Curves vs. Levels: What's the Difference? | Photoshop

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Today we break down the similarities and the differences between two of Photoshop's most powerful tools: Levels and Curves. Learn how Levels and Curves can help you fix exposure, correct colors, and color grade any image. We also break down every option and slider each tool has to offer so that you can choose the one that works best for you.
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[@bogdanfundalinski2185]

Most fantastic thing explained I’ve ever learned. At 74 never too old too learn. I’ll be sure to use this info. Can’t wait!!!

[@marlenymercado4968]

By far, the BEST explanation of curves I ever heard/saw.... Fantastic job!!!

[@frankstone]

The "best" video I've seen explaining the differences between these two tools.

[@powerfultoa7]

I've been watching and trying to understand curves for 5 years and this one has almost all about it that's covered, thank you Nace!

[@simomonster]

Never get enough of learning about curves and levels, most of the time they confuse me . matter of practice . Thank you Aaron for reminding us .

[@seniorcaptain6117]

Excellent video!! You,re an awesome teacher. The best I’ve seen on KZbin

[@lornadielentheis8348]

This was such a great explanation of how these tools work! Thank you!

[@Anonymous-vh6kp]

I learn something new every time I watch Phlearn.

[@CleanLogo]

thats a fact, well spoken & informative

[@joseluisavilagonzalez9626]

PHLEARN is the best channel to learn photoshop. Simply and clear! Fun is a bonus.

[@bl4k334]

Thank you man. I've started working at the Flexographic Printer as DTP Operator and we have to edit the bitmaps send by the clients, especially in way that you've presented in this video. I finally grasp it because of you! Thank you so much!

[@phlearn]

We're so glad this tutorial was helpful!

[@Ben-sg5cq]

Y'all are mind readers! I was literally JUST working on this! Awesome content, thank you so much!! 🙌🔥🔥

[@davebryer6133]

Thank you, I have been using curves for a while but only in a rudimentary way, this will really help me. Thanks once again.

[@cheyennelegerton5383]

so helpful. i like how you kept repeating 'make my blacks darker and make my whites lighter' definitely helped with the learning process!

[@01oin]

Thanks for this video! i've been using levels a lot because curves just intimidated me for some reason, but after watching this i'm excited to try it out and have more control over the color and light!

[@alan3djoseph]

Been using them for years. Never knew about that ✋ tool in the curves editor. Nice!

[@werdnacole]

Brillant comparsion of levels and curves. I'd never really considered that curves did all the same things as levels. I had always thought of them as different tools. Thank you.

[@ecpcharles]

WOW I had no clue curves could do this! Ive been using multiple levels layers + masks to darken/lighten various parts of the picture this whole time!

[@GhananiePhotography]

there's always something new to learn when you watch Phlearn

[@matthewnord91]

your videos are the best! learn sooo much everytime!

[@JasmineApple]

Thank you sooooo much for an awesome comparison of levels vs. curves. This made so much more sense than any other PS class I've taken or video I've seen online. I want to go back and re-edit every single photo I've ever taken now! Pretty sure I could get them to look A LOT better than I did before!

[@wallacemoody8961]

Learned alot frim this video. Thx for sharing your knowledge!

[@KoukosAlex]

You are really good! You know Photoshop in depth and you explain it in a simple way plus adding some of the empirical stuff you can't find in the text books. Thank you!

[@equilibertyconsulting1656]

Excellent work! In depth explanations, excellent sound quality, shortcuts presentation, content selection! Thank you Phlearn for your work, your contribution is enormous!

[@leenhinoul2899]

Great explanation of curves and levels in photoshop. Learned a lot. Thx

[@brycenew]

Excellent explanations, demonstrations and presentation! This is a really excellent tutorial and I'm very happy you made it; thank you so much!!

[@chubbychops1000]

I think your videos are simply wonderful. Thank you so much

[@SpikeAllibone]

I love what you do! - Please never stop! So few people know Photoshop well.... and even fewer know how to actually teach it!

[@eddieoneill8585]

I really struggled with the difference between these two tools before I watched this video. Great explanation and really valuable channel!

[@antonoat]

Clear, concise and accurate easy to follow description as always. Thanks Aaron, have a great day.

[@IIIlllBravo]

curves is the way to go... Its on a different Level

[@speterlewis]

I have to level with you, that was one great pun...

[@Jzeaser]

Peter Lewis touché

[@luizsaha]

Hahhahah

[@javabl3ck]

I see what you did there

[@myMotoring]

da dum tssss

[@xxxyyyxxx9]

You’re an amazing communicator - and fun! 😃 Thank you!

[@fardeenfahim7958]

One of the best explanations out there. Great Job brother!!!

[@paulburwood8231]

Yet another brilliant tutorial, especially as I have never really used either of these adjustments before.

[@matheusempixels]

Such a wonderful tutorial 😍❤️

[@Whateverhasbeenmynameforyears]

Clearest description I have ever heard!

[@cchemmes-seeseeart3948]

Thanks! Aaron Nace is a great teacher, explaining PS with great clarity; sooo appreciated. Awesome video.

[@steveshubert]

Amazing tutorial! I have wondered for a long time (and used both) what the difference was, and your tutorial explained it beautifully! Thank you!

[@MsLaTrau]

Life changing tutorial! Maybe I'll finally start using curves now that I know what the hell they actually are! Thanks Aaron

[@sammiesaxonphoto]

been binge watching Plearn videos today.Good stuff

[@darrylharris9344]

This is the video I have been waiting for. Thanks Phlearn

[@exclusiveinfo7346]

Great Tutorial !

[@StacyChu]

Thank you, but what about press Alt with Auto button in curves to see more preferences of Auto adjustments?

[@thatguypal8598]

Did I really just learn all that for free? Thank's

[@noyb154]

Levels is like having a set of flat chisels. Curves is like having a set of curved and angled chisels. They both carve wood, and if I had to choose, I'd take curves because it does everything levels does and more, if a bit more complicated and inefficiently sometimes.

[@gabyjoa]

Thanks for this video!!!

[@Screamus]

Amazing tut!

[@sheilazart]

WOW, thanks so much Aaron! I watched your video on Levels - awesome! And now I know the difference between curves and levels! Curves have always mystified me. Love your videos Aaron! Happy Holidays! :)

[@fonzireyes]

oh man, the best 14:02 ever spent!! thank you.

[@mikejiang7916]

Thank you Aaron for another great and helpful presentation.

[@TatyanaValdaBelindaHill]

This is so, so helpful! I don't know why I never looked up what the difference is, after all these years. I've instead always just avoided Curves in favour of Levels, because Curves is so unwieldy setting the curve manually. Thank you. 💐

[@phlearn]

thanks for watching and phlearning with us!

[@frankfrank4811]

Great video - Thank You!

[@timeacott]

Fantastic explanation. Very clear and complete. Thanks!

[@zacharyf.9936]

This is such a great video and you explain both so effectively. Thank you for it!

[@computer__eyez]

Wonderful! Needed this knowledge. Thank you.

[@samelogio7441]

Great explanation. This is much clearer to me now. Much appreciated.

[@haideramjad491]

You are the best, Aaron!! Great video!!

[@michaelobrien8219]

really clear explanation and a quality photograph

[@BlueprintBro]

Thanks! So helpful

[@mohammedelaoula1030]

Thank you for this amazing video

[@amirchoudhury7768]

Wowww awsume sir

[@victorrivera6375]

I appreciate those tips. Like the Bowers and Wilkens speakers in the back ground. Great sounding!

[@MikeUIibarri]

Perfect timing for my latest project! Much appreciated.

[@knglouie]

Thank you so much for a new understanding of the tools !

[@Daniel_Ilyich]

This was absolutely fantastic!

[@Igorkoleo1]

God bless you, Aaron for these knowledges

[@akkasbashy]

Thank you very much dear master

[@CARLA19822]

Excellent tutorial! Thank you.

[@DebabrataDas_Bangalore]

Love the way it's all so beautifully explained. 👍

[@pixideal]

Thank you so much I learned a lot from you.

[@SamBassComedy]

This was very cool! Thank you!

[@RomboutVersluijs]

I always use them both, i use levels basically for the WB and then do the more precise control using curves. PS when you select the white and black, if you hover over the image and press alt you'll see a preview of the ultimate white or black point. This is a handy tip to find the correct spots for making wb adjustments. Sometimes it goes wonkers though

[@leongsgp2]

great tutorial. the explanations are good. didnt know there is so many functions with the function :D

[@jonihofmann3318]

Excellent explanation!! Thank you :D

[@peterlution]

Great explanation! Thanks!

[@714JayPP]

Thank you!! Nice tutorial!

[@londonken]

Incredibly useful

[@makatron]

If the overall colour balance it's good info for levels, if it needs fine tuning then curves. It helps if you take a picture of an actual checker card to have a proper reference.

[@loizoschristodoulides602]

That’s a great tutorial. Thank you

[@PaulusS]

Thank you, this tut is gonna help me só much!! 💙

[@adithyasatheesh127]

I've been using photoshop for 11 years now and I used to think, this was it. But i recently had to use the curves tool in Affinity photo to realize how old and limited photoshop curves were. Man they have color space options built right into the curves tool in Affinity photo, LAB, CMYK, Greyscale, all of it . Plus they have vectorscopes with skin tone indicator and RGB parades just to mention a few.

[@bernard00g]

Excellent! Thanks, Aaron

[@cmichaelhaugh8517]

Very helpful! Thanks.

[@blackswordsman9745]

You just earned a sub sir

[@myMotoring]

thank you master!

[@elgordo543]

Great video

[@speterlewis]

Fabulous, ANace.

[@Bro-qr9fz]

Thanks alot ❤

[@JVBLOUIN]

I went to school to learn photoshop and I never understood these tools. ever. And now, I just did

[@phlearn]

We're so glad we were able to help!

[@kenstav1]

This great. Thank you so much 👍👍👍

[@user-ox5wh4mw2z]

So why doesn't Adobe just remove the levels function?

[@hallingszelf]

To bad I could only like this once!!! Thanks!!!!!

[@entheo302]

Thanks!

[@55ija]

Why does adobe photoshop premiere not allow manual curve? Am I missing something?

[@adamsliwa1000]

Awesome, thank you

[@itz4u]

This is a very helpful lesson. Thank you so much. Are you on instagram?

[@phlearn]

You're welcome! You can find us on Instagram as @phlearn.

[@itz4u]

@@phlearn thank you

[@malikdean5509]

Curves > Levels 🤴🏿

[@RomboutVersluijs]

Lots of times the white balance corrections goes bonkers. The way i try to fix and have better control is to use overlay for Luminosity and Color. THat way i can have better control of color or lighting

[@himeccms893]

Curves allow you to manipulate the histogram via the photos while levels manipulate the photo via the histogram?

[@j7ndominica051]

Seems like they kept the legacy Levels around while incorporating everything into the more general Curves tool. Curves used to not have a histogram. I never use the eyedroppers and din't know they adjusted each RGB channel independently. Levels/Curves is good for correcting color casts from scanned paper. The eyedropper (at least in old Photoshop) inherits the averaging area from the eyedropper tool that is accessed from the main toolbar. With a noisy image point sample is unreliable because individual pixels can differ quite a bit.

[@ArekRainczuk]

Who can find the piercings?