Digital camera images are not always perfect. As you learn Photoshop, you will notice common problems in photos. Some may be too bright, while others may look dull. Photoshop has tools to fix these issues and improve your images.

Image Corrections

  • Levels and Curves: Adjust the tonal range to make shadows or highlights lighter or darker.
  • Saturation: Increase color intensity to make images more vibrant. Decrease it to create a softer look.
  • Auto-Adjustment Tools: Use Photoshop’s automatic tools to improve images quickly.

Using Adjustment Layers

Adjustment layers help make changes without altering the original image. You can always tweak or remove them later. This makes it easier to experiment and get the perfect look.

Levels Adjustment

Every image has shadows, highlights, and midtones. Levels adjustments help control these tones for better balance.


Steps to Adjust Levels:

  1. Add a Levels Adjustment Layer in the Layers panel.

  2. Look at the histogram in the Properties panel. It shows how the image is exposed.

  3. Adjust the Input Levels sliders to improve brightness and contrast:

    • Drag the white slider left to brighten highlights.

    • Drag the black slider right to darken shadows.

    • Move the middle (gray) slider to adjust midtones.

  4. Turn the adjustment layer on and off to compare changes.

Tips for Best Results:

  • Adjust black and white sliders to match the data in the histogram.
  • Avoid moving sliders too far to prevent clipping (loss of image details).
  • If the image is properly exposed, adjust only the middle slider.

Curves Adjustment

Curves give more control over brightness and contrast. You can adjust shadows, midtones, and highlights separately.

Steps to Adjust Curves:

  1. Add a Curves Adjustment Layer.

  2. Click anywhere on the diagonal line in the Properties panel to create a new point.

  3. Drag the point up to brighten or down to darken.
  4. Use multiple points for better control.
  5. Avoid steep curves to prevent unnatural effects.
  6. Try different presets for quick adjustments.

Color Adjustments

Sometimes, you may need to fix or change colors in an image.

Adjusting Saturation:

  • Increase saturation to make colors more vivid.

  • Decrease saturation for a softer look.
  • Setting saturation to -100 creates a black-and-white image.
  • Use a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer to control saturation.
  • Vibrance is a better option than saturation as it keeps natural colors balanced.

Black-and-White Conversion

Instead of just reducing saturation, use a Black and White Adjustment Layer. This lets you control how different colors appear in grayscale. Try different presets to get the best look.


Auto-Adjustment Tools

Photoshop has automatic tools to fix brightness, contrast, and color:


  • Auto Color corrects color tones.
  • Auto Levels adjusts brightness and contrast.
  • Auto Contrast improves light and dark areas.