Photoshop Elements >

Overexposure & Underexposure

Here's an easy way to fix overexposed or underexposed photographs.

Overexposed photographs are too light everywhere.

Underexposed photographs are too dark everywhere.

Overexposed By 2 Stops

Underexposed by 2 Stops

Check Off

Be sure to check off as you go along.

Photoshop Elements is easy—as long as you do every step.

So—again—check off as you go along.

Class Tips has more advice for Photoshop Elements beginners.

Open a Photograph

1) Open Photoshop Elements.

When the white Welcome window appears, click Edit & Enhance Photos (Windows) or Start from Scratch (Mac).

Photoshop Elements will go to Standard Edit (4.0), Full Edit (5.0 and 6.0).

2) Open your photograph by doing one of the following:

• Press Ctrl + o (letter o, not zero).

If you're using a Mac, substitute the Command (Apple and cloverleaf icons) key for the Ctrl key.

• Go to File > Open > New.

• Click the yellow folder icon at the top of the screen (4.0 only).

3) After doing one of the above, an Open window will appear.

Use the Open window to navigate to where your photographs are located, such as My Pictures (Windows) or Photographs (Mac).

Find a photograph that's overexposed (too light everywhere) or underexposed (too dark everywhere).

When you find the photograph, click Open in the Open window.

Your photograph will appear.

Panel Bin (Palette Bin)

& Photo Bin

Look on the right side of your screen.

The layer with your photograph s on the right side of your screen in the Layers panel (Layers palette).

The layer is called Background.

If you don't see the Background layer, go to Window > Panel Bin (Palette Bin).

Then, if you still don't see the Background layer, go to Window > Layers.

The photograph, and any other photographs that are open, also appear in the Photo Bin at the bottom of the screen.

If you don't see the Photo Bin, go to Window > Photo Bin.

Duplicate the Background Layer

Create a Duplicate of the Background Layer

4) Go to Layer > Duplicate Layer.

A Duplicate Layer window will open.

By default, Photoshop Elements will name the duplicate layer Background copy.

Click OK.

Overexposed or Underexposed?

5) If your photograph is overexposed, continue below.

If your photograph is underexposed, scroll down to Fix an Underexposed Photography, or click here.

Fix an Overexposed Photography

Again, an overexposed photograph is too light everywhere.

6) Make sure the Background copy layer is active (highlighted).

If it isn't, click the Background copy layer.

7) Change the blending mode of the Background copy layer from Normal to Multiply.

At the top of the layers stack, look for the unlabeled Blending Mode box.

It's to the left of the Opacity box.

The Blending Mode box probably has Normal inside.

8) Your overexposed photograph is now darker.

Too Dark?

If your photograph is too dark now, reduce the opacity of the Background copy layer from 100% to a lower number.

Make sure the Background copy layer is active (highlighted).

At the top of the layers stack, look for the unlabeled Blending Mode box.

It's to the left of the Opacity box.

The Blending Mode box probably has Normal inside.

Not Dark Enough?

If your photograph isn't dark enough, create a duplicate of the Background copy layer.

Make sure the Background copy layer is active (highlighted).

Go to Layer > Duplicate Layer.

A Duplicate Layer window will open.

By default, Photoshop Elements will name the duplicate layer Background copy 2.

Click OK.

You can add more duplicate layers until your photograph is the correct exposure.

Scroll down to Saving the Photograph, or click here.

Fix an Underexposed Photography

Again, an underexposed photograph is too dark.

6) Make sure the Background copy layer is active (highlighted).

If it isn't, click the Background copy layer.

7) Change the blending mode Background copy layer from Normal to Screen.

At the top of the layers stack, look for the unlabeled Blending Mode box.

It's to the left of the Opacity box.

The Blending Mode box probably has Normal inside.

8) Your underexposed photograph is now lighter.

Too Light?

If your photograph is too light now, reduce the opacity of the Background copy layer from 100% to a lower value.

Make sure the Background copy layer is active (highlighted).

The Opacity box is at the top of the layers stack, to the right of the Blending Mode box.

It probably has 100% inside.

Not Light Enough?

If your photograph isn't light enough, create a duplicate of the Background copy layer.

Make sure the Background copy layer is active (highlighted).

Go to Layer > Duplicate Layer.

A Duplicate Layer window will open.

By default, Photoshop Elements will name the duplicate layer Background copy 2.

Click OK.

You can add more duplicate layers until your photograph is the correct exposure.

Saving the Photograph

Go to File > Save As.

In the Format box in the Save As window, the Photoshop format appears by default.

Click the arrow at the end of the box, and select the JPEG format instead, as seen below.

Be default, Photoshop Elements adds copy to the name of your photograph.

By doing so, you'll have two versions of the photograph on your hard drive.

• Your original photograph remains as it was on your hard drive.

• The edited version appears with copy appended to the name of your original photograph.

Advanced Techniques

To control exposure and contrast more precisely in an entire photograph, go to Levels.

To modify the exposure in part of a photography, go to Burning & Dodging.

If there are totally overexposed areas, blown out, you can't use the above technique to darken them.

For example, the area near the mirror in the above photographs is blown out.

Go to Painting Overexposed Areas.