Absolute Beginner's Guide to Digital Photography

228 ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TODIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

FIGURE 15.12

The image

before editing.

Understanding input versus output is the key to using Curves. When the curve is

moved, the brightness of the pixels changes. If the curve moves down, the image’s

pixels become darker. If the curve moves up, the image becomes lighter.

Using a Curve to Correct Excessively Dark Tones

The image in Figure 15.12 has good white tones and black tones, but the midtones

are too dark.

Correcting this image with Curves is easy. Because the problem is that the midtones are

too dark, simply drag the middle of the curve upward (the midtones are in the middle).

The tones become lighter wherever the curve is moved upward (see Figure 15.13).

FIGURE 15.13

Correction with

Curves.