Lesson 11
Tonal Adjustment
CHESTER M.
APOSTOL
Photoshop Instructor
Lesson Objectives
Assess the tonal problem of an
image using the histogram.
Enumerate the different tonal
adjustment methods.
Explain how to use each tonal
adjustment method.
Explain how to adjust image
tonality using the levels
adjustment layer.
The Histogram
It shows the distribution of pixels in the image
at each tonal detail (shadows, midtones, and Midtone
highlights) in the form of a bar chart.
The histogram can guide you in assessing and
correcting the tonal and color problems of an
image.
The histogram is divided into three sections
that illustrate the intensity of shadows,
midtones, and highlights details.
Shadow Highlight
The Histogram
You can view the histogram by clicking the
histogram palette tab at the right side of
the Photoshop workspace.
If the histogram palette is not visible, click
[Window] – [Histogram] from the menu bar.
If image pixels are spread across the entire
area of the histogram then the image
utilized the full tonal range. This means
that the image has a good amount of
shadows, midtones, and highlights details.
Histogram of an
underexposed image
High build up of pixels on
the left side of the
histogram.
No details on the right side
of the histogram.
Because an underexposed
image is too dark, the
shadow section (left side)
of the histogram has more
values than the other two
sections.
Histogram of low-key
image
A low-key image is
deliberately created to
have predominantly
dark tones area.
Because a low-key
image is dominated by
dark tones, greater
part of the graph in the
histogram is plotted on
the shadow section
(left side), similar to an
underexposed image.
Histogram of an
overexposed image
Overexposed image has a
high build up of pixels on
the right side of the
histogram.
Because an overexposed
image is too bright which
results to washed-out
details, the greater part
of the graph in the
histogram is plotted on
the highlights section
(right side).
Histogram of high-
key image
A high-key image is
purposely created to
have lots of light tones.
Because a high-key
image is dominated by
light tones, its histogram
shows greater values
that are concentrated in
the highlights section
(right side).
Histogram of flat
image
A flat image with has
high build up of pixels
at the middle of the
histogram.
his type of image lack
contrasts because
details are only on the
midtones (gray) range
and only a few details
are in the shadows and
highlights.
Using the Auto levels
Command
The Auto Levels command automatically correct tonal
and color problems of the image by analyzing the
image histogram and performing automatic
adjustment on the black (shadows) point and white
(highlights) point in the image.
Here are the steps in applying the Auto Levels
command:
1. Open an image with a tonal range problem.
2. Click [Image]-[Adjustments]-[Auto Levels] in the menu.
Notice that the tonal range and color of the image is adjusted.
Alternatively, you can use the Auto Levels command shortcut
key; just press [Shift]+[Ctrl]+[L] ([Shift]+[Command]+[L]
on Mac) to apply the Auto Level command.
Correcting
Underexposed Images
using the Screen
1. Blending Mode
Open the image with an underexposed problem.
2. Press [Ctrl]+[J] ([Command]+[J] on Mac) or drag the
Background layer to the Create a new layer in the layers
palette to duplicate the Background layer to a new layer.
3. In the layers palette, change the blending mode of the
new layer (Layer 1) to Screen.
4. If the image is still dark, select Layer 1 and press [Ctrl]+
[J] ([Command]+[J] on Mac) to create another copy of the
layer.
5. If the image becomes too bright, reduce the layer opacity
of the last layer that you duplicated in the layers palette.
Correcting
Overexposed Images
using the Multiply
1. Blending
Open Mode
the underexposed image.
2. Press [Ctrl]+[J] ([Command]+[J] on Mac) or drag
the Background layer to the Create a new layer in
the layers palette. This will duplicate the
Background layer to a new layer.
3. In the layers palette, change the blending mode
of the new layer (Layer 1) to Multiply.
4. If the image is still too bright, select Layer 1 and
press [Ctrl]+[J] ([Command]+[J] on Mac) to create
another copy of the layer.
5. You can reduce the layer opacity of the last layer
that you duplicated in the layers palette to adjust
the darkness of the image.
Adjusting Tonal Range
using the Levels
Command
The levels command is used to adjust the
image tonal range by controlling the
shadows, midtones, and highlights intensity.
It can also be used to correct the color
problem of an image.
You can apply the Levels command using the
Levels adjustment layer or by directly
applying the Levels command to the image
by selecting the Levels option in the [Image]-
[Adjustments] menu or by pressing the [Ctrl]
+[L] ([Command]+[L] on Mac) shortcut key.
Adjusting Tonal
Range using the
Levels Command
Histogram
White point
Gray point
(highlight)
(midtone)
slider
slider
Input Level
Textboxes
Black point
(shadow)
slider
Adjusting Tonal Range
using the Levels
Command
1. Open the image that needs a tonal range
adjustment. Upon looking at the image, you
will easily recognize if the image is
overexposed, underexposed or lacks
contrast. Looking at the histogram will
confirm the tonal problem of the image.
2. Click the adjustment layer icon in the layers
palette, then select Levels. The Levels
dialog box will appear.
3. Drag the black, gray, or white point sliders
to adjust the tonal range.
Adjusting Tonal Range
using the Levels
Command
4. If you want to return to the original tonal range
setting of the image, click the [Alt] key
([Option] key on Mac). Notice that the Cancel
button is changed to the Reset button. Click on
the Reset button to reset the image tonal range.
5. If you are satisfied with the tonal range of the
image, click the OK button to apply the Levels
command settings.
6. Look at the histogram palette. Notice that the
pixels are spread across the entire histogram.
The
Brightness/Contrast
Command
Allows you to easily adjust the image tonal range
by simply adjusting the brightness and contrast
sliders.
Moving the brightness slider to the right will
makes image brighter while moving the slider to
the left will makes image darker.
The contrast slider is used to increase or decrease
the overall image contrast.
The Curves
Command
It offers more precise tonal range Highlight
because you can place up to 14 Section
adjustment points throughout the
entire tonal range of an image
compared to the three
adjustment sliders of the Levels
command.
You can make tonal range
adjustment by placing adjustment
points on the shadows, midtones,
or highlight sections of the line Midtone
and moving these points upward Section
or downward.
Shadow
Section
The
Shadows/Highlights
Command
This command is ideal for
correcting photos with too dark
shadows due to backlighting.
To lighten the shadows, drag the
amount slider in the shadows
section to the right.
The tonal width slider lets you
specify the percentage of the
shadows range that will be
affected in every adjustment.
The radius slider lets you specify
how many pixels are affected in
every adjustment.
