Lighting/Levels Basics

[ktbruns]

I'm not exactly a newbie, but sometimes I feel like one when I'm using the tools under Enhance/Adjust Lighting, meaning these tools... :(

Shadows/Highlights
Brightness/Contrast
Levels

My frustration is knowing which one to use first and then knowing when to stop. I don't fully understand how the three interact with or duplicate each other. Here are issues I run into:

Usually the first tool I use is Levels. I think I've gotten good at that. Do I STOP here and move on to color correction. Or...

What if the image STILL has shadows that I want to lighten up? If I lighten it up too much, then some contrast is lost. Haven't I just undone some of the adjustments I made in Levels? (Is this when a selection tool/adjustment layer comes in handy?) Should I STOP here and move on to color correction or ...

What if the entire image is STILL a tad dark and needs brightening? After increasing brightness, I usually have to adjust the contrast to regain crispness in the image.

By this time I hate the results because they look so unnatural. :confused:

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[GaryK]

Hi

Unfortuanately, it really depends on the photo. Don't you just hate that answer?:D

I have to say I use levels for almost all brightnes type of adjustments.
What really helps, is going into each colour channel in the levels dialogue and adjusting each individually.
The odd time I will use the shadow/highlights, but as you mentioned you tend to lose a bit of the contrast.
Others have great success with the shadow/highlights and the brightness/contrast adjustments
Selective adjusting is the way to go on very tricky photos. It does take a bit longer, but, if you are not happy with the results when you don't use a selction,then you might as well try.

In the end it all comes down to what you like to see. :)

[Juergen D]

It is hard to say where to stop. It depends on the image and on your preferred workflow. Starting out with Levels is definitely a good approach. Also, where possible, you should do the adjustments with an Adjustment Layer. That way you can go back and change. This applies here to Levels and Brightness/Contrast. Shadows/Highlights have to be done from the >Enhance menu.
To some extent the effects of these adjustments may overlap or cancel each other out. It is important to stay within a subtle range when adjusting. Here I would do Levels (Adj. Layer), apply Shadows/Highlights and possibly up the contrast some with Brightness/Contrast (Adj. Layer).
Some folks will tell you to go back to Levels and rework the contrast that way. But then you may be canceling out the Shadows adjustment. I usually do a contrast adjustment pretty much at the end of my workflow. I never use the Brightness part of that Adjustment Layer. There are other and better methods to handle that.

Juergen

[kimi_boo]

My camera tends to underexpose my images. (or maybe it's the photographer)

On almost every image I process the first thing I do is duplicate my layer, change the blend mode to screen and reduce my opacity until I am happy with it. Then I work the rest of my corrections. :o

I have found this gives me a more realistic looking image. Do give it a try and see what you think? :)

[pixlbandit]

When you use those adjustment layers. If you need to go "too far" with highlights or shadows in order to be pleased with one area and that negatively affects another, remember that you can paint with black (or gray) on the adjustment layer mask to confine the change to specific places in the image. (If you use too much black on a mask, painting with white will reverse that.)
Vicki

[ktbruns]

Excellent advice, all. Thank you.

I will apply your suggestions on my next photograph.

Kevin