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Enhance Shadow and Highlight Details

posted by photoboy27

Learn how to enhance shadow and highlight details. Some images have detail across such a large dynamic range that it’s time-consuming or difficult to make both the shadows and the highlights look good using Levels and Curves. The Shadow/Highlight command uses advanced blending techniques that can’t be duplicated using Levels or Curves alone, and Shadow/Highlight can often get you where you want in one step:

1. Choose Image > Adjustments > Shadow/Highlight (Figure 4.7).

2. If there’s detail in the shadows that you want to lighten, increase the Shadow value. While the dialog box defaults to 50, for many images we recommend starting at a low value like 5. Many digital cameras and scanners are noisy in the shadows, and pushing shadows too far can emphasize existing noise.

3. If there’s detail in the highlights that you want to darken, increase the Highlights value.

4. If the changes to the shadows and highlights are good, but midtones are now flat, enable the Show More Options checkbox and increase the Midtone Contrast value.

TIP: It’s best to adjust Shadow/Highlight dialog box controls in small increments. Going too far creates an unnaturally flat image.

Final Result

Initial image