Photoshop: Auto Levels/Contrast

[Mad Dave]

Anyone used this? I used this on a few shots today and whilst I really liked the original image and, at first, didn't like the 'auto levelled' version, when I switched back, the original image looked very flat - the levels adjustment had brought out the depth of the image and brought it alive. I tried this with quite a few images and almost always found that it improved the shot.

Anyone else used this? Opinions?

Dave

[gravymaster]

Levels can yield excellent results, but for more control learn how to use it manually, setting the white, black and midpoints using the pipettes and sliders, then progress to altering the different colour channels within the levels tool for more control where you need it. Also learning the curves tool will definately crank your photography up a gear.

This tutorial is good:

www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/command_primer.shtml

As always play around and see what happens to get a real feel for the changes that these tools make, but try to get as much right in camera as possible!

Hope this helps

Matt

[ehasler]

Some useful info on this thread:

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=109&t=144703

[joust]

I hardly ever use the "auto" one apart from auto contrast.

Look here for changes I made doing it by hand

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=147975&f=109&h=0

Bit more work, but better results.

J