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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
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.
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.
Look on the right side of your screen.
The layer with your photograph s on the right side of your screen in the Layers palette.
The layer is called Background.
If you don't see the Background layer, go to Window > 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.
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.
5) If your photograph is overexposed, continue below.
If your photograph is underexposed, scroll down to Fix an Underexposed Photography, or click here.
Again, an overexposed photograph is too light everywhere.
6) Make sure the Background copy layer is active (highlighted with blue).
If it isn't, click the Background copy layer.
7) Change the blending mode of the Background copy layer from Normal to Multiply.
The blending mode box is above the layers, to the left of the opacity box.
Click the arrow at the end of the blending mode box to open the menu.
8) Your overexposed photograph is now darker.
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 with blue).
The opacity box is above the layers, to the right of the blending mode box.
Click the arrow at the end of the opacity box to open a slider.
Click the slider, hold, and move your mouse to change the opacity value.
If your photograph isn't dark enough, create a duplicate of the Background copy layer.
Make sure the Background copy layer is active (highlighted with blue).
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.
Again, an underexposed photograph is too dark.
6) Make sure the Background copy layer is active (highlighted with blue).
If it isn't, click the Background copy layer.
7) Change the blending mode Background copy layer from Normal to Screen.
The blending mode box is above the layers, to the left of the opacity box.
Click the arrow at the end of the blending mode box to open the menu.
8) Your underexposed photograph is now lighter.
If your photograph is too light now, reduce the opacity of the Background copy layer from 100% to a lower number.
Make sure the Background copy layer is active (highlighted with blue).
The opacity box is above the layers, to the right of the blending mode box.
Click the arrow at the end of the opacity box to open a slider.
Click the slider, hold, and move your mouse to change the opacity value.
If your photograph isn't light enough, create a duplicate of the Background copy layer.
Make sure the Background copy layer is active (highlighted with blue).
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.
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.
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.