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Adjusting Levels (Light and Dark Values)
How to adjust the black, grey and white levels in an image using Photoshop's Levels adjustment.
Levels
The image below was scanned from a slide, at the Teaching Enhancement Center, using calibrated equipment and color management. It is a reasonable facsimile of the original slide, however it somewhat darker and less vibrant. We will make some minor adjustments to this image so that it more closely matches the original, actual slide.
We’ll start with the Levels (light/dark values) of the image because it will be easier to visually assess the color distribution of the image once its brighter.
From the menu bar select: Image > Adjustments > Levels
The Levels palette shows you the distribution of black, grey and white values in your image (left to right).
Sliding the white slider-triangle to the left moves the white point
— the cut-off point that determines white — toward the grey range. In
other words, values of the palest grey in your image, will now become
white, and the distribution will shift accordingly. The brightness of
your image will become brighter, while retaining it's black values.
Conversely, sliding the black slider to the right will shift dark values toward black while retaining the white values. The grey slider shifts the midrange in either direction.
[NOTE: Frequently scanned images
appear slightly dull or dark compared to their originals. Sliding the
white slider slightly to the left and the black slider to the right
will both brighten and deepen your image.]
This may sound
confusing, but if you experiment with the Levels sliders, you will
quickly see how it works. Make sure to have the Preview box checked so
you can see how the settings affect your image. When you are satisfied
with the results, click OK.
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