Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
TIP
You may think you need only lighten shadows in a photo, but sometimes just a smidgen
of Highlights may help, too. Don't be afraid to experiment with this slider even if you've
got a relatively dark photo.
Go easy: Getting overenthusiastic with these sliders can give your photos a flat, washed-out
look.
Adjusting Color
The Color section of the Adjustments panel lets you—surprise, surprise—play around with
the colors in your images. In many cases, if you've been successful with Auto Levels or
Auto Contrast, you won't need to use this section.
Auto Color
The Color section's Auto button is another one-click fix. In some ways, it seems like Auto
Color should be up in the Levels section because, like Levels, it simultaneously adjusts color
and brightness, but it looks at different information in photos to decide what to do.
When you're first learning to use Quick Fix, you may want to try Auto Levels, Auto Con-
trast, and Auto Color to see which generally works best for your photos. Undo the changes
after you use each one and compare your results. Most people find they prefer one of the
three most of the time.
Auto Color may be just the ticket for your photos, but you may also find that it shifts colors
in strange ways. Try it and see what you think. If it makes your photo look worse, just click
the Reset icon at the top of the Adjustments panel or press Ctrl+Z/
⌘
-Z to undo it, and go
back to Auto Levels or Auto Contrast. If they
all
make your colors look a little wrong, or if
you want to tweak the colors in your photo, move on to the Color sliders and presets instead.
The Color Sliders
If you want to adjust the colors in your photo without changing its brightness, try the Color
section's sliders. For instance, your digital camera may produce colors that don't quite match
what you saw when you took the picture; you may have scanned an old print that's faded or
discolored; or you may just want to change the colors in a photo for the heck of it.
