder within Squarespace for quick access. Canva Users—A Heads Up! Canva is great for creating designs, but its compression tools aren’t the best. Instead: - Export images at high quality (90% or higher). - Compress them externally before uploading to Squarespace. What’s Your Workflow? I’d love to hear how you manage your images. Are you using other tools? Have you seen improvements in speed or rankings after optimizing? Drop your thoughts or questions below. If you’re new here, remember that The Classroom section has loads of resources to help with these challenges. Cheers, Elwyn

Hi all. We have been doing a lot of work behind the scenes and will be adding 3 introductory workshops over the coming weeks (Squarespace & web design, Canva design & digital marketing, ChaGPT AI and Productivity). The new Squarespace workshop is nearly ready to launch, I’ll have it uploaded in the classroom section in the next few days. You can also access it via our free membership at PixelHaze Academy: https://www.pixelhaze.academy/ Also, I am offering a free (45 minute) 1-2-1 consultation on any of the above topics, providing that you are happy for me to record or live stream the session (and if you are very happy with it, leave a testimonial) for our YouTube channels. Just from me a DM if interested as I’ll have 2-3 slots available next week. Cheers, Elwyn

I get asked this question frequently during the web design process, especially now that the AI tools in Photoshop make it easier to make impressive tweaks and enhancements. After almost 30 years of using Photoshop, I’ve seen how the updates keep evolving, especially with tools like generative fill and content-aware options. For me, it’s simple: when there’s room in the budget, a professional photographer is worth every penny – you can’t beat that quality. But sometimes, calling in a photographer isn’t possible, especially when the scene isn’t quite ‘finished.’ Take my long-time client, Preserved Timber Products (PTP) near Builth Wells, as an example. They create incredible garden buildings, sheds, and offices, all crafted with local timber. But the challenge is capturing these buildings in a picture-perfect setting. This can mean waiting for things like fresh grass to grow or landscaping to be completed around the structure. Photoshop’s new AI features are a game-changer for those times, letting me work around unfinished surroundings while keeping the building’s integrity intact. My job is to enhance but never mislead. If you’re running a small business and looking to polish up your existing images or are curious about learning some of these Photoshop tricks, check out my blog via the link below. I also wanted to say a huge thanks to PTP for letting me use their projects for my demos. The quality of their garden buildings is superb, and you can take a look at their work here: https://preservedtimber.co.uk To dive deeper into when to bring in a photographer vs. when Photoshop can help, read the full blog here: https://www.pixelhaze.academy/blog/choosing-between-professional-photography-and-adobe-photoshop

Here's a new tutorial demonstrating how to feed spreadsheet data (Google Sheets) into your canvas designs. With a bit of preparation, you can create custom gift vouchers and certificates in bulk. My next step is to look into ways of making this fully automated - once you receive an order email, the certificate is created and sent directly from Canva. I 'think' it will work... Thanks to Cherie from our Coaching Community for the request!