Follow these steps to edit an image with a Curves adjustment layer:- Use an adjustment layer to make your changes. Select Layer, New Adjustment
Layer, Curves from the Layer menu or click the Adjustment layer icon at the
bottom of the Layers window. - Be sure the Preview box is on (an ×is in it) so that the entire image will
change as you edit the curve. Before you begin changing the curve, click on
different tones of the image. This makes a marker appear on the curve corre-
sponding to the brightness of the pixel you clicked. Use this marker to learn
about the relationship of the curve to the image. - Click on the curve to create points and drag them until you have created a good
curve for the image. The image should appear sharp and with good contrast. - Experiment with changing the curve of each
color, leaving the others unchanged. Then try
giving each color a different curve. See how
these changes affect the image. - Click OK when you are satisfied with the
change, or press and hold down the Alt key
and click Reset to try again.
The beauty of adjustment layers is that:
■ You can turn them off and see the original
image.
■ You can drag them to the trash if they’re
unnecessary.
■ The original bits of the image are not
changed until the layers are flattened and
saved.
■ By adding a layer mask, you can “paint out”
the change using a brush/airbrush.232 ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TODIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
The use of layer masks
is a little more advanced
than the scope of this book. If
you are interested in learning
more about adjustment layers
coupled with layer masks, check
out some of the more advanced
Photoshop books by New Riders
Press and Que Publishing.