Improve contrast and brightness in your photos.

What you'll need

Note: Stock assets provided are for practice purposes only. See terms.

What you learned


Add a Levels adjustment layer

A Levels adjustment layer gives you a nondestructive way to adjust the black point, the white point, and the midtones in a photo. 

Evaluate the tones in your photo

The Levels controls include a chart, called a histogram, that illustrates the tones in the photo. Learn how to read that chart, and use it to evaluate and improve the tones in your photo.

Set the black and white points

Make the darkest areas in a photo rich black and the lightest areas bright white using Levels Input sliders. This is a quick way to expand the tonal range in a dull photo, adding contrast and drama.

Lighten or darken the midtones

You can also make the midtones in a photo lighter or darker using the gray Levels Input slider. This makes the photo look brighter or darker overall. 

Now you know how to improve the brightness and contrast of your photos with a few Levels sliders!

Get help faster and easier

New user?