You can adjust the brightness of a picture in Photoshop through the Brightness/Contrast adjustment. Here's how:
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Navigate to the Brightness/Contrast settings: In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click on Image, then select Adjustments, and finally choose Brightness/Contrast.
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Adjust the Brightness slider: The Brightness/Contrast dialog box will appear. Use the Brightness slider to increase or decrease the overall lightness of the image. Drag the slider to the right to brighten the image and to the left to darken it.
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Adjust the Contrast slider (optional): You can also adjust the Contrast slider to increase or decrease the difference between the light and dark areas of the image. Increasing contrast makes the highlights brighter and the shadows darker.
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Click OK: Once you're satisfied with the adjustments, click the OK button. The changes will be applied to the selected layer. If you are working non-destructively, you can use an adjustment layer instead. To do this, go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Brightness/Contrast.
Tips for Better Brightness Adjustments:
- Non-Destructive Editing: Consider using an adjustment layer for Brightness/Contrast. This allows you to make changes without permanently altering the original image data. You can always go back and tweak the settings later.
- Selective Adjustments: Use masks on your adjustment layers to apply brightness changes to only specific areas of the image. This is useful for brightening a dark subject against a brighter background, for example.
- Consider Other Tools: Sometimes, brightness issues are better addressed with other adjustment tools like Levels or Curves, which offer more precise control over tonal range.
- Use the "Use Legacy" checkbox: The "Use Legacy" checkbox in the Brightness/Contrast window provides a older algorithm for adjusting Brightness/Contrast. If you're working with old images or prefer the classic look, try it out.
