Use Auto Tone, Auto Contrast, and Auto Color

Last updated on Sep 30, 2026

Use adjustment layers with Auto options to quickly correct contrast, tone, and color casts in your images.

Adobe Photoshop offers three automatic correction commands that analyze your image and apply tonal adjustments: Auto Tone, Auto Contrast, and Auto Color. Each uses different algorithms to improve image quality.

These automatic corrections work best with photographic or continuous-tone images that need quick contrast or color balance improvements. For precise control over specific tonal ranges, use manual Levels or Curves adjustments instead. The non-destructive adjustment layer method described here preserves your original image data and lets you customize Auto options before applying them.

Apply Auto Contrast for neutral adjustments

Auto Contrast clips shadow and highlight values without adjusting individual color channels, preserving the overall color balance while making highlights lighter and shadows darker.

In the Adjustments panel, select the Levels or Curves icon.

In the Properties panel, Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (macOS) the Auto button.

Under Algorithms in the Auto Color Correction Options dialog, select Enhance Monochromatic Contrast.

Enter clipping percentages in the Shadows and Highlights text boxes. Values between 0.0% and 1% work best for most images.

Select the midtones color swatch to adjust the target neutral gray if needed.

Select OK to apply the correction.

Tip

By default, Photoshop clips 0.1% of shadow and highlight pixels. Lower values preserve more detail in extreme tones, while higher values create more dramatic contrast.

Apply Auto Tone for maximum contrast

Auto Tone adjusts each color channel independently to maximize tonal range. This produces dramatic corrections but may introduce or remove color casts.

In the Adjustments panel, select the Levels or Curves icon.

In the Properties panel, Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (macOS) the Auto button.

Under Algorithms, select Enhance Per Channel Contrast.

Adjust the clipping percentages and midtone target color as needed.

Select OK to apply the correction.

Remove color casts with Auto Color

Auto Color identifies shadows, midtones, and highlights in your image, then neutralizes midtones and adjusts the tonal range. This correction removes color casts while improving overall contrast.

In the Adjustments panel, select the Levels or Curves icon.

In the Properties panel, Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (macOS) the Auto button.

Under Algorithms, select Find Dark & Light Colors.

Select the Snap Neutral Midtones option.

Enter clipping percentages for shadows and highlights.

Select the shadows, midtones, or highlights color swatch to set custom target colors if the defaults don't produce the desired result.

Select OK to apply Auto Color.

Note

Auto Color uses RGB 128 gray as the default midtone target. Adjusting this target lets you compensate for specific lighting conditions or creative color preferences.

Save custom Auto correction settings

Save your preferred Auto Color Correction settings as defaults to use them consistently across multiple images.

In the Auto Color Correction Options dialog, configure your preferred algorithm, clipping values, and target colors.

Select Save as Defaults.

Select OK.

After saving defaults, the Auto button in the Properties panel and the Image > Auto Tone, Auto Contrast, and Auto Color commands use your custom settings.

Apply corrections directly to image layers

For quick corrections when you don't need adjustment layer flexibility, use the direct menu commands. Keep in mind this method permanently modifies pixel data and discards image information.

Select the image layer you want to correct.

Choose Image > Auto Tone, Auto Contrast, or Auto Color.

Caution

Direct image adjustments are destructive and cannot be modified after applying subsequent edits. Use adjustment layers for non-destructive workflows.

For more control over tonal adjustments, learn about Levels adjustments and Curves adjustments.