What is it with Levels? Is it really the poor relation?

It seems to me that many experts look on Levels as the poor relation to Curves.

I find the Levels command very useful and easy to use, and it has often solved all my photo correction problems. Also, unlike Curves, Levels shows a histogram. However, so far as I can see, Levels is not listed in the index of the 352 page printed Photoshop CS User Guide, and if you manage to find the reference to the Levels Command, it only gets a 12 word description,

I have lots of books on Photoshop, and have studied Channel Chops, Photoshop Color Correction and Professional Photoshop very carefully, I think. But none of these books mention that if you ALT (Mac OPTION) CLICK on the white slider triangle while making adjustments in Levels you will see (if the Preview box is checked) those parts of the image that will be clipped. And the same with the black triangle.
There are also procedures outlined in the online help to calibrate the black, grey and white eyedroppers to suit your requirements for each image you work on..

John

It seems to me that many experts look on Levels as the poor relation to Curves.

I find the Levels command very useful and easy to use, and it has often solved all my photo correction problems. Also, unlike Curves, Levels shows a histogram. However, so far as I can see, Levels is not listed in the index of the 352 page printed Photoshop CS User Guide, and if you manage to find the reference to the Levels Command, it only gets a 12 word description,

I have lots of books on Photoshop, and have studied Channel Chops, Photoshop Color Correction and Professional Photoshop very carefully, I think. But none of these books mention that if you ALT (Mac OPTION) CLICK on the white slider triangle while making adjustments in Levels you will see (if the Preview box is checked) those parts of the image that will be clipped. And the same with the black triangle.
There are also procedures outlined in the online help to calibrate the black, grey and white eyedroppers to suit your requirements for each image you work on..

John

Thanks John. I learned something today.

"John" wrote in message

It seems to me that many experts look on Levels as the poor relation to Curves.

I find the Levels command very useful and easy to use, and it has often solved all my photo correction problems. Also, unlike Curves, Levels shows a histogram. However, so far as I can see, Levels is not listed in the index of the 352 page printed Photoshop CS User Guide, and if you manage to find the reference to the Levels Command, it only gets a 12 word description,

I have lots of books on Photoshop, and have studied Channel Chops, Photoshop Color Correction and Professional Photoshop very carefully, I think. But none of these books mention that if you ALT (Mac OPTION) CLICK on the white slider triangle while making adjustments in Levels you will see (if the Preview box is checked) those parts of the image that will be clipped. And the same with the black triangle.
There are also procedures outlined in the online help to calibrate the black, grey and white eyedroppers to suit your requirements for each image you work on..

John

Actually, I knew this (can’t remember where I learned it– Probably McClelland
or Willmore) but it reminds me of one of the things I dislike most about Adobe software– useful "secret handshake" features that are programmed in but not documented anywhere–or if they are documented, it’s so well hidden it would take an Act of Congress to unearth it.

This isn’t the only example. I’d bet every power user here knows at least one.

Why bother to code things if you’re not going
to make them accessible?

On Sat, 28 Feb 2004 00:18:07 GMT, "JP Kabala" wrote:

Actually, I knew this (can’t remember where I learned it– Probably McClelland
or Willmore) but it reminds me of one of the things I dislike most about Adobe software– useful "secret handshake" features that are programmed

but not documented anywhere–or if they are documented, it’s so well

it would take an Act of Congress to unearth it.

This isn’t the only example. I’d bet every power user here knows at

one.

Why bother to code things if you’re not going
to make them accessible?

To make every new working day a time of adventure and excitement as you try to work out how to do things….. 😉

—

Hecate

veni, vidi, reliqui

You mean they’re somehow related to my ex ?

He thought being secretive, difficult and obtuse
was somehow charming and endearing, too! LOL

It seems to me that many experts look on Levels as the poor relation to Curves.

I find the Levels command very useful and easy to use, and it has often solved all my photo correction problems.

Also, unlike Curves, Levels shows a histogram.

However, so far as I can see, Levels is not
listed in the index of the 352 page printed Photoshop CS User Guide, and if you manage to find the reference to the Levels Command, it only gets a 12 word description,

I have lots of books on Photoshop, and have studied Channel Chops, Photoshop Color Correction and Professional Photoshop very carefully, I think. But none of these books mention that if you ALT (Mac OPTION) CLICK on the white slider triangle while making adjustments in Levels you will see (if the Preview box is checked) those parts of the image that will be clipped. And the same with the black triangle.

There are also procedures outlined in the online help to calibrate the black, grey and white eyedroppers to suit your requirements for each image you work on.