The Photo Correction 2
Adjusting Levels |
Auto Color | Replacing Colors | Dodge Tool |
Sponge Tool
- You will need this file after it has been cropped and rotaated
Adjusting Levels or the Tonal Range
To adjust tonal range, use the levels command as follows:
1. Click Image > Adjustments > Levels. This will open the Levels dialog box
as seen in the first screen shot.
2. Check to make sure there is a checkmark in the box next to Preview. This
will allow you to see the effect your editing selections have on the image.
 The
image in the middle of the Levels dialog box is called the Histogram. The
Histogram is a graph representing the shadows, highlights, and midtones or
gamma of an image. If you are working on an image that has colors across the
full range of brightness, the graph would stretch across the full histogram.
The image in this tutorial, the graph is gathered mostly to the left of the
center mark on the graph.
The triangles at the bottom of the Histogram represent each of the three
tonal ranges of an image: black being shadows, white being highlights, and
gray being the midtones or gamma. By moving these triangles, you can adjust
the tonal ranges.3. Click on and drag the black triangle to the right
just until you reach the beginning of the of where the histogram indicates
the beginning of the darkest colors on the left.
 Notice
as you do this that the left input levels box changes value. You should be
somewhere in the area of 18 at this point.
4. Now drag the white triangle to the left just until you reach the
beginning of the of where the histogram indicates the beginning of the
lightest colors on the right. The right input levels box also changes value
and should be in the area of 232 at this point.
5. Next you will want to lighten the midtones (gamma). Drag the gray
triangle toward the left a little until the image looks good to you. For
this image the middle input levels box should be somewhere near 1.30.
6. Once you are happy with the outcome, click OK to apply changes.
7. To view your changes to the histogram, click > Image > Histogram. You
will see how the tonal ranges extend across the entire histogram. Click OK
and then save your work.
Auto Contrast (Not used in this project, but important to know)
You can also adjust shadows and highlights (contrast), as well as the
overall mix of colors in an image by clicking Image > Adjustments > Auto
Contrast. This causes the darks to appear darker and the lights to appear
lighter and improves the appearance of photographic or continuous-tone
images, but does not affect flat-color images.
 Color
Cast Adjustments - Auto Color
Some images just look way too blue or way too red etc. You can balance
the color cast:
1. Choose Image > Adjustments > Auto Color Notice how the cast of color
is adjusted.
2. Choose File > Save.
Changing Colors in an Image (Replace Color)
 You
can adjust the hue which is color. The saturation which is the purity of the
color and the lightness which is how much white or black is in the image.
1. Select the rectangular marquee tool and draw a selection border around
the top of the image making sure to grab in all of the blue wall at the top
of the image.
2. Choose Image > Adjustments > Replace color to open the Replace Color
Dialog box. Now you will see a black rectangle by default showing the
selection area.
 3.
Select the first eyedropper tool and click anywhere in the blue area that
you selected with your rectangle marquee.
4. Next select the middle eyedropper plus tool and drag over the entire
length of your blue section. Do this until the entire wall shape is
highlighted in white in the Replace color dialog box.
5. Adjust the tolerance level of the selection up to 80. Use the slider
or type in 80.
6. If there are white areas in the selection that are not part of the
wall use your third eyedropper minus tool and click in the black area to
remove most of the white. A few pixels in the shadowed area are OK.
7. In the Replace color dialog box set the Hue to -40, the Saturation to
-45, and the Lightness to 0. The wall should now look like slate green.
8. Click OK to apply the changes.
9. Choose Select > Deselect, and then choose File > Save.
Using the Dodge Tool to Lighten the Curtains
 1.
On your Tool Bar select the Dodge Tool which is the seventh tool down on the
right side of the Tool Bar under the Paint Bucket OR click the shortcut key
by clicking on O.
2. Up top on the Options Bar select the Brush Tool size (which is on the
right hand side of the Dodge Tool option) by clicking on the carrot.(black
arrow) (If you can not see your Options Bar go to Menu>Windows>mark Options)
3. Select soft round brush 27. The soft round brush means the edges are
feathered and not sharp.
4. Beside the Brush size option you will see Range. Click on the carrot and
select Highlights.
5. Next on the options bar click on the carrot beside Exposure to select a
number that will
slightly lighten the folds of the lace curtains in the window.
6. Drag the Dodge Tool over the curtains until you have made the areas of
your choice lighter.
(Dragging vertically over the folds will give the curtains perspective.)
7. When you are satisfied with the change save your image.
Using the Sponge Tool to Enhance the Flower Colors.
 1.
On the Tool Bar select the the Sponge Tool be clicking on the Dodge Tool and
then click and hold the small arrow at the bottom right. You will see a
small popout window. Select the Sponge Tool. Also once you have selected the
Dodge Tool by clicking on it or clicking your shortcut key O you can hold
shift and click O two times until your Sponge Tool is selected.
2. On the Options Bar select the Brush Size carrot and set it at soft round
brush 27.
 3.
In Range select Saturate. Saturate enhances the colors by "purifying" them.
4. Set the Flow number in the options bar by clicking on the carrot to
select a number that will enhance the flowers to your liking.
5. The lower the percentage the more subtle the change. (If you select
Desaturate it will cause the colors to become more "bland". You may want to
work with both to change the flowers until you are satisfied.)
6. When you are done save your image.
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