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10/13/2013 07:02:50 AM · #1 |
Silly question for the day: why would you choose to use Curves or Levels over the other? They both work on increasing or decreasing highlights, midtones and shadows just in different ways. So in my mind it's pretty much the same tool, just a different way of getting to the same answer. I find the sliders in Levels easy to play with, so I never use Curves.
Am I missing something here? |
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10/13/2013 08:02:15 AM · #2 |
I used to have the same question. They are very similar and can be used for many of the same things. I guess it is in the way they are applied and I find them good for different things.
I use curves to lighten or darken an image.
Sometimes in a very overall manner:
And other times more to bring out highlight or shadow details:
I use levels to make sure my dynamic range is adjusted as wide as possible. If an image looks "flat" a levels adjustment will give it some pop.
Message edited by author 2013-10-13 08:06:07.
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10/13/2013 08:08:01 AM · #3 |
Thanks for your input, Steve. Makes sense!
Could you not lighten or darken an image using the black and white arrows on sliders, though?
Of course this is all ignoring the fact that there is an exposure adjustment too!
Message edited by author 2013-10-13 08:09:37. |
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10/13/2013 09:16:04 AM · #4 |
Curves give you far more flexibility over the process than Levels, by being able to finely specify which range of tonal values are affected.
The basic idea is to map certain pixel values to others; where the curve/slope is steep, the range of values will be "stretched-out" (increasing contrast/detail) while areas with a flat/shallow slope will have values merge and lose detail.
In addition, Curves allow you to make radical changes, partially inverting colors/tones, creating interesting "special effects" which are especially useful in making abstracts.
Take a look at my River Bend how-to for an example of using Curves along with masks.
Message edited by author 2013-10-13 09:16:50. |
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10/13/2013 01:27:31 PM · #5 |
Levels is like driving a car with an automatic tranission; it does the job easily and it is hard to make a mistake with it.
Curves is like driving a manual; you can do everything the automatic does with much more control, but it is much easier to make a mistake that does damage.
Once you get comfortable with curves, it is a much better option. It does everything that levels does and much more. A subtle S curve, or bow shape can quickly give your shot the desired punch that can only be had through several blended layers otherwise. Of course there are times when you look back at some of your old curves work in another mood or on a different monitor and you will wonder what the heck you were smoking back then. |
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10/13/2013 02:00:28 PM · #6 |
| Basic Curves tutorial here. Also look at the multiple tutorials on using Layer Masks, as the combination of the two techniques can make the Curves adjustment (or Levels, for that matter) much more flexible and effective. |
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