Phtshp Elements: Clr and Tnal Crrectin Basics Cntrast Lighten Phtshp Elements: Clr and Tnal Crrectin Basics 1
Sharpen Expsure Phtshp Elements: Clr and Tnal Crrectin Basics 2
Highlights and Shadws All key cncepts Clr Crrectin Overview Phtshp Elements prvides several tls and cmmands fr fixing the tnal range, clr, and sharpness in yur phts, and fr remving dust spts r ther defects. Yu can wrk in ne f three mdes, depending n yur experience and needs. Phtshp Elements: Clr and Tnal Crrectin Basics 3
Quick If yu have limited knwledge f digital imaging, Quick mde is a gd place t start fixing phts. It has many f the basic tls fr crrecting clr and lighting. Guided If yu are new t digital imaging and Phtshp Elements, yu can use Guided Edit t guide yu thrugh the clr crrectin task. This is als a gd way t increase yur understanding f the wrkflw. Expert If yu ve wrked with images befre, yu ll find that the Expert mde prvides the mst flexible and pwerful image-crrectin envirnment. It has the lighting and clr-crrectin cmmands, alng with tls fr fixing image defects, making selectins, adding text, and painting n yur images. When wrking with sme f the adjustment cmmands, yu can make adjustments directly t the image pixels. Or yu can use adjustment layers t make nndestructive adjustments that yu can easily tweak until yur image is right. In this mde, the Smart Brush tl and Detail Smart Brush tl autmatically create an adjustment layer fr the crrectin yu re applying. See Apply the Smart Brush tls. Camera Raw If yu sht digital images in yur camera s raw frmat, yu can pen and crrect raw files in the Camera Raw dialg bx. Because yur camera has nt yet prcessed the raw files, yu can adjust the clr and expsure t imprve the images. Often yu may nt need t make ther adjustments in Phtshp Elements. T pen camera raw files in Phtshp Elements, first save them in a supprted file frmat. Crrect Clr in Quick Mde The Quick mde cnveniently grups many f the basic pht-fixing tls in Phtshp Elements. As yu wrk in Quick mde, limit the number f clr and lighting cntrls that yu apply t a pht. Generally, yu use nly ne f the aut cntrls n a pht. If that cntrl desn t achieve what yu want, click the Reset and try anther ne. Yu can als adjust yur image using the slider cntrls, whether yu ve used an aut cntrl r nt. Perfrm the Sharpening fix last n an image. 1. D ne f the fllwing: With a pht pen, click Quick. Phtshp Elements: Clr and Tnal Crrectin Basics 4
Any phts that yu have stred in the Pht Bin are accessible while yu are in Quick mde. 2. (Optinal) Set preview ptins by making a selectin frm the menu (lcated in the bar abve the image that is pen). Yu can set the preview t shw hw the pht lks befre and after yu make a fix, r t shw bth previews side by side (hrizntally r vertically). 3. (Optinal) Use the tls in the tlbx t zm, mve, and crp the image. Yu can als make a selectin, fix red eye, whiten teeth, and add text t the image. 4. T rtate the image in 90 increments in the cunterclckwise directin (rtate left), click the Rtate buttn in the taskbar. T rtate the image in the clckwise directin, click the arrw next t the Rtate buttn, and then click the rtate right buttn. 5. Select ne f the image fixing cntrls (fr example, Levels, Clr, Cntrast). If a cntrl has additinal ptins (fr example, the Clr cntrl cntains the Saturatin, Hue and Vibrance tabs), select the crrespnding tab t fix that aspect f the image. 6. T apply a fix, d ne f the fllwing: Make the necessary adjustment using the sliders, and preview the adjustment n the pht, r enter a value in the text bx next t the sliders. Hver the muse ver the thumbnails t preview the adjustment n the pht. Click the thumbnail t apply the adjustment n the image temprarily. Fine-tune a picture using a preview as the starting pint, click and hld the muse buttn n a preview thumbnail, and then drag right r left. Nte: When yu apply fixes in a sequence, all previus fixes are autmatically applied as sn as yu mve t a new cntrl. Fr example, if yu mve frm the Balance cntrl t the Expsure cntrl, any changes yu perfrmed in the Balance cntrl are autmatically applied. 7. T und a fix r reset the picture, d the fllwing: T cancel the fix applied while still in the same cntrl, press Ctrl-Z, r chse Edit > Und. Nte: If yu have perfrmed a sequence f fixes (fr example, Expsure, Balance, and Cntrast, it is nt pssible t und changes perfrmed in the step where the Balance was fixed. Yu can und nly the cntrl that yu are currently in. T cancel all fixes applied t picture, click Reset. The picture is restred t the state it was in at the beginning f the current editing sessin. Quick Mde Tls T fine-tune a picture using a preview as the starting pint, click and hld the muse buttn, and then drag right r left. Phtshp Elements: Clr and Tnal Crrectin Basics 5
The Quick mde prvides the fllwing tls t refine yur phts: Smart Fix Adjusts lighting and clr. Smart Fix crrects verall clr balance and imprves shadw and highlight detail, if necessary. Aut Expsure Autmatically adjusts the image t apply ptimum values fr settings. Adjusts the verall picture brightness. Use this cntrl t ensure that the image yu are viewing is f the desired brightness. Cntrast Adjusts the verall cntrast f an image, and smetimes affects its clr. If yur image needs mre cntrast and it has a clr cast, yu can use the fllwing tw ptins: Aut Levels and Aut Cntrast The Aut Levels and Aut Cntrast ptins wrk by individually mapping the lightest and darkest pixels in each clr channel t mnchrme. T apply the settings, click the Aut buttn beside any f these ptins. (See Abut Levels adjustments r The Levels Guided Edit.) Shadws Drag the slider t lighten the darkest areas f yur pht withut affecting the highlights. Pure black areas are nt affected. Midtnes Adjusts the cntrast within the middle tnal values (values that are abut half way between pure white and pure black). It des nt affect the extreme highlights and shadws. Highlights Drag the slider t darken the lightest areas f yur pht withut affecting the shadws. Pure white areas are nt affected. Phtshp Elements: Clr and Tnal Crrectin Basics 6
Clr Adjusts the clr by identifying shadws, midtnes, and highlights in the image rather than in individual clr channels. It neutralizes the midtnes, and clips the white and black pixels using a default set f values. Click the Aut buttn t apply this cmmand. Saturatin Drag the slider t make clrs mre vivid r mre muted, r chse the preview thumbnail that best suits yur requirement. Hue Shifts all clrs in an image. This cntrl is best used in small amunts r with selected bjects whse clr yu want t change. Vibrance Balance Causes lwer saturated clrs t turn vivid, withut allwing clipping t ccur fr the higher-saturatin clrs. This cntrl enables yu t vary skin tnes withut becming versaturated. Adjusts the clr balance f an image withut affecting its cntrast. Temperature Drag the slider t make the clrs warmer (red) r cler (blue). Use this cntrl t enhance sunsets r skin tnes, r when the clr balance set by yur camera is ff. Tint Sharpen Drag the slider t make the clr mre green r mre magenta. Use this cntrl t finetune the clrs after using the Temperature cntrl. Adjusts the sharpness f yur image. Click Aut t use the default amunt f sharpening. Sharpen Drag the slider t vary the amunt f sharpening. Zm yur preview at 100% t get a mre accurate view f the amunt f sharpening yu are trying t apply. Phtshp Elements: Clr and Tnal Crrectin Basics 7
Fix Phts with Tuch-Up Buttns The tuch up buttns are available in Quick mde, in the Mdify panel. These buttns enable yu t apply crrectins and adjustments t selected parts f an image. The red eye remval tl, spt healing tl, and healing brush tl mdify the same layer. The whiten teeth tl creates and wrks n a new adjustment layer. Als, the text tls create a new layer fr edits. As a result, sme tls d nt permanently edit infrmatin n the image layer. Yu can always change adjustment settings withut degrading the riginal image. The Whiten Teeth, Tuch Up buttns apply adjustments fund in the Smart Brush tl. See Adjust clr and tnality using the Smart Brush tls and Abut adjustment and fill layers. 1. In the Quick mde, d any f the fllwing: Click the Red Eye Remval buttn t remve red eye frm a pht. This tl remves red eye in flash phts f peple. Drag the tl in the image arund an eye yu want t fix, r click the Aut buttn in the ptins bar. See Precisely remve red eye. Click the Whiten Teeth buttn t apply a whiten teeth in an image. Drag in the image area with the teeth that yu want t brighten. 2. (Optinal) If yu carried ut Whiten Teeth adjustment, yu can d any f the fllwing: Add the adjustment t mre parts f the pht, by clicking the Add T Selectin buttn, and dragging in the image. Remve the adjustment frm parts f the pht, by clicking the Subtract Frm Selectin buttn, and dragging in the image. Quick Mde Optins Zm tl Sets the magnificatin f the preview image. Cntrls and ptins wrk like the Zm tl in the tlbx. (See Zm in r ut.) Hand tl Mves the image arund in the preview windw if the entire image is nt visible. Press the spacebar t access the Hand tl when anther tl is selected. Quick Selectin tl Selects prtins f the image based n where yu click r drag the tl. (See Use the Quick Selectin tl.) Phtshp Elements: Clr and Tnal Crrectin Basics 8
Crp tl Remves part f an image. Drag the tl within the preview image t select the prtin yu want t keep, and then press Enter. Crrecting Clr in Expert Mde If yu ve wrked with images befre, yu ll find that Phtshp Elements prvides the mst flexible and pwerful image-crrectin envirnment. It has lighting and clr-crrectin cmmands, alng with tls fr fixing image defects, making selectins, adding text, and painting n yur images. When wrking with sme f the adjustment cmmands, yu can make adjustments directly n the image pixels. Or yu can use adjustment layers t make nndestructive adjustments that yu can easily tweak until yur image is right. The Smart Brush tl and Detail Smart Brush tl autmatically create an adjustment layer as yu apply a crrectin. As yu wrk n yur phts, perfrm the fllwing tasks that apply t yur image. Nt all tasks are required fr every image, but the fllwing list is a recmmended wrkflw: Specify a clr management ptin. Specify clr management ptins. View the image at 100% and crp, if necessary. Befre making any clr crrectins, view the image at a zm percentage f 100%. At 100%, Phtshp Elements displays the image mst accurately. Yu can als check fr image defects, such as dust spts and scratches. If yu plan t crp the file, d it nw t reduce memry requirements and t ensure that the histgram uses nly relevant infrmatin. Using the Zm tl t zm ut may ptimize the view befre crpping an image, s that yu crp a wellcentered selectin. Check the scan quality and tnal range. Lk at the image s histgram t evaluate whether the image has sufficient detail t prduce high-quality utput. Resize yur image, if necessary. Resize yur image t the size that yu need if yu are ging t use it in anther applicatin r prject. If yu are ging t print it r use it in a Phtshp Elements prject, yu generally dn t need t resize it. (See Abut image size and reslutin.) Phtshp Elements: Clr and Tnal Crrectin Basics 9
Adjust the highlights and shadws. Begin crrectins by adjusting the values f the extreme highlight and shadw pixels in the image (als knwn as the tnal range). Setting an verall tnal range allws fr the mst detail pssible thrughut the image. This prcess is knwn as setting the highlight and shadw r setting the white and black pints. Adjust the clr balance. After crrecting the tnal range, yu can adjust the image s clr balance t remve unwanted clr casts r t crrect versaturated r muted clrs. With sme Phtshp Elements aut cmmands, bth the tnal range and clr are crrected in ne step Make ther special clr adjustments. Once yu have crrected the verall clr balance f yur image, yu can make ptinal adjustments t enhance clrs. Fr example, yu can increase the saturatin t make the clrs in yur image mre vivid. Retuch the image. Use the retuching tls, like the Spt Healing Brush, t remve any dust spts r defects in the image. Sharpen the clarity f the image. As a final step, sharpen the clarity f edges in the image. This prcess helps restre detail and sharpness that tnal adjustments may reduce. Autmatically Crrect Lighting and Clr Phtshp Elements prvides several autmatic lighting and clr-crrectin cmmands in bth Quick mde and Expert mde. The cmmand yu chse depends n the needs f yur image. Yu can experiment with each f the aut cmmands. If yu dn t like the result f ne, und the cmmand by chsing Edit > Und, and try anther cmmand. Yu will rarely need t use mre than ne aut cmmand t fix an image. 1. T adjust a specific image area, select it with ne f the selectin tls. If n selectin is made, the adjustment applies t the entire image. 2. Chse ne f the fllwing cmmands frm the Enhance menu: Aut Smart Fix Crrects verall clr balance and imprves shadw and highlight detail, if necessary. Phtshp Elements: Clr and Tnal Crrectin Basics 10
Aut Levels Adjusts the verall cntrast f an image and may affect its clr. If yur image needs mre cntrast, and it has a clr cast, try this cmmand. Aut Levels wrks by individually mapping the lightest and darkest pixels in each clr channel t black and white. Aut Cntrast Adjusts the verall cntrast f an image withut affecting its clr. Use when yur image needs mre cntrast, but the clrs lk right. Aut Cntrast maps the lightest and darkest pixels in the image t white and black, which makes highlights appear lighter and shadws appear darker. Aut Clr Crrectin Adjusts the cntrast and clr by identifying shadws, midtnes, and highlights in the image, rather than in individual clr channels. It neutralizes the midtnes and sets the white and black pints using a default set f values. Aut Sharpen Adjusts the sharpness f the image by clarifying the edges and adding detail that tnal adjustments may reduce. Aut Red Eye Fix Autmatically detects and repairs red eye in an image. Abut Histgrams Yu can use the histgram t analyze the image s tnal distributin t see if yu need t crrect it. A histgram shws the distributin f an image s pixel values in a bar chart. The left side f the chart shws the values f the image shadw (starting at level 0), and the right side shws the highlight (level 255). The vertical axis f the chart represents the ttal number f pixels within a given level. Yu can view an image s histgram in the Histgram panel (F9). Histgrams are als available in the Levels dialg bx and the Camera Raw dialg bx. Yu can update the histgram as yu wrk s that yu can see hw yur adjustments are affecting the tnal range. When the Cached Data Warning icn appears, click it t refresh the histgram s data. Phtshp Elements: Clr and Tnal Crrectin Basics 11
Histgram panel A. Channel menu B. Panel menu C. Uncached Refresh buttn D. Cache Data Warning icn E. Statistics If many pixels are bunched up at either the shadw r highlight ends f the chart, it may indicate that image detail in the shadws r highlights may be clipped blcked up as pure black r pure white. There is little yu can d t recver this type f image. If yu are wrking with a scanned image, yu can try rescanning t prduce a better tnal range. If yur digital camera can display an image histgram, check it t see whether yur expsure is crrect and make expsure adjustments if necessary. See yur camera s dcumentatin fr mre infrmatin. The histgram may shw that an image is nt using the full tnal range available if sme pixels aren t available in the shadws and highlights. Yu can fix an image with limited tnal range by stretching the tnal range using either the Levels cmmand r ne f the Enhance > Aut cmmands. Phtshp Elements: Clr and Tnal Crrectin Basics 12
Hw t read a histgram A. Overexpsed pht with clipped highlights B. Prperly expsed pht with full tnality C. Underexpsed pht with clipped shadws View a Histgram 1. If the Histgram panel is nt pen in the Panel Bin, chse Windw > Histgram. 2. Chse the surce f the histgram s display frm the Surce menu: Entire Image Displays a histgram f the entire image, including all layers in the multilayered dcument. Selected Layer Displays a histgram f the selected layer in the Layers panel. Adjustment Cmpsite Displays a histgram f an adjustment layer selected in the Layers panel, including all the layers belw the adjustment layer. 3. T view the histgram fr a prtin f yur image, make a selectin in yur image, and chse an ptin frm the Channel menu: Phtshp Elements: Clr and Tnal Crrectin Basics 13
RGB Displays a histgram that is a cmpsite f individual clr channels placed n tp f each ther. Red, Green, and Blue Displays the histgrams fr the individual clr channels. Luminsity Displays a histgram representing the luminance r intensity values f the cmpsite channel. Clrs Displays the cmpsite RGB histgram individually by clr. Red, green, and blue represent the pixels in thse channels. Cyan, magenta, and yellw represent where the histgrams f tw channels verlap. Gray represents areas where all three clr channel histgrams verlap. Grayscale images have a single channel ptin: Gray. 4. T view the fllwing statistical infrmatin abut a range f values, drag in the histgram and hld dwn the muse buttn t highlight the range. T view infrmatin abut a specific area f the histgram, place the pinter ver the area: Mean Represents the average intensity value. Standard Deviatin (Std Dev) Represents hw widely intensity values vary. Median Shws the middle value in the range f intensity values. Pixels Represents the ttal number f pixels used t calculate the histgram. Level Displays the intensity level f the area underneath the pinter. Phtshp Elements: Clr and Tnal Crrectin Basics 14
Cunt Shws the ttal number f pixels at the intensity level underneath the pinter. Percentile Displays the percentage f pixels at and belw the level underneath the pinter. This value is expressed as a percentage f all the pixels in the image, frm 0% at the far left t 100% at the far right. Cache Level Shws the setting fr the image cache. If Use Cache Fr Histgrams is selected in the Preferences dialg bx, Phtshp Elements displays histgrams mre quickly but less accurately. T display mre accurate histgrams, deselect this ptin. Phtshp Elements: Clr and Tnal Crrectin Basics 15