Tweaking levels - Which do you do first?

swag72

swag72

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Sara
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Part of my PP is tweaking the levels - I am interested in the input levels histogram, which level you tweak first ?


Highlight
Midtone
Shadow

Should they be done in a specific order to achieve the best results?
 
I do all 3 at once as they're all part of the same 'command'. :shrug:
 
68lbs said:
I do all 3 at once as they're all part of the same 'command'. :shrug:
Click to expand...

I have not explained it well. The input histogram on the levels in CS3 has 3 sliders - They all move independantly for me - I just wondered whether it mattered if the highlight slider was moved to the left (away from 255) before moving the shadow from zero to the right.

Does that make sound better? Proabably explained it crap to start with :)
 
I can't see that it'd make any difference... unless you do each one as a seperate command using 'apple+L' each time. Personally, I always use adjustment layers though so it's non-destuctive.
 
I haven't come across anything to show me that it matters. Either shadow or highlight first, then the other, then the mid last.
 
I suppose it would depend on whether your trying to lighten or darken an image, if I was lightening an image I'd probably start with the white point and then gamma (middle) and finally black point. If I was Darkening I'd probably do it the other way around, or I might start with the gammer, it varies from image to image.
That said curves is probaby a better way to go as you have more control.
 
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