This is a very simple and easy tool if you dont already know it. The Curves dialog box has many neat features, I cover most of them extensively on the Photoshop DVD. Occasionally, it is necessary to correct the color of our images. A common mistake for beginning Photoshop users is to try to do this is to using the Color Balance feature. The easier and faster way is to use the Curves function, clicking on the white eye dropper (see red arrow above) and then clicking on a part of the image that should be white. You may have to click a few times here and there to get it right, but this works for me about 85% of the time. You can even tweak this by individual channel using the drop down channel menu.
Also, there is a reason Curves are so much better than Levels. Does anyone know why?
Precision control. I love Curves.
Oh my gawd, Michael. I am always amazed at the basic functions in Photoshop that I’ve been oblivious to, but that make such a big difference in my work! Holy cow! Setting that white point is amazing! I went back through some flash shots I’d done, and was disappointed with the results. What a difference, instantly! Thanks for stating the obvious, because to many of us, the obvious…isn’t.
Here’s my guess for the Photoshop quiz! Levels seems to just be "Curves for Dummies." I don’t suppose that’s it, but hey, I’m not the maven here!
I’ll venture a guess….it looks to me like utilizing the dropper in curves to select the white in the image would correct the white balance in the image?
You can target a specific area in a tonal range in an image.
If you click and hold the mouse button and drag over the image you can see what tonal range you are in on the curve. Ctrl/cmd click on the image and you can add an adjustment anchor point to correct that tonal range. This can also be done on a per channel basis, not just the rgb composite.
Cannot wait for the DVD!!!! Great lesson!
have I told you lately that i love… your blog?