Photoshop Elements / Levels /
Hybrid Method
This method combines the best of the other Levels methods.
Note
If you haven't already done so, go to
Levels Introduction.
Be sure to check off as you go along.
Levels Window
Create a
Levels adjustment layer, or reopen its window by double clicking
the Levels window thumbnail in the Levels adjustment layer.
First Step - Auto Button
1) Try the Auto
button.
2) Click Reset
if the changes are not acceptable.
If the color changes, and it's not acceptable, change the blending
mode of the Levels adjustment layer from Normal to Luminosity.
Blending mode is located at the top of the Layers palette.
For more about the Auto button, go to the
Auto Button
Method.
Step Two - Black & White Sliders
There are three triangular sliders below the histogram of your photograph.
1) Press Alt,
click the white slider, and hold.
The photograph will turn black.
Move the slider to the left until you see a white area appear.
If there's a white area present before you start to move the
slider, ignore that area.
2) Press Alt,
click the black slider, and hold.
The photograph will turn white.
Move the slider to the left until you see a black area appear.
If there's a black area present before you start to move the
slider, ignore that area.
Step Three - Contrast
Contrast is the difference between the shadows and highlights.
1) Click the
gray slider, in the middle, and hold.
Don't press and hold Alt, like you did for step two above.
2) To increase
the contrast, move the slider to the right.
3) To decrease
the contrast, move the slider to the left.
For more about using all three of the sliders, go to the
Sliders Method.
Step Four - Color Correction
1) Click the
middle eyedropper, the gray-point eyedropper.
2) Look for
a gray area on your photograph.
The gray area may not be gray, but should be.
It isn't gray because there's a color caste.
3) Click the
gray area.
4) Click Reset
if the color correction isn't acceptable.
For more about this eyedropper, go to the
Gray-point Eyedropper Method
