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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> contrast = level adjustment?
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 03/29/2002 02:14:42 PM · #1
OOOOOkay here's frenchey asking a stupid question, but I rather ask than get disqualified...

In the rules, you're allowed to make "level adjustments", just wondering if fiddling with the contrast is part of it or not?

Thanks in advance,
Fanny :)
 03/29/2002 03:34:35 PM · #2
In terms of adjustments, here is the hierarchy from simplest to most complex: contrast, levels, and curves. Any adjustments done using contrast can be with levels, but not vice versa. Anything adjustments done with levels can be done with curves, but not vice versa. So, I would think that a contrast adjustment is completely legit.

My question is then, will curves adjustments be ok also?

* This message has been edited by the author on 3/29/2002 3:35:32 PM.
 04/01/2002 01:25:50 PM · #3
Okay, I guess I am still confused about this ..."Levels Adjustment (Levels, Auto-Levels)
I have been using two different editors, one is MS Photo Editor and the other is ArcSoft Photo Studio. Both of these have numerous "enhancers or effects" So what exactly does Levels adjusment mean?

In the Photo Editor, there are choices for Balance (which is contrast, brightness and gamma) or a choice for Auto Balance which picks the settings automatically.

In Photo Studio, my choices are many! Brightness and Contrast; Hue and Saturation; Tone Adjustment; Color reduction; plus more than I know what they are!!

Now my question is, are any of these allowable under "levels adjustment"? And I guess my second question is "why would I want to?"

I guess the reason why I am asking is because I have received several comments, (thanks!) and one says the color is "off balance" and the other says the light is directionless.

Now when I go back to my copy of this pic and play with it a little and use some of these enhancements, (namely the autobalance) yeah it does look better with brighter colors, but after I get finished "enhancing" it, it loses the original look of the photo. Which incidentally is what it actually looked like!

Now I'm not complaining by any means. I, first of all want to know exactly what is allowed and what is not?

Secondly, I want to know, that as photographers are we supposed to capture things as they look, or are we supposed to "enhance" them so they look good?

Thanks!

 04/01/2002 01:33:36 PM · #4
I have much the same question : Is the curves command allowable in for example photoshop, or Paint Shop Pro ? I'm shooting in RAW mode on the
Canon G2, so have to do several of these type of colour mapping steps
to get something that looks anything like what I pointed the camera at.

It isn't a 'high end' command as it is available in several shareware
packages, and it isn't a 'digital art' type composition effect or selectively masked change. You can get the same results pretty much using the 'levels' commands, it just takes more effort!

Would like to get it cleared up for future entries.

Gordon

ps I'm really not trying to be a pain about this and I know I'm new to the site. Think it is a great concept and well executed.

pps Think converting to black and white _out_ of the camera gives much improved results. These 'digital darkroom' type modifications to the whole image can make good images great for the 'final' print. Have you
considered opening the whole thing up and letting the voters choose if they like modifications or not ? Perhaps a 'full disclosure' policy on edits (along with maybe having to show the originals if/when challenged) would be interesting ? Is the image from the camera a 'digital negative' or is it a 'digital print' ? I guess that's the essence of my question... hmm, is there a philosophy of art forum around here :)

* This message has been edited by the author on 4/1/2002 1:47:23 PM.
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