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12/03/2004 12:07:21 PM · #1 |
Hi folks,
I'm trying to find out if Elements contains the Curves funtion. I thought I read somewhere that it did, but I just loaded 2.0 and cant find it anywhere. Also, it took me forever to locate the Levels function! So is Curves equally hidden in 2.0? Or does anyone know if it was added to 3.0?
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12/03/2004 12:14:16 PM · #2 |
Not sure about Elements 3 but 2 doesn't have curves.
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12/03/2004 12:14:44 PM · #3 |
There is no Curves function in either PSE 2.0 or 3.0.
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12/03/2004 12:20:05 PM · #4 |
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12/03/2004 12:34:32 PM · #5 |
Newby question:
I hear "curves" mentioned here and there and I see numerous photos stating "curves" as one of the features they've used to modify image. What does it do? |
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12/03/2004 12:39:04 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by NorthWoodsGuy:
Newby question:
I hear "curves" mentioned here and there and I see numerous photos stating "curves" as one of the features they've used to modify image. What does it do? |
Curves is a bit like "levels on steroids", LOL. You can adjust the output vs. the input by manipulating a curve on a graph. It does the same as levels, but is more powerful and more flexible.
I pretty much never use levels anymore, since curves will do everything levels will do and so much more. A curves adjustment layer is even better. Now you can go back & tweak without affecting subsequent edits :)
You may want to read through this page. it's a good primer on curves.
Message edited by author 2004-12-03 12:43:00.
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12/03/2004 12:44:32 PM · #7 |
FYI, Digital Image Pro 10 does have Curves and is probably one of the greatest things I use it for.
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12/03/2004 12:45:25 PM · #8 |
...but wouldn't you use levels first to ensure the white and black points are where you want them to be?
Or can you do that right in curves? |
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12/03/2004 12:47:57 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by thatcloudthere:
...but wouldn't you use levels first to ensure the white and black points are where you want them to be?
Or can you do that right in curves? |
You can do that in curves. That's not shown in the link I provided, however. To set the black point, for instance, you just grab the curve at the lower left extremity and move it to the right. To set white point, grab at upper right and move it left.
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12/03/2004 12:49:03 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
Originally posted by thatcloudthere:
...but wouldn't you use levels first to ensure the white and black points are where you want them to be?
Or can you do that right in curves? |
You can do that in curves. That's not shown in the link I provided, however. To set the black point, for instance, you just grab the curve at the lower left extremity and move it to the right. To set white point, grab at upper right and move it left. |
Cool...I really need something other than PSElements! |
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12/03/2004 12:52:32 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
Originally posted by NorthWoodsGuy:
Newby question:
I hear "curves" mentioned here and there and I see numerous photos stating "curves" as one of the features they've used to modify image. What does it do? |
Curves is a bit like "levels on steroids", LOL. You can adjust the output vs. the input by manipulating a curve on a graph. It does the same as levels, but is more powerful and more flexible.
I pretty much never use levels anymore, since curves will do everything levels will do and so much more. A curves adjustment layer is even better. Now you can go back & tweak without affecting subsequent edits :)
You may want to read through this page. it's a good primer on curves. |
Thanks Kirbic! The link is really helpful. I'm still using Element 1.0 that came with my camera i bought a few years back. Looks like it's time to not only upgrade my camera (Olympus 3020Z) but also my software. |
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12/03/2004 01:31:43 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by thatcloudthere:
...but wouldn't you use levels first to ensure the white and black points are where you want them to be?
Or can you do that right in curves? |
You can do it right in curves, by moving the end points around.
Levels has a couple of advantages over curves for doing this though - first the live histogram preview is helpful and not available in curves.
Second, you can use threshold mode to accurately control and see what you are clipping - again not available in curves. Just press Alt when you are moving the white or black point sliders and you can see what pixels are being clipped in each channel.
I use levels for black/white point for this reason, and curves to adjust the gamma and contrast points. With adjustment layers there isn't really a problem doing multiple passes on these. |
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12/03/2004 01:48:51 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
Originally posted by thatcloudthere:
...but wouldn't you use levels first to ensure the white and black points are where you want them to be?
Or can you do that right in curves? |
You can do it right in curves, by moving the end points around.
Levels has a couple of advantages over curves for doing this though - first the live histogram preview is helpful and not available in curves.
Second, you can use threshold mode to accurately control and see what you are clipping - again not available in curves. Just press Alt when you are moving the white or black point sliders and you can see what pixels are being clipped in each channel.
I use levels for black/white point for this reason, and curves to adjust the gamma and contrast points. With adjustment layers there isn't really a problem doing multiple passes on these. |
Thanks for the Alt tip! |
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12/03/2004 02:10:19 PM · #14 |
mcmurma you can use gimp for curves .. its free
i use a few different free programs so i can get most of everything i need
its a pain in the arse but hopefully santa will be nice to me and get me PS so i no longer have to do this |
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12/03/2004 05:51:05 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by riotspyne:
mcmurma you can use gimp for curves .. its free
i use a few different free programs so i can get most of everything i need
its a pain in the arse but hopefully santa will be nice to me and get me PS so i no longer have to do this |
One difference though, Gimp does not support 16 bit images whereas PSE 3.0 does to a certain extent. There is also a book available (at least it was for 2.0) that came with a CD that contained a lot of functions that the base program did not provide.
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