Set highlight and shadow target values for press

Last updated on Oct 10, 2026

Learn how to compress tonal range using Levels or Curves adjustments to ensure commercial printing presses can reproduce detail in highlights and shadows in Adobe Photoshop on desktop.

Commercial printing presses can't reproduce detail in the darkest shadows (near level 0) or brightest highlights (near level 255). Compressing your image's tonal range ensures important detail falls within the press's printable gamut. The color management system in Photoshop automatically adjusts output for profiled desktop printers.

Compress tonal range with Output sliders

Select Window > Adjustments.

Select Levels from the Adjustments menu.

In the Properties panel, locate the Output Levels slider below the histogram.

Move the highlight (right) Output slider left to compress the highlight range. Example: If important highlight details sit at level 245 but your press can't hold a dot smaller than 5%, move the slider to level 242 (equivalent to a 5% dot).

Move the shadow (left) Output slider right to compress the shadow range.

Select OK to apply the adjustment.

Note

Avoid using Output sliders on images with specular highlights. Bright reflections meant to blow out to pure white, such as jewelry glints or glare spots. Output sliders will make these appear gray. For images with specular highlights, use the eyedropper method.

Assign target values with eyedroppers

Assign specific printable values to critical highlight and shadow areas.

Select the Eyedropper tool, then 3 by 3 Average from the Sample Size menu in the tool options bar.

Select Window > Adjustments, then Levels or Curves.

Identify the lightest highlight and darkest shadow areas you want to preserve by moving the Eyedropper over your image while watching the Info panel.

Note

Exclude specular highlights, like bright reflections from jewelry, glass, or light sources, which should be clipped to pure white (level 255).

Double-click the Set White Point Eyedropper in the Properties panel.

Enter target highlight values:

CMYK: 5, 3, 3, 0 for average-key images on white paper
RGB: 244, 244, 244
Grayscale: 4%
Brightness (B): 96 (approximation)

Select OK, then the highlight area.

Double-click the Set Black Point Eyedropper in the Properties panel.

Enter shadow target values:

CMYK: 65, 53, 51, 95 for average-key images
RGB: 10, 10, 10
Grayscale: 96%
Brightness (B): 4 (approximation)

Select OK, then click the shadow area.

Adjust values for image type:

Low-key images: Set highlights to Brightness 80–96.
High-key images: Set shadows to Brightness 4–20.

Note

When you click with an eyedropper, Photoshop adjusts all pixel values proportionately. Pixels lighter than your clicked highlight clip to level 255; pixels darker than your clicked shadow clip to level 0. The Info panel displays before and after values.

Additional techniques

Reset adjustments: If you click the wrong area, select Reset in the Adjustments panel.

Target specific channels: Choose a channel from the Channel menu in the Properties panel before setting target values to address color casts or compensate for press characteristics affecting specific inks.

Identify target areas: Use the Threshold command (Image > Adjustments > Threshold) before creating your Levels or Curves adjustment to more easily identify representative highlight and shadow areas.

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