Within 'Image/Adjustment/'.. why should I use Levels on photos?

[Wetstuff]

I look at 'Levels', and tweak the sliders .. but end up 80% of the time with 'Shadows/Highlights' to pull out the image. I make things using a lot of black, so I have these deep shadows..

I keep thinking I must be making a mistake -because all the books I have had always seem to put the emphasis on Levels.


Jim

 

[mimetalk]

I'm assuming it's probably preference. Levels allows you to adjust simultaneously the lights darks and mid-tones to the general area you want them to be. I bet if you messed around with all three arrows in the levels panel you might learn to find it more versatile. If the other tool works, though, I'd ignore the books.

 

[dv8_fx]

WETSTUFF... the left slider controls the shadow (darkness) values, the right controls lightness and the middle, anything in between.

 

[Dataflow]

what i usually do is adjust each channel separately and place the arrow at the end of where the black part starts
here is what i mean

thats just a start point