Operation Manual

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 12 CLASSROOM IN A BOOK 127
Using the tone controls on a raw image
Below the White Balance sliders on the Basic tab are sliders for improving a photo’s
tonal range and presence, or image definition.
Exposure adjusts the overall lightness or darkness of an image. Its effect is most
apparent through the middle of the histogram; an increased Exposure setting will
move the body of the curve to the right, compressing the highlights if possible,
rather than shifting them off the end of the curve. Tweak the Exposure to brighten
a dull, underexposed photo or correct the flat, faded look of an overexposed image.
Contrast is the amount of difference between the lightest and darkest areas of an
image. e Contrast control has the most effect at the ends of the histogram; an
increased setting moves information outwards from the center of the curve. Adjust
Contrast to add definition to a flat image, or to soften one that is too harsh or stark.
Highlights recovers detail from overexposed highlights and improves midtone
definition by shifting image information from the far right of the curve inwards.
Shadows recovers details from shadowed areas—something close to the inverse
of the action of the Highlights control—and adds depth to the midtone range.
Whites specifies which input levels are mapped to pure white in the final image.
Lowering the Whites value decreases clipping at the right end of the histogram.
Clipping occurs when a pixel’s color values are higher or lower than the range that
can be represented in the image; over-bright values are clipped to output white,
and over-dark values are clipped to output black.
Blacks specifies which input levels will be mapped to black in the final image.
Raising the Blacks value decreases clipping at the left end of the histogram.
Clarity increases the local contrast between adjacent light and dark areas, sharpen-
ing detail without producing halo effects, and enhancing the midtone contrast.
Vibrance boosts color saturation selectively, having most effect on the muted col-
ors in an image, while avoiding over-saturation of bolder colors and skin tones.
Saturation is the purity, or strength, of a color. Increasing the Saturation reduces
the amount of black or white mixed with the color, making it more vivid. Reducing
the Saturation increases the amount of black or white, making it more muted.
At the left, the skin
tones produced by the
White Balance tool still
look a little too orange.
On the right, the skin
tones look more natural
once the Temperature
and Tint values have
been reduced manually.