Curves are the ultimate tool in Photoshop for changing the tonality or adding or removing a colour cast.
A Curves adjustment gives more control than using levels, or any other tonality tool for that matter.
Curves: Basic Principles
The shadows are on the left. The highlights are on the right.
If you move the baseline upwards the image gets brighter. If you move the baseline downwards the image gets darker.
The area of the image which is made darker or brighter is dependent on the histogram underneath the baseline.
If you move the bottom of the baseline to the right you are excluding the darkest pixels. You are therefore clipping the blacks.
If you move the top the baseline to the left you are excluding the brightest pixels, therefore, clipping the highlights.
In both examples above, you are reducing the dynamic range or tonality of an image.
Black and White Points
If you drag the black point slider to the right you clip the shadows.
If drag the
If you hold down the Alt, or Option key whilst dragging these sliders you will see any clipping, as coloured areas.
Curves Adjustment Layer Diagram
What does “Auto” do?
The Auto settings is an “Enhance Brightness and Contrast”, which is content-aware. It does not touch the individual colour channels. So, it does not remove a colour cast.
The quickest way of using Curves in Photoshop
Holding Alt (Windows), Option (Mac OS) click the “Auto”. This will invoke the “Auto Color Correction Options”.
Ticking “Snap Neutral Midtones” ensures the first three a
Go through the four Algorithms to find which one you like, then press “OK”
Now you can use the “Targeted Adjustment Tool” on the IMAGE to brighten or darken specific areas.
At this
You could even use the Targeted Adjustment Tool in the colour channels.
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