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Dan Rodney/3 min read

Color Correction Using Levels

Photoshop Workflow

1

Open & Inspect

File → Open. Check resolution, color mode, and bit depth.

2

Build a Layer Stack

Stack adjustments and effects on separate layers — never edit pixels directly.

3

Apply Targeted Edits

Use masks to limit each layer to the part of the image that needs it.

4

Export for Output

File → Export → choose JPG/PNG/PSD based on the destination.

Master Photoshop at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop's Photoshop Bootcamp covers retouching, compositing, color correction, and pro editing.

Explore a comprehensive Photoshop tutorial that covers topics such as color correction with a Levels adjustment layer, setting white, black, and gray points, and advanced experimentation with Histogram sliders.

Topics Covered in This Photoshop Tutorial:

Color Correction with a Levels Adjustment Layer, Setting White, Black, & Gray Points

Exercise Preview

chef before&after

Exercise Overview

Levels offers more fine-tuned control than Brightness/Contrast and Color Balance. This exercise walks you by using Levels to fix a photo’s color and contrast.

Adjusting Levels with White, Black, & Gray Points

  1. From the Photoshop Class folder, open Chef.jpg.

  2. At the bottom of the Layers panel, click the Create new fill or adjustment layer button adjustment layer button and from the pop-up menu, choose Levels.

  3. Levels will open in the Properties panel on the right. You’ll see a Histogram, or graph, showing the distribution of shadows (left), midtones (middle) and highlights (right) in the image.

  4. Click the Set White Point button set white point to the left of the histogram.

  5. In the image, click on an area that should be white. Try to use the lightest area of the chef’s clothing.

    The image will lighten. If it’s lightened far too much, simply click elsewhere in the image to set a different white point instead.

  6. Click the Set Black Point button set black point to the left of the histogram.

  7. In the image, click on an area that should be black. Use the darkest area you can find—perhaps the chef’s hair or eyes, or maybe a shadow in the bowl of peppers.

    The image will darken. If it’s darkened far too much, simply click elsewhere in the image to set a different black point instead.

  8. Click the Set Gray Point button set gray point to the left of the histogram.

  9. In the image, click on an area that ought to be a perfectly neutral gray. Try the chef’s clothing or the backdrop behind her. Experiment by clicking on different areas until you’re happy with the results.

    NOTE: While most images have a true white and a true black, they do NOT always have a true neutral gray. So the Set Gray Point tool isn’t used as often as the Set White/Black Point tools.

Advanced Experimentation with Histogram Sliders

You’ve just practiced a quick technique for using levels. If you are going for precise adjustments, though, you may want to use the sliders below the Histogram.

  1. Find the White Point slider whitepoint slider just below the Histogram. Slide it to the left.

    You’ll find that the image becomes lighter as more and more of the light areas become pure white.

  2. Move the slider back to the right and the image darkens again.

  3. Find the Black Point slider blackpoint slider just below the Histogram. Slide it to the right.

    You’ll find that the image becomes darker as more and more of the dark areas become pure black.

  4. Move the slider back to the left and the image lightens again.

  5. Find the Gray Point (gamma) slider graypoint slider just below the Histogram.

    • Slide it to the right—the image becomes overall darker.

    • Slide it to the left—the image becomes overall lighter.

  6. To adjust the color balance, go to the top of the Levels dialog box and change the channel from RGB to Red.

  7. Move the sliders to the right to darken the image by removing red. Move them to the left to lighten the image by adding red.

    Experiment further if you like; but remember that the black, white, and gray point eyedroppers are an easy way to use Levels to improve contrast and fix color casts.