Why Professionals Use LEVELS in Photoshop

In this Photoshop tutorial, I demonstrate how powerful Levels is in Photoshop and explain how to use it.
Photo by Houcine Ncib on Unsplash
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[@AnthonyMorganti]

In this Photoshop tutorial, I demonstrate how powerful Levels is in Photoshop and explain how to use it. Photo by Houcine Ncib on Unsplash This is me on Instagram: instagram.com/anthonymorganti/ Check out my ALL NEW, iso adaptive, Lightroom Presets -- a HUGE pack of over 500 presets: www.anthonymorganti.com/ ** I am an affiliate for all of the companies listed EXCEPT Affinity Photo. Please read my Code of Ethics Statement: onlinephotographytraining.com/code-of-ethics/ Tap into Adobe's Creative Cloud: bit.ly/2zwQ0nW Anthony Morganti’s MUST HAVE applications: At least one Non-Destructive RAW Editor Lightroom - bit.ly/2zwQ0nW Capture One - captureone.38d4qb.net/y1Djy (Save 10% with Promo Code: MORGANTI10) Luminar - bit.ly/2JUJxKw (Save with the Promo Code AM16) On1 Photo RAW - bit.ly/2zJmA9I (Save 20% with Promo Code: AM17) Exposure X6 - bit.ly/2U8UxrK (Save 10% with Promo Code: AnthonyMorganti) PhotoLab 4: tidd.ly/2HhiN9X At least one FULL Editing App: Photoshop - bit.ly/2zwQ0nW Affinity Photo - affinity.serif.com/en-us/photo/ My MUST-HAVE Plugins: Topaz Gigapixel AI - bit.ly/3cDqa5J Topaz Sharpen AI - bit.ly/3cDqa5J Topaz Denoise AI - bit.ly/3cDqa5J *Save 15% on all Topaz Labs apps - use the Promo Code: AMDISC15 or instead of Topaz Denoise AI: On1 NoNoise AI - bit.ly/2zJmA9I (Save 20% with Promo Code: AM17) Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 - tidd.ly/3dc4gYm My MUST-HAVE Mac Utility: CleanMyMac X - Info: bit.ly/3jtVpU3 To save 10% on your purchase of CleanMyMac X: 1. Visit the CleanMyMac X store: bit.ly/3bEMuMx 2. Scroll down to the very bottom of the page and click on "Enter it now" under "Already have a coupon code?" 3. Paste the promo code TONY10 and hit "Verify" 4. The prices will be reduced, and you’ll be able to select the license and proceed with the payment ** Note that all of the promo codes listed above may not work on sale products. *** I am an affiliate for all of the companies listed EXCEPT Affinity Photo. Please read my Code of Ethics Statement: onlinephotographytraining.com/code-of-ethics/ Please follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/anthonymorganti/ View my recommended gear list: www.amazon.com/shop/anthonymorganti As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I use this software to record my screen and make parts of my screen enlarge and zoom out so you can see it: Screenflow: telestream.pxf.io/DMrW2 Unsure of how to price your photography? Check the 2019 Guide to Pricing Your Photography: amzn.to/2S1CiU7 I am an affiliate for all of the companies listed EXCEPT Affinity Photo. Please read my Code of Ethics Statement here: onlinephotographytraining.com/code-of-ethics/ Thank you!

[@MrMorsecat]

In my opinion, curves is more powerful. You can do everything that you can do with levels, even black point, white point and white balance adjustment. The power of curves is that, In addition, you can finetune every point on the curve individually, which you cannot do if you use levels.

[@speterlewis]

I agree wholeheartedly. I haven't used levels in a long time. There isn't anything you can do with levels that you can't do with curves, and there is so much more you can do with curves!

[@uhorne]

Fully agree as well

[@freetibet1000]

Yes, curves is superior. Also, both curves and levels is not something specific for Photoshop but we will find them in most photo editing softwares today.

[@RussellMcCollom]

Loved it. I learned something about levels that I didn't know. I really enjoy watching and learning from your great explanation of the topic.

[@stevejarvis186]

Thank you Anthony, I much prefer how you start your video now, going back to the good old days of how you used to introduce them.

[@mahdiali6732]

Your channel is all I need from KZbin as an enthusiast photographer. You use Nikon and Fuji and so do I. I need to work on my editing skills in PS and LL and your videos are best in transferring the information; I could easily grasp your tutorials from the first time. Subscribed.

[@DavidVelezPhotography]

Thank you, Anthony! I've started a notebook just for your lessons! To steal from your closing statement: we appreciate you!

[@tobyjugg6202]

BRILLIANT !!!! SO helpful to have such an explanation that gives me new knowledge AND understanding of the potential. Huge thumbs up.

[@kevinconnery1974]

Next step: Going Beyond Levels: the Power of Curves

[@Lykzabet]

Helpful as always. Cheers

[@OlymposGR1]

Excellent tutorial Anthony, thank you very much!

[@grahamegannon9708]

I like these videos on one topic where you explain how to use if to its fill potential. Thanks Anthony.

[@martinpettinger]

Excellent Anthony ... thank you

[@cmichaelhaugh8517]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@jeffreysiegel8890]

Great explanation!

[@sh1209macro]

Great tutorial!

[@groggu]

A great overview Anthony! Photoshop is so full of functionality it’s hard to remember it all.

[@freetibet1000]

Levels and curves are standard tools in most photo editing softwares today.

[@msandersen]

I do all this in Raw; I use levels for the rough black and white point, and sometimes to recover blown out highlights, though mostly use the HDR tool in C1 for that. For any finer adjustments, it’s some Exposure, Contrast and Brightness sliders, and curves for the rest. Colour cast and grading is done separately.

[@freetibet1000]

Thank you Anthony for a good explanation of the Levels tool. In my opinion the Curve tool is a more versatile tool than levels though. Both tools needs to be used with caution since changes in contrasts also effects colours and colour saturation. A way to get around this is to set the adjustment to Luminosity in the layer blend mode. In Capture One curves can be used with the Luma tab to get the contrasts adjusted without effecting colour and saturation. Also, both curve and levels tools are standard tools in many photo editing softwares, not just Photoshop. I know that you know that Anthony, but it may be helpful for other people to know that too, right? Although the eye dropper for white balance function in the PS version may be a more specific addition for that particular software.

[@pbziegler]

I use levels for producing contrast in areas I select with the quick mask brush. And as people say here there are some things I use curves for but not very often. For me, using the quick mask technique to isolate areas I want to adjust and then make the color and/or tonal adjustment with the levels adjustment has always done things easily and produced exactly the effect I was going for..Don't know why more people don't use this technique

[@chordnificent]

very detailed. thanks a lot, new subb

[@BubblesPothowari]

Thank you !!!

[@docguha]

Power of Photoshop...well explained.

[@philipculbertson55]

Seems I often see two schools of thought. Some tutorials teach that curves does everything that levels can do and more. Levels proponents tend to make the same claim. Have you found that you prefer one or the other because of the capabilities or do you use both for different things?

[@ronaldmoravec2692]

never fail WB. Set black & white points on r, g ,& b layers individually using eye droppers. A bit slow but perfect.

[@KenToney]

It seems curves is more powerful?

[@JanWeigangMusic]

Yeah my immediately reaction to the opening sentences as well..

[@freetibet1000]

Yes, Curves is absolutely more versatile. Both curves and levels are standard tools in most photo editing softwares today.

[@jefffiore7869]

The issue I have with Levels is the "comb". the missing data that shows in the window, too many spikes, When I use levels I use it as a coarse adjustment while watching the tonal distribution for a minimum missing data. Ultimately I much prefer curves, more powerful, no problem with spikes generally.

[@carstenthielhelm7121]

Danke!

[@AnthonyMorganti]

Thank you very much Carsten!!!

[@williampage4183]

Thanks

[@AnthonyMorganti]

Thank you William!!

[@j7ndominica051]

Levels is the most basic tool that exists in all decent photo editors for setting brightness and contrast. What do you do in Photoshop if you don't use levels? Lately I've heard that you shouldn't use levels/curves for color casts because it is old and simple.

[@jamesgerboc]

Great video Anthony but life is too short. With great power comes great complexity. Trying to figure out at what point on the curve PS becomes intuitive when you don’t use every function routinely.

[@Atokxn]

It should have been interesting to see the advantages over curves. Because for now everything you showed on this can be done more precisely with curves, so I'm still not convinced of the utility of levels :(

[@owenpeller6471]

I really don’t see the advantage of using levels as compared with the basic panel in light room. There may be advantages but you didn’t clearly explain

[@nakleh]

Levels is curves but with only 3 points of adjustment. Curves basically has unlimited points of adjustment.

[@kunalkher9176]

how to levels the background of a photo in photoshop

[@Ballysadare]

Why no levels in Lightroom?

[@tomlopata]

I wish Lightroom would have a levels tab… seems like it’s more intuitive than curves

[@leniehulse1621]

But curves is more powerful.

[@albertr915]

I agree with you 100%. I wish Lightroom Classic had a Levels tab too. That is the one thing I really love about Capture One Pro is that Levels tab it has. I really hope Adobe add a Levels tab to Lightroom Classic.

[@emrg777]

No levels for me :) Scene-referred all the way.....

[@bobcohen4008]

Map look? Mat look? Matte look? I'm not following what you're referring to.

[@carlosandreviana9448]

If you had to edit hundreds of images from an event, you would stop using levels or curves, fast... Well, actually, I don't even use photoshop. I don't consider it a tool for photographers

[@matcchio]

a lot of yapping but thanks

[@MrUffizzi]

Dont like curves at all.

[@frankwit]

Professionals use Curves NOT levels.

[@BurkenProductions]

Dont need to be experienced to know this. Its kind of self explanatory.