Swede Loc: Trail, BC Canada

I need some help with understanding "Levels and Curves".

Done the YouTube stuff, but what I need is just the basics of what it does and how to use it! (Capture NX2)

Thanks
Swede

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Swede, This nets it out.
https://www.gcflearnfree.org/photoshopbasics/levels-curves-and-color/1/

Swede Loc: Trail, BC Canada

Thanks Stan, big time help, very much appreciated

Swede

autofocus Loc: North Central Connecticut

I looked through PixelStan's link and it's all good information. But I think it left out one important function in levels that can make a huge difference in both the colors, skin tones, and the amount of "pop" you can give an image by using the white eyedropper tool. Firstly, you always want to do this in a layer which is easily done by opening up levels in the layers palette. This will give you far more adjustability by using the opacity slider should you happen to drive your right side of the histogram off the scale. Here's how: Once you open your levels layer select the levels white point eyedropper tool (the one on the right, the middle one is for midtones, and the one on the left is the black point eyedropper) Now that you have the white point eyedropper tool selected and active, find something in the image that is supposed to be white (it can even be a highlight on something that is not pure white) and click the eyedropper on that location. Depending on how much room you have on the right side of the histogram you may see a subtle improvement, or maybe a huge improvement. Often, a flat image will pop dramatically. After doing this, take note of the histogram, particularly if you pushed the histogram off the chart on the right side of the scale. If so, simply back off on your opacity slider setting in the levels layer until you once again have a better, and not off the chart histogram. This is usually the first thing I do in my editing flow after the conversion of the RAW image into a JPEG.
A good trick in curves is how it can help if your image overall is good, but the subject faces are on the dark side. Once again, always do this in a layer. Using the magic wand tool, carefully select the subject's face (the marching ants will be surrounding the face) Open up the curves tool in the layers palette to view the histogram and it's straight diagonal line. Grab the line at the mid point, and while looking at your subject's face drag the line slightly up until you are happy with the new amount of light/brightness you added to the dark face. If you went a little too much, no problem, simply adjust the opacity slider down a bit. Of course, with all layers, you must flatten them when done with your adjustment. Have fun!
Vince

PhotosBySteve

Curves and Levels will both perform the same exact tasks. They are simply two different tools that work in different ways to adjust the tonal values of an image. I personally prefer to use curves. I suggest you play with both and determine which one you prefer, then master the use of that one. Adobe has many good tutorials on the use of both.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

The Photoshop Bible!

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

They are not the same exact tasks, they sure are similar, but curves does a lot more and a lot better!

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

No, "levels" is a global tool that handles all intensities in a similar fashion; "curves" gives you more precise control - you can handle intensity 155 differently from how you control intensity 200 - but the tool requires the adjustments be "continuous" ... you cannot have an abrupt change {that would look funky}