CHAPTER 14 THE IMPORTANCE OF BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST 217- Click on the white-point eyedropper in the dialog box. Move the cursor over
the image to the whitest area that should have detail. In this image, it is the
side of the dress closest to the sun. Click there to set the white point (see
Figure 14.15). Setting the white point for this very low-contrast photo shifts
the center (midtone) slider and the right (highlight) slider to the left.
FIGURE 14.15
Setting the
white point.
At this point, most images have been improved so much you’ll be satisfied. Most will
benefit from adjusting the midtones, however. Here, even with a crisp white and
deep black, the photo is too dark in the faces.- Move the middle (gray) slider under the histogram to the left or right. A slight
move to the left improves the image (see Figure 14.16). - Continue slight adjustments until you are satisfied with the balance of dark
and light in the midtones. Save the image when you have finished.
In the next chapter, you will explore more tricks with Levels and also with Curves,
which are even more powerful at correcting images.