| Author | Thread |
|
|
08/19/2005 01:26:53 PM · #1 |
Is it okay to create a 'levels' layer first, just to stretch the histogram, and then a curves layer on top of that for the other adjustments?
Or should I be aiming to do everything using curves? - The reason I ask is that I'm worried by creating a levels layer I'll end up losing tonal range.
|
|
|
|
08/19/2005 01:29:07 PM · #2 |
There's no rule against using both levels and curves however you have more control overall in curves and can essentially stretch the histogram there as well as make other adjustments.
To find the darkest and lightest points in the image I often use a threshold layer and then use the droppers on the curves layer.
Message edited by author 2005-08-19 13:30:03.
|
|
|
|
08/19/2005 01:30:43 PM · #3 |
If you use adjustment layers you can continually re-adjust until you get the look you want.
I personally use Curves almost exclusively; I think it does essentially the same things as levels, but with more control. There's nothing to keep you from stacking up two (or more) Curves layers too; also don't forget that you can apply the effects to individual color channels for even more control. |
|
|
|
08/19/2005 02:01:42 PM · #4 |
| I'm by no means an expert, but I often do what you are asking. I do the levels thing for the coarse adjustments, then use curves for fine tuning. I don't know if it's good/bad/ugly, but that's what I do. |
|
|
|
08/19/2005 02:30:08 PM · #5 |
It's neither better nor worse than doing it all in a single curves adjustment layer. The cumulative effect of both layers is the same.
|
|
|
|
08/19/2005 02:39:40 PM · #6 |
Levels, Curves and Brightness/Contrast are just different views of the same adjustments -- each with it's own strengths and weaknesses. Learn which one is the most intuitive for you to make specific adjustments and use that one for those adjustments.
David
|
|
|
|
08/19/2005 02:43:05 PM · #7 |
In my normal workflow, I set the light and dark points with levels and tweak the midtones with curves as needed. This works very well for me most of the time. Since I do it all on adjustment layers, I can always toss the levels layer completely if this workflow doesn't generate what I need easily.
Robt.
|
|
|
|
08/19/2005 03:53:12 PM · #8 |
Ok. . I hope y'all don't think this is a stupid question. . .but what's the advantage of adding a layer to make the curves or color balance adjustments rather than just doing it on the picture ???
|
|
|
|
08/19/2005 04:23:08 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by SandyP:
Ok. . I hope y'all don't think this is a stupid question. . .but what's the advantage of adding a layer to make the curves or color balance adjustments rather than just doing it on the picture ??? |
It only takes one extra click to make the adjustment a layer instead of applying it directly. And the big advantage is that the changes are non-destructive. i.e. If you change the levels directly on the image, you can't go back or change them back very easily. With adjustments as layers you can tweak each one as often as you like.
Once you start using layers and curves you'll never look back! :-)
Thanks to everyone for the answers on this thread by the way. Looks like people all have slightly different ways of doing this. |
|
|
|
08/19/2005 04:37:06 PM · #10 |
Thanks!!! jhonan! Of course. . .that makes so much sense! And if you screw it up royally, all you have to do is delete the layer and start over. I guess curves takes a lot of practice because whenever I use them, the effect gets way too much way too easy. But I'm going to practice more based on what I've read here.
Thanks, y'all. |
|
|
|
08/19/2005 04:46:46 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by SandyP:
Thanks!!! jhonan! Of course. . .that makes so much sense! And if you screw it up royally, all you have to do is delete the layer and start over. I guess curves takes a lot of practice because whenever I use them, the effect gets way too much way too easy. But I'm going to practice more based on what I've read here. |
A couple of months ago someone showed me how to use curves instead of levels. And it made a big difference. Curves only need very subtle touches here and there to bring out the colours and contrast.
I read a few tutorials on the web as well, which helped. And practised a LOT...!
Here's the tutorial I used;
//www.thegoldenmean.com/technique/curves1.html
Oh, and one other point about layers. If you don't like the layer just turn it off using the 'eye' icon - That way you can reactivate it later on if you want to, and it saves you having to delete it. I've gotten into the habit of having *loads* of layers in everything I do! (The final .psd file might have 5 or 6 layers left invisible as I'm too lazy to delete them....!)
Also, you can have a few curves layers, and then flick between them turning them off and on in turn so you can compare them and find the effort you like the best. The possibilities are endless.... :-) (And addictive) |
|
|
|
08/19/2005 05:53:15 PM · #12 |
| Curves are useful for special effects too. Check out this gallery at pBase. |
|
|
|
08/19/2005 06:30:18 PM · #13 |
one thing with levels is that you are working with the Histogram...which can be good if you are into that sort of thing...
you can also open a histogram window that changes while you make curves adjustments, and it shows you the orginal and the new histogram at the same time....also very handy if you are into that sort of thing, e.g. visually knowing the range of contrast you have.
and, on any given image i color correct [thats what i do all day long] i'll have a levels layer, a curves layer, a hue layer, and a selective color adjustment layer for CMYK fixes. Layers are your friend. Adjustment layers doubly so.
Message edited by author 2005-08-19 18:34:13.
|
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/12/2025 06:06:14 AM EDT.
