Using Curves to Lighten Images in Photoshop
Vootie (160 points) | Mon, 2009-12-14 09:03
Adapted from Photoshop CS4 Bible (Wiley Publishing) - By Stacy Cates, Simon Abrams, Dan Moughamian
Version: Adobe Photoshop CS4
Making images or parts of images lighter, or brighter, is a commonly needed adjustment. There are many ways to lighten an image in Photoshop. You can use a lightening process that lightens the light and/or dark qualities of an image (the luminosity or luminance) along with the colors in an image.
But let’s say you’ve got the color the way you want it — you just want to lighten part of the image and avoid risking a shift in the color while you’re at it. In that case, you can use a lightening technique that lightens only the luminosity and does not affect the colors. There are also lightening techniques that can better preserve contrast in an image, and others that may reduce contrast. You can use certain methods to make broad changes or you can use methods that allow you to target specific areas.
- Vootie's blog
- Login or register to post comments






One day I'm going to write the "Photoshop Koran". It's going to take an entirely different approach to teaching Photoshop - it will start with the basic concepts and teach only the fundamentals. There won't be a single "tip" or "trick" anywhere in it. It will be the most informative book ever written on Photoshop and it won't sell a single copy (well maybe one - my mom will probably buy a copy).
I would buy it, if nothing else for the name! :)
A good one to have sitting on the coffee table - a real conversation starter. :-)
Maybe just do an empty book with a cool cover and sell it for $1.
Works in MSPaint'10 too, probablly better!
http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com
I am not Steve Ballmer pretending not to be me!
I will be looking for the book Art. There are so many basic things that users need to know. A common sense fundamental book would be of great use. If you need any help, let me know.
Rachel Jones