Photoshop Elements / Levels / Color Correction / Gray-point Eyedropper Method / 2

Method #1

This method uses the Eyedropper tool from the Toolbox palette (left side of the work space).

The eyedroppers in the Levels window are not used for this operation.

1) Select the Eyedropper tool.

2) To open the Info palette, go to Window > Info, or click the white triangle on the Info palette in the palette bin.

3) Place the cursor on the suspected gray area.

If the three RGB values are approximately midway between 0 and 255, and are about the same, then you have a gray area.

The RGB values, above, are 145, 146, and 141.

They're close to each other, so the area is approximately gray.

Because the photograph has a color cast, the three RGB values will not be the same.

So, the area is a grayish area that should be gray.

Here's a another way to judge whether an area is gray.

Method #2

This method uses the Difference blending mode.

1) Create a Solid Color adjustment layer, and enter 128 in the RGB value boxes, or 808080 in the # box.

2) Change the blending mode for the Solid Color adjustment layer from Normal to Difference.

3) Gray areas appear black.

Deselect and reselect the Eye icon for the layer, to locate where a suitable gray area on your photograph.

Here's another method.

Photograph a gray card, or a GretagMacBeth ColorChecker, at the beginning of a photography session.

1) Double click the Levels window thumbnail in the Levels adjustment layer to reopen the Levels window.

2) Select the gray-point eyedropper in the Levels window.

Look for the eye droppers on the right side, in the middle, of the Levels window.

The gray-point eyedropper is the middle eyedropper.

3) Click the gray area on the card with the gray-point eyedropper.