Even before Photoshop or other photo editing software came into existence, adding photo overlays was a hot-shot. And, even today, its worth hasn’t lost at all. Earlier, darkrooms got the chance to see a variety of execution techniques – be it scratching negatives with several pins or staining photographic papers with fixers.
In the present era, with darkroom turning digital, it has become a bit easier for designers to edit pictures. Moreover, with software and tools, you even have different ways to add beautiful overlays and edit pictures seamlessly.
So, let’s begin with knowing more about the concept of graphic overlays, reasons to use them, and the advantages one can get from them.
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What Are Overlays?
In the world of photography, overlays are generally known as texture or an image that is added as an extra layer to a picture with the help of a photo editing tool, generally Photoshop. For those who are new to this concept, adding an image or a texture to a picture would be nothing less than exciting.
On the top of that, with graphic design overlays being a drag and drop away, people don’t even step aside from using them to their best. Moreover, regardless of the image type, there is an overlay available for every conceivable style or look that you may try to create.
That being said, even though the ultimate result of using image overlays is going to be effective, there are still some people, just wondering why to use them. So, debunking all the though-process, here are some great reasons for using striking overlays for your pictures.
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How to Use Overlays?
As a designer, you have different options when it comes to overlays. If you are an ace and a professional designer, you can sit and create overlays on your own. Of course, that wouldn’t be a tough task for someone who is experienced and proficient enough in this domain.
However, if you are a newbie, you can use the pre-designed overlays, which come with an array of benefits. These pre-made ones let you put textures or overlays on a picture just with a drag and drop method. After that, you can simply continue to experiment with light, opacity, contrast, shadows, and more to make these additions look obvious.
How Are Overlays Helpful?
One of the significant reasons to use overlays for edits is to add such elements or textures to the picture that was not thereafter it was captured. In this way, in the world of photography, adding layer during the post-production is possible to enhance the entire look of the image.
With the help of layers and textures, you can enhance a monotonous picture and turn it into a beguiling one. Whether you want to create a fairy garden of your own or have a desire to provide an eye-catchy fog effect, with a precise and correct overlay, everything is possible.
Why Should You Use Overlays?
They Make Images Stand Out:
Now that it is prevalent that the audience likes graphics more, there is no denying the fact that images are being flooded on the internet. Therefore, it becomes quite important to make your pictures stand out from the rest. Although there might be several ways to do that, adding an overlay is a considerable one.
With this additional layer, you get a chance to bring a key message on the table, whether you are updating a social media post or running an e-mail campaign. Above all, an overlay is competent enough to make your picture stand out. After this, what else would you want?
Since it is nothing but easy to get lost in inundated messages and pictures, having a header image along with an attractive piece of content will surely help you turn heads. And then, with an overlay, you can simply compel your audience to pay attention to the message specifically.
Create Easy-to-Share Content:
There is no denying the fact that overlays can help you achieve different objectives. Not just you can add an extra picture on your hero image, but you can even put up an intriguing layer of text to make it a worthy content. Since text on image creates better impact, you’d have all the more reasons to execute this technique.
Furthermore, with this, it becomes even easier to deliver a short message that can be shared or forwarded by your audience. In this way, you can seamlessly generate different types of content by keeping your brand in mind – whether it is just a copy space or something promotional.
However, before taking the plunge, you must make sure that you are choosing such an image that has sufficient space where you can fit the text easily. Also, the text shouldn’t blend into the image. That’s how you’ll be successful in grabbing your readers’ attention.
Check out: Exceptional Photo Overlays Bundle
It Can Help Increase Conversions:
Just like helping you create shareable content, overlays can also turn out to be beneficial when it comes to putting CTA on an image. Out of all the tactics and techniques, having an attractive and precise call-to-action is the key that can help you increase conversion. And, with a clear CTA, displayed on a picture with the help of an overlay, you can communicate your expectations to your audience with ease.
Most of the times, people end up putting a lot of links in one piece of content, directing the audience what to do and what not to do. This, quite literally, can be very confusing for those who are stopping by to read and understand your post. And, with several directions at once, they might not take even a single action.
Whether you want to redirect people to a particular page or want them to look out for your products – or any other task for that matter – with one particular key action, your users will understand the clear instructions and would get to comprehend your message. And, all of these things can be done with an overlay.
They Can Save Your Time:
If no other reasons seem to be compelling enough, this one will surely push you to make the maximum use of these overlays. For a person who has lately stepped into the world of editing, it will definitely take some time to be cognizant of the procedures that take place here.
And, with this, more than usual consumption of time is quite obvious. However, what if you get a way to save time without compromising with the perfectness of your work? Surely, you’ll grab that opportunity with both the hands, isn’t it? That’s where overlays come out to be a savior for you.
With overlays, you wouldn’t have to sit and design them on your own, wasting a lot of time and money altogether. On the contrary, with pre-designed overlays, it is easier to select and work. In this way, you wouldn’t have to go around, taking a lot of pictures or working extra hard.
They Can Facilitate Your Work:
Everyone wants to create something different from others. But, nobody wants to put excessive efforts into it, right? In fact, even you must have thought of owning a robot that can complete your tasks without compelling you to do in on your own, right? If yes, in this case, consider overlays as digital robots that you can only use with editing.
With the help of these overlays, you get a lot of freedom to experiment and create something marvelous. Not just that, but the process of creating something eye-catching would be easier as well. Thus, overlays are designed to facilitate your work with ease.
Check out: Cinematic Graphic Overlays
Several Options to Choose From:
As a professional in the world of photography, you definitely need to back yourself up with multiple variations at a time. After all, that’s what your client would need to see. In such a situation, overlays can be a very effective tool if your client suddenly asks for some options.
The best thing is that you can even get one bundle with lost of different overlays. Not just your client would have a good range of overlays to look at or choose from, but you’d even save a lot of money as well. At the end of the day, you will even have the liberty to please a number of clients just with one bundle. Fascinating, isn’t it?
With such vast versatility and innumerable areas to use these overlays upon, you can surely become the master of your own art. In this way, you can easily experiment with your pictures and provide the best results to your client.
Check out: Extraordinary Photo Overlays
Conclusion:
Putting up some missing elements in an image while the editing process was never so easy. It’s true that overlays can help you conquer any sort of difficult. So, if you didn’t know how to add extra factors to a simple clicked picture, now is the time.
Figure out the kind of overlays you can use the most. Experiment with your images and the end result. And then, make the best use of your imagination to create something marvelous.
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