Photoshop: Adjusting Levels

ADJUSTING LEVELS

Next we are going to work with the LEVELS command in Photoshop:  

1. Click on the image below, then right-click it and select COPY.  
2. Open PhotoShop 
3. Select FILE > NEW
4. PASTE
5. Go to IMAGE > ADJUSTMENTS > LEVELS   **
6. Drag the "white triangle" and the "black triangle" to the ends of the "mountain".
7. Check/Uncheck Preview to see the difference.

** The biggest problem with making changes to your image in this fashion is that it "destroys" the original.  One way that photographers get around this is to make a copy of the "layer" and then work with a copy.  An easier way is to use an "Adjustment Layer".  If you click the black/white circle at the bottom of the "Layers" tab, you can add an "Adjustment Layer" to the current image.  This will allow you to change many different settings (color balance, exposure, hue/saturation, etc.) while leaving the original image intact.  Try using this with the Levels adjustment to do the same thing.

In the following examples, we will use the Adjustment Layer with Levels, but we will also explore things like Hue and Saturation.  (Click the image for a full-size copy to use)

As you can see, simply playing with the levels, tone, and color balance of an image can give you a better photograph.