Levels Color Correction Technique

2. Tonal Corrections with the Eyedropper Tool

Use Levels to make tonal corrections to the image in 3 easy steps. 

• The LevelsDialog Box offers a way to make tonal corrections to the image.
• You can correct both tonality and color by using the three eyedroppers in the LevelsDialog Box.
• Open the image, open the Levels Dialog Box(CMD/CRTL + L) and correct both tonality and color in the image with just three clicks.
• Select the BLACK POINT eyedropper and click on an area of a photo that should be BLACK or already DARK in color.
• Select the WHITE POINT eyedropper and click on an areaof a photo that should be WHITE or very LIGHT in color.
• Click the GRAY POINT eyedropper on an areaof a photo that should be GRAY.
• Repeat this process to correct the colors in your artistry or photo.

3. Custom Levels Adjustment Using Color Channels

Use Color Channels to correct a color cast.

• In the Levels dialog box, click on ‘RGB’ to activate your options and open the three individual color Channels.
• Select RED then move white slider LEFT and black slider RIGHT to the area where the histogram begins to ‘peak.’

• Now select GREEN from the menu and repeat.

• Repeat for the BLUE channel.

Note. This will only create a result if there is a color cast in your image. If there is no color cast, the histogram will spread to the edges of the graph.

4. Adjust Exposure and Contrast

Use the Levels Tool to adjust the exposure and contrast of a photo.

• Make the Shadows, Highlights, and Mid-tones brighter/lighter or darker.
• Using the RGB Channel, move the Highlights (white slider on the right) to the LEFT to make the whites in your photo brighter.
• Repeat for the Shadows (black slider on the left) to the RIGHT to darken the blacks in your image.
• Adjust the Mid-tone slider to add  contrast and perfect your levels adjustment.

Tip. Make sure that you don’t overexpose the Highlights (make them TOO light) and/or underexpose the Shadows (too dark).

Note. This is called ‘clipping’  – Hold down the OPT/ALT key while you’re adjusting the white and black sliders to ensure you’re not obliterating pixels.

5. Color Adjustments Using Blending Modes

Further adjust the contrast and intensity of color in your artistry using Blending Modes.

• Duplicate the photo layer in the Layers Panel(CMD/CTRL + J).
• Repeat two or more times.
• Change the Blending Mode of each layer from the ‘Normal’ menu at the top of the Layers Panel.
• Apply Screen to LIGHTEN your photo.
• Apply Soft Light to DARKEN your photos
• Adjust the Opacity to yield best effect.

Summary

You can use the Levels Tool to improve the appearance of your photos.

• Remove a color cast using a variety of tools.
• Increase the contrast of an image.
• Improve color

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