Free Online Classes

Learn how to correct exposure without clipping highlights or shadows. This Photoshop technique uses layer masks to prevent highlights and shadows from being blown out.

Correct Brightness Photoshop Tutorial

Step 1

Begin by opening any photo that you like that is either underexposed or overexposed. In the photo below, the image was underexposed to preserve the details of the wedding dress. The photo needs to be brightened so that the skin doesn't look too dark but without washing out the details in the wedding dress.

Step 2

Begin by adding an adjustment layer to brighten the image.  We'll make use of this step to introduce to you the Curves tool. The Curves tool is a great way of brightening images and some say it is better than using the Levels tool.

You can either add a Levels or Brightness and Contrast adjustment layer to brighten the image. However, if you've never used the Curves tool, add a Curves adjustment layer. In the Layers palette, click on the new adjustment layer button and a menu will appear. In the menu, select Curves.

Now a Curves window will appear with what looks like a graph. Adjusting the exposure is easy with the curves. Start by clicking on the middle of the line to create a point. To brighten the image, click and drag that point towards the top left corner create an arch. To darken the image, click and drag the point towards the bottom right corner.

Some details may be clipped so in the next step, we'll work on the layer mask of this adjustment layer to restore the details in those clipped areas.