Adjust duotone ink curves

Last updated on Oct 2, 2026

Learn how to control how each ink is applied across tonal ranges by adjusting its duotone curve in Adobe Photoshop on desktop.

Each ink in a duotone image uses a separate curve to map grayscale values to ink percentages. This procedure applies to duotone, tritone, and quadtone images.

  • Convert the image to Duotone mode.
  • Select the ink colors in the Duotone Options dialog box.
  • Use an 8-bit grayscale image before converting to Duotone mode.

Adjust duotone ink curves

Select Image > Mode > Duotone.

In the Duotone Options dialog box, select Preview to view changes as you work.

Select the curve box next to the ink that you want to modify.

In the Duotone Curve dialog box, adjust the curve by doing either of the following:

  • Drag a control point on the graph to change ink distribution.
  • Enter percentage values in the text boxes for precise control.

Photoshop automatically calculates intermediate values between control points as you adjust the curve.

Repeat the adjustment for additional inks when working with tritone or quadtone images.

Select Save to save the custom curve for future use.

Select Load to reuse a saved duotone curve or a curve created in the Curves dialog box.

Select OK to apply the changes.

Lower the value in the 100% text box to reduce ink density in shadow areas. To verify the ink percentages that will print, set the Info panel readout mode to Actual Color.