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Correcting images

Here is the general workflow you follow when you correct the tonality and color of an image:

  1. Use the histogram to check the quality and tonal range of the image.

  2. Make sure that the Adjustments panel is open to access color and tonal adjustments. Click an icon to access the adjustments described in the following steps. Applying corrections from the Adjustments panel creates an adjustment layer, which gives you more flexibility and doesn’t discard image information. See Adjustments panel overview and About adjustment layers and fill layers.

  3. Adjust the color balance to remove unwanted color casts or to correct oversaturated or undersaturated colors. See Color adjustment commands.

  4. Adjust the tonal range, using either the Levels or Curves adjustments.

    Begin tonal corrections by adjusting the values of the extreme highlight and shadow pixels in the image, setting an overall tonal range for the image. This process is known as setting the highlights and shadows or setting the white and black points. Setting the highlights and shadows typically redistributes the midtone pixels appropriately. However, you might need to adjust your midtones manually.

    To adjust the tonality in just shadow and highlight areas, use the Shadow/Highlight command. See Improve shadow and highlight detail.

  5. (Optional) Make other color adjustments.

    After you correct the overall color balance of your image, you can make optional adjustments to enhance colors or produce special effects.

  6. Sharpen the edges in the image.

    As one of the final steps, use the Unsharp Mask or the Smart Sharpen filter to sharpen the clarity of edges in the image. The amount of sharpening required for an image varies according to the image quality produced by the digital camera or scanner you use. See Sharpen images.

  7. (Optional) Target the image for printer or press characteristics.

    You can use options in the Levels or Curves adjustments to import highlight and shadow information into the gamut of an output device, like a desktop printer. This procedure can also be done if you are sending your image to a printing press, and know the characteristics of the press.

    Because sharpening increases the contrast of neighboring pixels, it’s possible that some pixels in critical areas might become unprintable on the printer or press that you’re using. For this reason, it’s best to fine-tune the output settings after sharpening. For more information on adjusting the output settings, see Setting highlight and shadow target values .

For videos on making tonal and lighting corrections, see www.adobe.com/go/vid0009, www.adobe.com/go/vid0010, and www.adobe.com/go/lrvid4121_ps.