Levels: Getting the Professional 'Pop'

[autofocus]

I wanted to ask, when you process a photo, which do you use first, the Levels Adjustment, or the RAW processor?

Mark, Lee has been MIA for some time now, so please let me answer your question. It all starts with RAW processing where you are converting the RAW digital data into something workable. RAW is the data that makes the image, however, it's not an image. So, before you can do anything with this data it needs to be converted into something that's viewable, as in the case of a JPEG or a TIFF, etc. The process of converting this RAW file allows you to make some preliminary editing adjustments to the file, and this process is usually followed by opening up the photo in Photoshop enabling you to do some "finishing touches" on that file if needed. It is now that you can use the Levels tool described by Lee.
So,
(A) you first process the RAW data into a workable file
and
(B) do whatever additional edits needed in Photoshop (or any other photo editing tool)

Or are these two basic steps in a more elaborate process?

Yes

[tokyomark]

Hi Vince,

It's crystal clear. Thanks very much!

I guess I'll try to get a handle on these basic steps first and then venture out to the more advanced stuff.

Mark

P. S. Love your car work!

[autofocus]

P. S. Love your car work!

Thanks so much, Mark, much appreciated

[OutdoorCanvas]

Cool! I just did this for the first time based on this tutorial and man WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT!!!! The color, detail & contrast is so much sharper, brighter & deeper and overall it just Pops. Perhaps I could make even better adjustments but this was my first try and it took all of about 5 minutes to do. I'll have to practice with this option more. I might of over-done this one but I can see how you can really improve your photos doing this.

I don't have PS. I have Corel Photo Pro X3 and I figured out it does have the same basic options for doing this. I make three changes to my stock jpg.

First: Under the "Enhance Photo" tab I selected "Local Tone Mapping" and adjusted that.

Second: I selected "New Adjustment Layer" and adjusted the "Levels" per this tutorial.

Third: I cropped out some of the clouds on the top of the photo.

And here is my before & after picture. Now that I've done this for the first time I don't think I'll be happy with any of my stock untouched photos moving forward. I'll want to do this to all of them.

Stock Untouched Photo


Revised Photo

[ccting]

LeeR looks like my previous Prime Minister..

[Scarlet]

It has made a brilliant difference, thank you for sharing your knowledge.