How to Use the Histogram in Photoshop

[@susmitbarve5374]

thanks its been 8 years since this video and the information it gave is priceless

[@taranbirsingh2927]

Can't believe this video was free. The masking tip shown with the mountain image is priceless. Many thanks, generous youtuber!

[@dpmelson]

I just want to thank you for providing such valuable training. I've been a fan for a couple of years.

[@swimrski]

Definitely a Phlearn Phan! My daughter is in a high school photography class, and in order to help her on the Photoshop aspects of the projects we have gone to these videos over and over. THANK YOU!

[@TheTucsonJeff]

Aaron - This is by far the best video I've seen on understanding and using histograms and levels adjustments. Although it's easy for me to see how a levels adjustment changes the appearance on the photo, I was never quite sure "how" it worked until you quite clearly explained the "holes" resulting in the "stretched" histogram -- and now it makes perfect sense to me (finally!!). Your videos are really informative and entertaining - thanks!

[@COMPILOT1]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS POST ABOUT THE HISTOGRAM. I shot some night shots after viewing this post. Results were beyond better than what I expected. Thanks again.

[@ericmay4262]

You truly have a gift, and I am not just talking photoshop. You do a fantastic job explaining things and helping people add more tools to their photography tool bag. Thanks !

[@ganeshpokhrel3030]

Today I am watching my first histogram tutorial. Thankfully, got lots of confusion cleared. Please do come up with amazing tutorial contents so that freshman can make most benefit of your channel.

[@threeone6012]

No matter how simple the topic is I always learn something from Aaron. Thanks for the zillion great uploads!

[@ERCubed]

I'm just starting out in photography and I am having trouble understanding F-stops and how they're used. Will you explain them for me and the rest of us amateurs I learn a lot from watching Phlearn. Thanks

[@CuttinChris]

that tip on the Marquee tool was a life saver on saving me time. don't need to use luminosity masks as much. very good tip there. came here because I was wondering if the gaps were stretching info too much, was reassured of it and then I walked away with a new tip. thanks!

[@Thunder.X]

I would like you to do in the next episode tutorial - How to Use Vector Mask in Photoshop. Because I'm interested in what it is and what is practical using in Photoshop. I would like to learn more what are the options for editing the layer mask. It would be nice if you recorded the episode.

[@qqueuenstein5616]

Great show as always. One thing I think many struggle with is the difference between what the histogram should look like for viewing on a monitor vs. printing. I find I have to shift the whole thing to the right, much like your first image, in order to print without having too much inky darks. The luminosity of the monitor gives a greater dynamic range, which is lost in the print.

[@Tom_Swiss]

+Q Queuenstein Your monitor and printer are both calibrated?

[@jordreynolds]

Hey, this was awesome - QQ: why do we generally want a 'full histogram'? Is it just stylistic preference? Thank you

[@davidherman1803]

Aaron. When you pushed the histogram sliders to the right at 9:52 you actually revealed a couple of sensor spots. A good little trick to use for clean ups ! ? Thanks again for another amazing tutorial!

[@indigokj]

Loved the tip about the rectangle -- great way to view the change in a specific area, then use the layer mask to finish it out.

[@sammorgen]

THANK YOU! I needed a tutorial just like this for a better astrophotography editing

[@maddiex1x]

Awesome as usual Aaron! Big fan of yours from New Zealand. Please consider doing a tutorial on 8 and 16 bit and the issues around this, there is very little available out there.

[@iimagemelody]

Thank you Aaron...who could teach such ton of tips

[@arijitsinha8233]

Thank you Aaron....this will definitely help me understand the histogram better...Thank you so much...

[@ronaclancy-brewin9729]

You're a wonderful teacher, Aaron. Thank you for yet another very helpful tutorial!

[@DebbyThomasArt]

Best explanation of Histogram I've seen. Thanks!

[@lexiriam]

Great video tutorial. I'm working on starting my own video tutorials, but can't seem to find the right screen capture program to use, on a budget. I've heard of CamStudio, but I'm weary about open source programs; especially when my anti-virus pops up with an alert that it quarantined a virus. Can you recommend any good programs that won't alert my anti-virus when downloading/installing?

[@phlearn]

We use QuickTime to screen capture. It's 100% free.

[@-Whuka]

Great video demystifying a relatively simple principle. Perfect presentation. Thanks

[@hadidjemel1792]

i've been looking for this everywhere fixing a part of an image with selection and levels wow just amazing , thanks a lot you're awesome

[@andreibrahim1802]

Hey Aaron, just a quick question I wanted a ask. Why does the histogram change if you switch the option from RGB to Luminosity? Shouldn't the darks and lights values remain the same regardless of the hue? Please reply back and thanks. Love your videos, quality stuff xD

[@wsrmichael4627]

WOW, Aaron, this tutorial was very good, did not know you could do what you have showed us. Very well done Thank you so much

[@jean-michelargentin208]

Aaron as usual great tutorial buddy😎 You ask if we have an idea for a tutorial-You mentioned getting the histogram right from the camera. What about a part 2 How to use your histogram correctly an adjusting camera exposure to get the best HISTOGRAM the right way. It's just a thought!!!

[@_deepakp]

hey Aaron. I want to learn photoshop. which version will be better for me

[@78thedaddy]

hi, what's the best way to match the colours of the same subject for example two photos of a room that has been taken from different angles. thanks Glynn

[@notman05]

Thank you. This explained very well, what to be mindful of when I'm taking photos. I knew the histogram was important, but I wasn't as mindful of blowing out whites/darks.

[@TheChannel100percent]

Thanks Mate! Learn something new every time!

[@rocklee619]

My friend! Thank you thank you thank you! This video was sooooo helpful ❤

Helpful as always! Thanks, Aaron!

[@alecs3473]

Simple but very useful! Thank you so much, sir!

[@upalpatra5822]

Nice, tut AARON. Thanks a lot

[@ashwelllaudiseverson]

Good Day Aaron Did you like ever edit a 16bit photoshop using the histogram......just a question😀

[@ashwelllaudiseverson]

Sorry correction edit a 16bit photo in photoshop using the histogram

[@deontowle6697]

Thanks Aaron, this was a really useful video.

[@ayoubrh1444]

hi Aaron. Thanks for those incredibles tutorials, I've learned a lot with you. and i wanna ask you more, than please make as a tutorial on street photography editing. thank you phlearn team.

[@DC9848]

More of these tutorials please, really useful!

[@yogeny]

Very useful lesson, thank you.

I just want to say thank you! Although I knew about histogram but your video gave me some new useful things :)

[@BorisenkoAndrey]

Thank you, Aaron. You keep on doing a great thing!

[@KatiasBuzzMedia]

Great info on how to use the histogram! ;) Thank you

[@renzopinedacabrera2903]

Thanks Aaron, great tut, fab as usual :)

[@maharshitrivedi3062]

amazingly presented.

[@herleyy]

Thanks, I finally leard how to read Histogram. But I'll have to look how to use just the color channels separately

[@SirKavalier]

Your tutorials are so helpfull! hug from argentina

[@antonyquigley5219]

camera raw using the adjustment brush can also bring back blown out or under exposed data

[@EmmanuelBecerra]

Thanks for the awesome tutorial! I've always wondered what there histogram was used for, now I know!!

[@Jacob_Roberts]

When I look at an image using a DSLR or using a mirrorless camera, will the image look overexposed or underexposed on the camera screen prior to my pressing the shutter?

[@posthvideo]

Thanks Aaron! Another awesome tutorial! :)

[@Average_Kpopper_Mideko]

Does this work when you editing videos?

[@alannahutt1061]

Wondering if you could help me out. I have a photo of my daughter I took with my iphone7. I brought the PX ratio up from 72 to 200. The photo is underexposed in the foreground where she is and overexposed in the back were the rainbow is =P. Its such a beautiful photo and I reeeeally want to save it. I made a layer mask using the marquee tool and went to use my brush to paint more light over her, but instead of taking the light and painting it out, it's taking the shadows and painting them in??? did I miss a step?

[@ArchitectdoseBlogspotDesign]

*AMAZING TUTORIAL THANK YOU*

[@MrKohlenstoff]

To be perfectly precise, the holes in the histogram do not actually represent lost information. The information is still there, just spread out. When several color values are mapped to the same value though, that's when you do lose information, e.g. when there are spikes as opposed to holes in the histogram where there were none before, or when you move your black or white level to a degree where part of your histogram is cut off.

[@krunalpanchal6137]

amazing tutorial. thanx .sir

[@FiniteBoy]

Awesome training!!!

[@mouniryokan]

great explanation, thank you!

[@cadufecak1745]

what'd you do if the mids was blown out? i have a picture where that middle range is off the top? not the right of hte histogram or the left. but the middle, if the graph is off the roof in the middle? i tried messing around with blur and clone stamp. but i dont know. and how would u take a photo with correct middle range values?

[@jespergomller1328]

Remember: Holding down alt when using the sliders in the histogram gives a visual representation of where in the image and when the image is effected. I always use this when finding e.g. the darkest part of an image.. Holding down alt and using the slider turns the image white, and when parts of the image Drak parts starts to close, the dark side of the histogram the image start to turn yellow/red . on the white it'll show when and where the white it starts to burn out

[@vincesolomito1865]

very well done. thank you.

[@FotomakerAcademy]

Okay I have a (maybe weird) question.... What are the pointy-headed "handles" under the Histogram called? Are they referred to as the Sliders? I always think of a slider as the full bar that some control thingy is pulled across to effect settings changes. Thx!

[@phlearn]

The pointy-headed "handles" under the Histogram in Photoshop are called distribution handles. They represent the tonal range of the image, with the left handle representing the darkest tones and the right handle representing the lightest tones. The height of each handle indicates the number of pixels in that tonal range.🤗

[@FotomakerAcademy]

@@phlearn Thank you! 🙂👍

[@VictorPraizTech]

helped a lot. thanks

[@f0ggy2006]

Brill, well done and thanks.

[@skynesst]

Off course. This helps me so... much!

[@dimitreze]

this channel is too good to be true. what is the catch?? hahaha just kidding! thanks for all the videos! :)

[@jandoddy1773]

Aaron, in this episode you mention "16 bit" versus 8. Can you do a tutorial on that? I think you said to photograph in 16 bit???? Not sure how to set the camera to 16 bit, because aren't most 14 bit RAW? So, you'll need to address converting over to 16 bit. Also, address RAW ~ JPEG 8 or 16 bit. Thanks,

[@GabesGames]

Great video, really needed to learn this under used aspect of PS

[@z8editing]

it would be cool if you can make a video about what's the main tools in photoshop to do our own color corection. thanks for this amazing channel keep it up :)

[@JonathanRayson]

Yes...I'd love to see a follow up on color correcting with the histogram as well!

[@vincentsolon3216]

Thank you so much sir!

[@RomboutVersluijs]

I do keep wondering if the vertical heights represent the amount. BUt somehow i cant image that being correct. I mean if we have a slope which is already to the right, it has white. When the slop is at the top or bottom both have white. But white cant be a lot white or less white?!

[@nikovald]

Great as usual my friend, thanks a lot. Regards.

[@santhoshananthakumar5451]

Really useful video ☺

[@robertshija7288]

Amazing and like Eveliina just said, thanks and God bless you.

[@ooser707]

Your videos are so helpful and inspiring thank you for doing what you do

[@Rastameister]

Excellent !

[@mongui90]

so how does curves works? is it the same as levels?

[@jacobsaldana6209]

thanks very good infor

[@danielgeorgiev4750]

I have a couple of quick questions if you can cover them in a video cause I am very interested to hear a professional PC or Laptop Mac or XP RAM, Video Card and other Characteristics Which, How much, and why?

[@EltonJohnSander]

+Daniel Georgiev I'll try to help you. Right when I started in the graphic design world, I had the same doubts, and here's what I can say: Doesn't matter PC or Mac, they're just the tools, you are the operator. I prefer Windows, because it's good for my workflow. Now, about RAM, video card and etc, that depends; if you want to edit videos and use some 3D, you'll need a better configuration, otherwise, you won't need something much specific.

[@danielgeorgiev4750]

that's a big help .. thank you....it's like .... all the video tutorials i've seen everybody uses mac and I dont like mac ... I was hoping that windows would be just fine ..... good think it is

[@EltonJohnSander]

Glad I could help. :)

[@niek9388]

Does shooting RAW images help for editing the levels?

[@AnimeHumanCoherence]

+niek kern The more control the better, I guess.

[@Tom_Swiss]

Aaron, you don't actually "lose" any information by stretching it. Just dividing that one big gap into many small ones, which looks like a better result then total under/overexposure. No?

[@xanderbrooks8017]

+Tom D I think what he meant to say was you lose quality by stretching the information out. I can see how he got it confused for a second. He's probably thinking about of ton of things while he's talking, messing up is bound to happen.

[@Tom_Swiss]

+Pender C You don't lose quality either. Same logic applies.

[@rolithesecond]

if you hold down alt while dragging black or white point you can see where the exact point you want is

[@Puccbelit]

Good content. Subscribed

[@shahramakshay6427]

thank you so much

[@derschmidtpunkt]

Thanks! This was perfect

[@zlRedemptionlz]

I love you guys

[@MrVangassen]

Very well done! Subscriber earned;)

[@thomaskaarup5461]

Awesome information. Could we get a follow up with eg a 16 bit image of your own that you adjust after.. Perhaps a bit og the shoot too ;) When being as good as you are, we demand more ;)

[@marwanammar9262]

thank you but could you help me to buy touchbad like you

[@Goldmouthperspective]

I thought the height didn’t matter. I was told it’s about rather the data is touching either the left or right side. I thought the height was just the amount of pixels. Thanks for the info.

[@vishnu99777]

Thanks

[@YanivAviran]

Perfect

[@bethanysterritt2802]

Love it

[@RomboutVersluijs]

That warning sign is always there, means you need to update the histogram. When you hover it also says "Uncached data, its not a clipping warning

[@RomboutVersluijs]

PS when dragging the arrows of the levels adjustment layer and you press alt while dragging, you see a preview of the data your retrieving. Thats quite handy for more detailed view

[@fourleafcloverr3135]

Guys i don't find a use for photoshop cc, can you help me ?

[@tclarke971]

And now I know... Thank you!

[@risbill1]

Did the mothership land at 1:27? That was a weird sound.

[@thodorissiorikis8791]

perfect!!!

[@ekamlin]

So, is RAW format 16-bit?

[@ladduro]

No, he meant 14 bit. Only medium format cameras have 16 bit

[@ekamlin]

+ladduro Ok, but is RAW 14-bit then?

[@ladduro]

+Eric Kamlin yes, but you have the in camera option to select it. You can have 14 and 12 bit lossy and lossless compression. At least on most cameras