|
Brighten Images without Curves Tutorial
Brighten Images with the Shadows and Highlights Command
The Adjustment Curves editor is possibly the best way to adjust the brightness of photographs - it affords a sophisticated way of deciding what the impact value of a pixel should be adjusted to: Either by adjusting the combined RGB channels together, or by adjusting individual channels. Where brightness control simply adds a number to each pixel, and each channel - without order - the Curves command can for example, increase, or reduce, the values of pixels in a non-linear fashion, and as a consequence, the middle values are adjusted leaving the extremes unaffected. This is how Curves can darken/lighten an image whilst leaving those colours close to solid black, and solid white, unaffected. To do this you click near the midpoint of the diagonal line, as shown below.
 
And nudge it upwards to create a curve. However, you can do more than that by creating additional points on the line to change how different ends (of the image) are adjusted - and even combining a change to the combined RGB with individual adjustments to the separate Red Green and Blue channels.
While Curves are an excellent combination of power and simplicity, they are not a perfect solution - photographs will always react uniquely; therefore, it is worth experimenting with alternative methods - such as the Brightness and Contrast filter.
Tip
Most photographs will benefit from the following S curve. To create an S curve, click two points, (as shown below), then gently nudge the right-side point upwards, and the left-side point downwards. Don’t be afraid to play with the S curve, and find a contrast that works well with your photographs!
 |
 
Curves Editor CS3
The Curves editor looks a little different in CS3. Most noticeable, is the histogram
(graph) displayed behind the Curve. Additionally, CS3 has a Curves Preset tab, and a couple more tabs to play with.
Undo and Navigation Steps
Two ways of undoing steps are from the top menu, Edit then Step Backwards. Alternatively, click a previous snapshot in the History Palette.
Navigate (zoom in and pan) your image using the Navigator Palette,
or the Zoom Tool. 
Activate The Hand Tool by tapping the Spacebar, keeping the Spacebar pressed, pan your image in the usual way. 
1/
Open your image onto Photoshop’s workspace.
 Click Auto to return the Curves editor to its default settings!
2/
Then from the top menu, choose Image then choose Adjustments then choose Curves.
Now, working on the RGB Channel - adjust the brightness of your image by gently nudging the curve upwards - Nudging it downwards darkens your image.
The Channels Tab.
This tab allows you to effect all three colour channels at once (RGB), or, if you prefer, you can work on the Red, Green or Blue channels, separately.
You will notice that the Input and Output settings alter according to the arc’s position. Experiment with the curve until you are happy with the brightness of your image. These are the settings I chose for my image.
3/
Alternatively, click the Set White Point dropper. 
Then move it over a white area (of your image), and left-click. This lightens your image to the lightness of the pixels you clicked - similar to the Levels Editor - Chapter 6.
Either adjust your image’s brightness manually (with the arc), or utilise the dropper tool - and find brightness settings that work for your image.
4/
From the top menu, choose Image then choose Adjustments then choose Auto Contrast - this (subtly) brightens the contrast. Alternatively, use the manual contrast by choosing Image then Adjustments then Brightness/Contrast.
5/
From the top menu, choose Image then choose Adjustments then choose Hue/Saturation. To add a little warmth to the colours, (if needed), increase the Saturation setting.
6/
I finished by applying a sharpening filter - from the top menu, choose Filter then choose Sharpen. My lesson Here explains how to sharpen images.
Options
Clicking the Options tab.
Displays the following dialogue box - it affords further (Curves) control - if needed.
Wendi E M Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
|
|
