Basic steps for correcting images

The following workflow overview is a starting point for correcting the tonality and color of an image.

Note: For some images, the use of the quick adjustment commands in Photoshop and ImageReady might give satisfactory results. For more information on the various Auto commands, see Making quick overall adjustments to an image.

To make color and tonal adjustments:

1. (Photoshop) Use the histogram to check the quality and tonal range of the image. For information on using the histogram, see Using a histogram to view the tonal range of an image (Photoshop).
2. Adjust the color balance to remove unwanted color casts or to correct oversaturated or undersaturated colors.

You can choose from the following color adjustment methods:

(Photoshop) Auto Color command

Quickly corrects the color balance in an image. Although its name implies an automatic adjustment, you can fine tune how the Auto Color command behaves. For more information, see Using the Auto Color command (Photoshop).

(Photoshop) Match Color command

Matches the color from one photo to another photo, from one layer to another layer, and from a selection in an image to another selection in the same image or different image. This command also adjusts the luminance and color range and neutralizes color casts in an image. For more information, see Using the Match Color command (Photoshop).

(Photoshop) Color Balance command

Changes the overall mixture of colors in an image. For more information, see Using the Color Balance command (Photoshop).

Hue/Saturation command

Adjusts the hue, saturation, and lightness values of the entire image or of individual color components. For more information on the Hue/Saturation command, see Using the Hue/Saturation command.

(Photoshop) Replace Color command

Replaces specified colors in an image with new color values. For more information on the Replace Color command, see Using the Replace Color command (Photoshop).

(Photoshop) Selective Color command

Adjusts the amount of process colors in individual color components. For more information on the Selective Color command, see Using the Selective Color command (Photoshop).

(Photoshop) Channel Mixer command

Modifies a color channel and makes color adjustments not easily done with other color adjustment tools. For more information on the Channel Mixer command, see Mixing color channels (Photoshop).

Levels command

Adjusts color balance by setting the pixel distribution for individual color channels. For more information on the Levels command, see Using Levels to adjust color (Photoshop).

(Photoshop) Curves command

Provides up to 14 controls points for highlight, midtone, and shadow adjustments for individual channels. For more information on the Curves command, see Using the Curves dialog box (Photoshop).

Photo Filter command

Makes color adjustments by simulating the effects of photographing with a Kodak Wratten filter in front of a camera lens. For more information on the Photo Filter command, see Using the Photo Filter command (Photoshop).

3. Adjust the tonal range.

Begin tonal corrections by adjusting the values of the extreme highlight and shadow pixels in the image, setting an overall tonal range for the image. This process is known as setting the highlights and shadows or setting the white and black points.

Setting the highlights and shadows typically redistributes the midtone pixels appropriately. However, you may need to adjust your midtones manually.

There are several different ways to set an image's tonal range:

• You can drag sliders along the histogram in the Levels dialog box. For more information using the sliders in Levels, see Using Levels to set highlights, shadows, and midtones.
• (Photoshop) You can adjust the shape of the graph in the Curves dialog box. This method lets you adjust any point along a 0-255 tonal scale and provides the greatest control over an image's tonal quality. For more information on using the Curves command, see Using the Curves dialog box (Photoshop).
• (Photoshop) You can assign target values to the highlight and shadow pixels using either the Levels or Curves dialog box. This can help preserve important highlight and shadow details in images being sent to a printing press or laser printer. You might also need to tweak the target values after sharpening. For more information on setting target values, see Setting highlight and shadow target values (Photoshop).
• Adjust the tonality in the shadow and highlight areas using the Shadow/Highlight command. This adjustment is especially useful to correct photos, where the subject is silhouetted due to strong backlighting or where the subject is a bit light from being too close to the camera flash. For more information on the Shadow/Highlight command, see Using the Shadow/Highlight command (Photoshop).
4. (Optional) Make other special color adjustments.

Once you have corrected the overall color balance of your image, you can make optional adjustments to enhance colors or produce special effects. For more information on special color effects, see Applying special color effects to images.

5. Sharpen the edges of the image.

As one of the final steps, use the Unsharp Mask filter to sharpen the clarity of edges in the image. The amount of sharpening required for an image varies due to differences in quality produced by different digital cameras and scanners. For more information on sharpening images, see Sharpening images.

6. (Photoshop) Use the Output sliders in the Levels dialog box or the Curves dialog box to bring important details in the highlights and shadows into the gamut of an output device, like a desktop printer. Do this if your image is being sent out to a printing press and you know the characteristics of the press.

Because sharpening increases the contrast of neighboring pixels, it's possible that some pixels in critical areas might become unprintable on the press that you're sending your images to. This is why it's best to tweak the output settings after sharpening. For more information on adjusting the output settings, see Setting highlight and shadow target values (Photoshop).