The Ultimate Guide to Adjustment Layers – Levels

In this tutorial, we will take a close look at the Levels Adjustment Layer in Photoshop. We will see how levels can improve low-key, high-key, and low contrast photos, as well as how you can use the Levels Adjustment Layer to make color corrections. We will also spend some time in this tutorial explaining a bit about Photoshop’s histogram and how it works. Let’s get started! 

 

Histogram Details

For more information about Histograms, see this tutorial "What Does a Histogram Tell Us?"

  • Mean: represents the average intensity value of the pixels in the image.
  • Standard Deviation: (abbreviated "Std. Dev.") shows how widely the image’s intensity values vary.
  • Median: is the midpoint of the intensity values.
  • Pixels: tells you how many pixels Photoshop analyzed to generate the histogram.
  • Cache Level: shows the current image cache Photoshop used to make the histogram. When this number is higher than 1, Photoshop is basing the histogram on a representative sampling of pixels in the image rather than on all of them. You can click the Uncached Refresh button to make the program redraw the histogram based on the current version of the image.

If you position your cursor over the histogram, you also see values for the following:

  • Level: displays the intensity level of the area beneath the cursor.
  • Count: shows the total number of pixels that are at the intensity level beneath the cursor.
  • Percentile: indicates the number of pixels at or below the intensity level beneath the cursor, expressed as a percentage of all the pixels in the image.

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Bobby Parker
Hey there, thanks for visiting my online portfolio. My name is Bobby Parker and I’m a Minnesota based illustrator who specializes in photo-real architectural renderings, and I’m not afraid to turn my hand to animation if the job requires it. While growing up in Illinios I always had a childhood interest in drawing and artwork that has stayed with me throughout my career in architecture. I received my architectural education working for some of the most talented architects in Chicago. I’ve worked on a wide range of projects, and pride myself on the ability to deliver a valuable and visually-appealing end product, no matter what the scope. For me, it’s essential to achieve a balance between quality and speed. 24 years after working professionally, I am still combining the fundamentals of art with the most current industry technology, to create incredibly realistic 3D architectural renderings. I love what I do, and I hope that it shows in my portfolio. Please take a minute to visit my work page and drop me a message if you have any questions
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