15
In this chapter
- Using Levels to Fix Your Images
- Using a Curve to Correct Dark Tones
- Using a Curve to Correct Light Tones
The Importance of
Levels and Curves
Digital photographers use image editors primarily for one task: correct-
ing images that weren’t exposed properly. This capability is the biggest
advantage to “going digital.” You can recover images that normally
would be thrown in the trash, or make great images even better. With
the Levels and Curves tool, you no longer have to endure bland, gray,
underexposed images or washed-out bright images!
Two correction tools common to image-editing applications are Curves
and Levels. In Photoshop, you can access these tools by choosing Image,
Adjustments, Levels or Image, Adjustment, Curves (see Figure 15.1). In
Photoshop Elements, which only includes Levels, choose Enhance,
Brightness/Contrast, Levels. Use Curves or Levels to give your image more
“snap,” or to fix an exposure error.