Learning To Use Curves

Ready to Take Control Over Contrast? Let’s Get to Grips With Curves

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WHEN IT COMES to controlling contrast, Curves is one of the most powerful tools in any editing software. The problem is that, on the surface, it doesn't appear to be beginner-friendly. With its graphs and lines it looks more like a scientific readout than anything to do with photography! If you find Curves daunting and you’re currently adjusting contrast via the Contrast slider, or Levels adjustments, then don’t worry – you’re not doing it wrong! Both of these methods are fine, and if they work for you then there’s no reason to over-complicate things. However these methods do offer less control than Curves, especially when it comes to crucial midtone contrast. The Contrast slider, for example, can only adjust contrast across the board – you can simply add it or take it away. Levels, on the other hand, allows you to adjust shadow, midtone and highlight contrast independently, but doesn’t afford you much control over midtones – you can either make them brighter or darker via one control. Curves allows you to do all of this, as well as add more control points than you’ll ever need in between, so you can isolate a range of tones and only adjust those points s