This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Adjusting Levels Automatically
Photoshop Elements gives you the option of applying a quick fix to image levels and contrast with the Auto Levels and Auto Contrast commands. Although I recommend working with the histogram in the Levels dialog box, the auto commands can be a good jumping-off point before launching into more controlled, manual image correction. The auto commands tend to be most successful when applied to photographs that contain an average tonal range; one where most of the image detail is concentrated in the midtones. Midtones are those tonal values that fall about halfway between the darkest and lightest values. Midtone areas tend to contain more image information—more visible detail, that is—than extremely dark or light areas. Photographs with predominant midtones—whether in grayscale or in color—are usually the best candidates for auto correction. Severely overexposed or underexposed images may be beyond help. If the camera or scanner didn't capture the detail in the first place, it's not there to be corrected.
To apply Auto Levels to an image:
- From the Enhance menu, choose Auto Levels, or press Shift+Ctrl+L.
Photoshop Elements instantly adjusts the image's tonal range (
Figure 3.23
).
Figure 3.23 The photo on the top lacks sufficient tonal range, particularly in the highlight and lighter midtone areas. The photo on the bottom, corrected with the Auto Levels command, reveals more detail in both the shadow and highlight areas because the pixels have been distributed across the full tonal range.
- If you're not happy with the result, select Edit > Undo Auto Levels, or press Ctrl+Z.
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To apply Auto Contrast to an image:
- From the Enhance menu, choose Auto Contrast (
Figure 3.24
), or press Alt+ Shift+Ctrl+L.
Photoshop Elements instantly adjusts the image's contrast ( Figure 3.25 ).
Figure 3.24 Choose Enhance > Auto Contrast to apply an instant contrast fix to your image.
Figure 3.25 The photo on the top lacks sufficient contrast, so detail is lost in both the shadow and highlight areas. The photo on the bottom, corrected with Auto Contrast and containing both strong blacks and whites, reveals detail not present in the original.
- To undo, choose Edit > Undo Auto Contrast, or press Ctrl+Z.
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