Absolute Beginner's Guide to Digital Photography

CHAPTER 10 EDITING WITH SELECTION TOOLS 149

FIGURE 10.20
Adjusting satu-
ration in the
Hue/Saturation
dialog box.

2. In this test image, the colors are too saturated. Move the Master Saturation
   slider to -30 to decrease the saturation of all colors equally.

In many cases, you only need to adjust the saturation of individual colors. In some

images, the saturation will be so high or low that you need to adjust saturation first

before any color balance.

When contrast was increased, it increased saturation. Saturation and contrast are

linked in principle: Saturation always increases when the image’s contrast increases,

and saturation always decreases when the image’s contrast decreases.

ENHANCEMENTS TO THE BASIC PROCESS

In Photoshop you can use the Variations command (Image, Adjust, Variations) to preview

the effects of adjustments to Brightness, Color Balance, and Saturation.

Some tools are more powerful than others. For example, the Curves control is superior to

Levels for adjusting brightness, contrast, and individual colors. You will also learn that

adjustment layers are the best way to manage editing and corrections. Adjustment layers

shield the original image from Levels, Color Balance, Hue/Saturation, and Curves changes.