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Contrast
Dragging the contrast slider in the + direc-
tion heightens the difference between high-
lights and shadows in the image, increasing
contrast. Dragging the slider in the – direc-
tion decreases the difference between light
and dark portions of the image, lowering con-
trast. A value for contrast between –100 and
+100 can be entered in the text box to the
right of the slider.
Brightness
The brightness slider adjusts brightness for
the entire image. Dragging the brightness
slider in the + direction brightens all the col-
ors in the image. Dragging the slider in the –
direction darkens all the colors in the image.
A value for brightness between –100 and
+100 can be entered directly in the text box
to the right of the slider.
Reference: The Tool Chest
Item
Description
Color Balance
The Color Balance palette offers simple controls for adjusting
overall brightness, contrast, and color balance for the entire
image. Unlike the Curves palette, the Color Balance palette
does not allow you to make changes that affect only a portion
of the tone range.
The controls available in the Color Balance palette are detailed
below. Note that when the selected color model is “grayscale,”
the Color Balance palette contains only brightness and contrast
controls, while when “CMYK” is selected the palette contains a
slider for each of the cyan, magenta, yellow, and black channels
in addition to brightness and contrast controls.
Changes to color balance are only apply when the check-box at
the top left of the Color Balance palette is checked. When this
box is checked, changes will be visible in the image being edited.
The box can be checked and unchecked for a quick “before-
and-after” comparison, allowing you to see whether changes to
color balance are having the desired effect.
