Levels Adjustment; Levels Overview; Adjust Tonal Range Using Levels - Adobe Photoshop CS6 User Manual

Levels adjustment

Levels overview

Adjust tonal range using Levels

Adjust color using Levels
Add contrast to a photo with Levels
Levels overview
You use the Levels adjustment to correct the tonal range and color balance of an image by adjusting intensity levels of image shadows, midtones,
and highlights. The Levels histogram is a visual guide for adjusting the image key tones. For more information on how to read a histogram, see
About histograms.
You can save Levels settings as a preset, then apply them to other images. See Save adjustment settings and Reapply adjustment settings.
Adjusting Levels in CS5 and CS6
A. Shadows B. Midtones C. Highlights D. Output Level sliders
Adjust tonal range using Levels
The outer two Input Levels sliders map the black point and white point to the settings of the Output sliders. By default, the Output sliders are at
level 0, where the pixels are black, and level 255, where the pixels are white. With the Output sliders in the default positions, moving the black
input slider maps the pixel value to level 0 and moving the white point slider maps the pixel value to level 255. The remaining levels are
redistributed between levels 0 and 255. This redistribution increases the tonal range of the image, in effect increasing the overall contrast of the
image.
Note: When shadows are clipped, the pixels are black, with no detail. When highlights are clipped, the pixels are white, with no detail.
The middle Input slider adjusts the gamma in the image. It moves the midtone (level 128) and changes the intensity values of the middle range of
gray tones without dramatically altering the highlights and shadows.
1. Do one of the following:
Click the Levels icon
(CS5) Click a Levels preset in the Adjustments panel.
Choose Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels. Click OK in the New Layer dialog box.
Note: Choosing Image > Adjustments > Levels makes direct adjustments to the image layer and discards image information.
in the Adjustments panel, or choose Levels from the panel menu.
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