Step 3: Expanding the Tonal Range using Image: Adjust: Levels

Scanners and digital cameras are limited in the range of colors they can capture. This can be compensated for using the Levels command.

Step One: Choose Image: Adjust: Levels. The mountain in the middle of the dialog box is actually called a historgram. A histogram is a graph of all the tones in the image, ranging from the darkest to the lightest. The triangles beneath the histogram represent the range of colors that the output device is capable of reproducing. Step Two: In the histogram above we see a huge gap in the lighter tones (on the right) and a smaller gap in the dark tones (left). There is no information there for the printer or monitor to use to reproduce these tones. Drag the white triangle towards the left, Drag the black triangle towards the right. Leave the middle triangle alone. Watch the image carefully to see how the adjustment effects it.