Create a
Levels adjustment layer, or reopen its window by double clicking
the Levels window thumbnail in the Levels adjustment layer.
Eyedropper Method
You can stretch the contrast range of a photograph by using the
eyedroppers in the Levels window.
Look for the eye droppers on the right side, in the middle.
From left to right, the eyedroppers are for setting the:
• Black point.
• Gray point.
• White point.
The gray-point eyedropper, the middle eyedropper, is used for
correcting color, and won't be used here.
Using the Black & White Eyedroppers
Do the following.
1) Click the
black-point eyedropper, and then click the part of your photograph
that is a black with some detail or slight texture.
2) Click the
white-point eyedropper, and then click the part of your photograph
that is a white with some detail or slight texture.
By "telling" Photoshop Elements where the white and black points
are, the program can stretch a photograph's contrast range to fit
the entire contrast range.
Example
The photograph below can be improved by doing the following.
Eyedropper
Sampled Area
Example
Black
Click the black-point
eyedropper on a black area that has some detail or slight
texture.
Click the shadow
side of the telephone pole in the background.
Gray
Not Used
White
Click the white-point eyedropper
on a white area that has some detail or slight texture.
Avoid clicking on light sources
and reflections.
Click the "stripe"
of bright snow that's beneath the blue side of the pool
in the foreground.
Color Card
If you're photographing extensively at the same location, you
may want to include a GretagMacBeth ColorChecker card in one of
the photographs.
The card has a range of tones from white to black, and a range
of colors.
Later, when you're at your computer, you can use the photograph
with the card to set the black, gray, and white, points.
You won't have to figure out where to click on a photograph.
Just click three times on the appropriate squares on the card.
When photographing the card, make sure it's in the same light
as the subject, and if the lighting changes, photograph the card
again.
Don't confuse the GretagMacBeth ColorChecker with the GretagMacBeth
ColorChecker SG, which is $280.
