Basics: Adjusting Levels/Saturation

Lesson done on a Mac, with Photoshop CS4. Click on samples to get larger view.

For non-destructive editing, hit apple key/j. This will create a layer copy of your original photo. All your editing will be done on the copy. If you edit the original, you will stress the pixels.





1.Crop you photo how you would like it.
2. Adjust the levels.
Click on Image, Adjustments, Levels. Or use the shortcut (apple key/L).





If the levels box needs to be moved, just click on the gray area at the top of the box and drag it where it want it.
The far right and left bars should be brought inside the black area of the histogram. Click and drag the bars where needed. The middle bar will adjust the mid-tones. I dragged it slightly left, to brighten the people in the picture. Click on OK or hit enter.

3. Adjust saturation.
Click on Image, Adjustments, Hue/Saturation. Or use the shortcut (apple Key/U).



I adjusted the saturation slightly to +17. Click on OK or hit Enter.




Now compare the original with the basic adjusted one.

Original:



Final Image: