Adobe Photoshop CS6 Top 100 Simplified Tips and Tricks by Lynette Kent

Improve contrast with a CURVES ADJUSTMENT LAYER
The Curves adjustment is one of Photoshop’s most
powerful tools. It can also be quite intimidating. Like
the Levels adjustment, Curves adjustments compress
or stretch the input tones of the image, affecting the
tonal range, contrast, and color balance of the image.
Whereas Levels has only three adjustments — white
point, black point, and gamma — the Curves
adjustment lets you control multiple points along the
tonal range curve. Creating an S-curve to add
contrast to the midtones, which in turn reduces
contrast to the shadows and highlights, is the most
commonly applied Curves adjustment. When applied
to the entire RGB image, a Curves adjustment not
only changes the contrast but also the hue and
saturation.
By using a Curves adjustment layer, you can alter the
curve of just the lightness or luminosity of the image.
Such a targeted adjustment is not only nondestructive
but also protects the existing hue and saturation.
The amount of contrast an image requires depends on
the subject matter and the intent of the photographer.
1 Click the Adjustment Layer
button in the Layers panel.
2 Click Curves.
Note: You can optionally click the
Curves button ( ) in the
Adjustments panel.
2
1
A
3
A The Curves Properties panel
opens.
3 Click the Properties panel title
bar and drag it to the left until
it disconnects from the other
panels.
4 Click and drag the bottom right
corner of the Properties panel to
enlarge the window.
Note: Enlarging the panel lets you
make finer adjustments on the
curve.
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