Understanding Curves in CS4

  • This video is about using the ‘Curves’ adjustments. More advanced and flexible that ‘Levels’ and easy to use when you know how ;)

    Get ready to have a new understanding, a ‘Lightbulb’ moment as you learn how to use Curves and implement them on your images…

    Leave a comment below! Tell us what you liked or learned from this video…

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55 Comments
  • #1 gillja gillja
    July 18, 2010 1:33 pm

    What a great idea to add to levels to help tweak them. But what is the real advantage, as the touched photos look so similar to the normal eye? I guess it is like all of photoshop, and that is to be able to do one thing many ways!

    • Shane Goldberg Shane
      July 19, 2010 9:49 am

      Hi Gillja, well sometimes they will look similar with minor tweeks other times it will be more drastic and obvious. Either way it’s really about emphasising and making better the ‘best’ parts and removing or reducing the significance of the imperfections.

  • #2 Vic Morphy Vic Morphy
    July 17, 2010 9:53 am

    Excellent video. Your language and directions are clear. I think I’ll pop the link to this video in the facebook student photographers group I’m In. Thanks. vic

    • Shane Goldberg Shane
      July 17, 2010 11:14 am

      Hi Vic, Thanks for the feedback! Feel free to post links or whatever on facebook! :) That would be GREAT. Have a GREAT day. Cheers Shane

  • #3 Maria Maria
    July 15, 2010 9:06 am

    Thanks for the video.
    I like to use levels in photo black white, but in color is curves that give us better result.
    Good luck.

  • #4 Linda Russell Linda Russell
    July 15, 2010 8:00 am

    That was delightful — It will be so very helpful — have liked curves and now realize that I had not even scratched the surface!
    Many thanks!!
    Linda

    • Shane Goldberg Shane
      July 15, 2010 10:36 am

      hehe! Yep! There’s sure lots of goodness under the surface too. Glad you enjoyed the video.

  • #5 Tony Bryan Tony Bryan
    July 14, 2010 11:35 pm

    Hi Shane,

    What a great feature of Photoshop,but often overlooked.
    Very informative and nice to watch.

    Good on ya, Shane

  • #6 tony tony
    July 14, 2010 11:14 pm

    thanks good video any chance of videos using CS5

  • #7 waldemar valdijo
    July 14, 2010 10:59 pm

    thanks, Shane for answer:) good day:),

    Your lessons are very good, sometimes is difficult to belive, that a lot of work is so easy!!!

    Best regards from Olsztyn, capital of beautiful region- Warmia-Mazury

  • #8 short memory short memory
    July 14, 2010 10:35 am

    yes gives a lot more control thanks.

  • #9 FitRosie FitRosie
    July 14, 2010 10:29 am

    Neat!
    How did you delete those points on the curve?
    Thanks.

    • Shane Goldberg Shane
      July 14, 2010 10:36 am

      Just click right on the points and then press the delete key! :)

  • #10 kimberly coombs kimberly coombs
    July 14, 2010 1:45 am

    AWESOME!!! It helps to have it explained a little in detail. Thanks for sharing!

    • Shane Goldberg Shane
      July 14, 2010 10:36 am

      No problems Kimberly! Glad you enjoyed it. Have a SUPER day.
      Shane

  • #11 Dr.Ashwani Dr.Ashwani
    July 14, 2010 12:48 am

    Thanks for such informative practicals.
    Regards
    Dr.Ashwani

  • #12 waldemar waldemar
    July 13, 2010 9:28 pm

    very good lesson , thank you, very clearly explained, but I have small problem, inside my curves no histogram, how can I put it to curves tool in CS2 ? :)

    • Shane Goldberg Shane
      July 13, 2010 9:31 pm

      That feature is not available in CS2 you’ll just have to improvise. The Curves still work the same, just no histogram. ;)

      • Irma Irma
        July 13, 2010 10:51 pm

        Cool, please keep us posted…tks

  • #13 chris chris
    July 13, 2010 6:39 pm

    great vid, lots to try out with, thanks

  • #14 medwaylass medwaylass
    July 13, 2010 4:34 pm

    Great lesson Shane. I avoided curves as I thought they were complicated so I stayed with levels. You made it so simple so will now get on with using curves. Thank you.

  • #15 Medwaylass Medwaylass
    July 13, 2010 4:32 pm

    Great lesson Shane. I have used levels and avoided curves as I thought they were to complicated but you made it all so simple. Thank you.

  • #16 mir mir
    July 13, 2010 12:56 pm

    Thanks. Added more info about curves and their usage.

    May I ask: my Nikon D80 pictures give 300 PPI and the latest Canon 550 D gives 72 PPI pictures. Both are clear and sharp, why the difference?

    • Shane Goldberg Shane
      July 13, 2010 1:29 pm

      Hey there Mir, Good question!

      To be honest I’m not aware that the Nikon D80 shoots at 300dpi straight out of the camera. MOST if not all digital cameras shoot in 72dpi and the resolution is normally in pixels e.g. 3872 x 2592 pixels.

      Eitherway, all you need to do is open up the image in Photoshop go to IMAGE > IMAGE SIZE and then just make sure that you UNCHECK the Resample Image checkbox on the bottom left corner. This will then keep all the pixels straight out of the camera and you can enter 300 if you want 300ppi etc. Hopefully that answers your question. If the Nikon D80 can shoot straight out in 300ppi then i’m sure there is a setting for that but I’ve not seen it before. Normally all done in the software / post production side.

      Have an AWESOME day. Shane

  • #17 Jerry Jerry
    July 13, 2010 12:16 pm

    Thank you Shane, I understand curves a great deal better
    now.

    • Shane Goldberg Shane
      July 13, 2010 12:32 pm

      Hey Jerry, that’s AWESOME!! :) Shane

  • #18 maxholloway maxholloway
    July 13, 2010 12:06 pm

    Great intro to Curves, bravo.
    When are you going to start tutorials on Photoshop CS5?

    • Shane Goldberg Shane
      July 13, 2010 12:32 pm

      Hey there Max, if I start pumping out some CS5 videos what do you really want them on?

  • #19 Lyn Escuriale Lyn Escuriale
    July 13, 2010 11:24 am

    Thank you that was great, now I understand so much more.

    • Shane Goldberg Shane
      July 13, 2010 12:33 pm

      Great Lyn! That’s what’s it’s all about. One step at a time. Line upon line, tip upon tip – before you know it you’ll be a guru!! :) hehe Have a great day. Shane

  • #20 Rosalie Rosalie
    July 13, 2010 10:25 am

    Wow – I’ve used curves a bit but this now adds a level of intelligence that will certainly give me even better results! Thanks Shane

    • Shane Goldberg Shane
      July 13, 2010 12:34 pm

      Hey Rosalie, that’s great! so glad you liked it. Have fun experimenting with it. Keep us updated on your results. Shane

  • #21 chemtrek1 chemtrek1
    July 13, 2010 9:30 am

    So cool to get a little understanding on its use.Thanks that is a great tip.

  • #22 Leslie Leslie
    July 13, 2010 9:05 am

    Absolutely awesome tut.
    Thank you, Shane.

    • Shane Goldberg Shane
      July 13, 2010 9:07 am

      wow! thanks Leslie – glad you liked it!! I’ve got lots more where that came from hehe :-)

  • #23 Larry Larry
    July 13, 2010 9:04 am

    And I thought levels were cool. Wow!

    • Shane Goldberg Shane
      July 13, 2010 9:07 am

      Hey Larry, Yeah Levels are cool but Curves are “Super Cool”!! Have a GREAT day, Shane

  • #24 Gail g_robb53
    July 13, 2010 8:41 am

    Love this tip – thank you!

    • Shane Goldberg Shane
      July 13, 2010 8:52 am

      glad you enjoyed it!! :)

  • #25 Ed Steinmetz 08fotos
    April 11, 2010 4:36 am

    Regardless how advanced, good to keep music in front of me… curves versus levels –
    great to the point video. thanks Shane.

  • #26 Anthony Anthony
    February 28, 2010 8:13 pm

    terriffic,very intersting. thanks a lot

  • #27 MICHAEL MICHAEL
    February 26, 2010 5:06 pm

    Fantastic techinique. I’ve been gambling with the curves after this I’m gonna be better. You’re the best!
    Thats why I dont want to miss the $97 annual membership offer.
    Thanks.

  • #28 Madhukumar Madhukumar
    February 26, 2010 5:45 am

    Thank you Shane, I learned a lot.

  • #29 Kathy Hendrix Kathy Hendrix
    February 26, 2010 12:36 am

    Nice! I just took 24 pics of kids. I will try this before I print them. Thank you.

    • Shane Goldberg Shane
      July 13, 2010 9:08 am

      Great Kathy! and the great thing is it’s NON-DESTRUCTIVE so you don’t have to worry about messing up the original image. ;)

  • #30 Brechtje Wessels Brechtje Wessels
    February 25, 2010 9:53 pm

    WOW What a difference Thanks Shane!

  • #31 Debbie Debbie
    February 25, 2010 9:33 pm

    Awesome Shane. Thanks so much. I didn’t understand how curves works, but now I do.

  • #32 Lyn Duffy Lyn
    February 25, 2010 8:54 pm

    Thanks Shane, have been using curves but now understand the concept much more.

  • #33 Peter Richardson peter4
    February 25, 2010 3:59 pm

    Great stuff. Thanks Shane. Have used Curves before, but to be honest, I was mostly winging it. I have now, thanks to your video a far better idea of how they work and what they can do in Photoshop and other programes

  • #34 Tracy Tracy
    February 25, 2010 3:07 pm

    Great thanks :) I knew a little about curves, but that helps with finer adjustments.

  • #35 Lonnie Lovick Lonnie Lovick
    February 25, 2010 3:02 pm

    Like this better than levels. Much better control.

  • #36 Lonnie Lovick Lonnie Lovick
    February 25, 2010 3:00 pm

    I liked this method better because you have more control in the areas that need adjustment.

  • #37 shekhar sahara shekhar sahara
    February 25, 2010 2:59 pm

    fantastic, presently using CS3

    thanx

  • #38 LINDA WILSON tigger4
    January 29, 2010 9:06 am

    loved it so much better then levels

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