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Depth with Curves

Photoshop Tutorial

Summary:
In this tutorial, we'll learn to create depth with curves. This is especially useful for when you want to enhance a photograph.

Step-By-Step Instructions:
1. Open the image you want to improve:

2. Press Ctrl+M to call curves dialog:

3. Under button "Options" there are three droppers. We'll start our adjustments from them. But before that we'll need to find out the darkest and the lightest areas of your image. While the lightest areas are usually easy to find, the darkest ones can cause a problem if the image quality is really low. In that case you can take this easy step: go to Image>Adjustments>Threshold. Move the slider to the left and you'll see the image disappearing as the slider moves. And here's the secret: the last areas to go are the darkest ones on your image! Take a mental note on their locations, cancel the Threshold dialog and return to Curves by pressing Ctrl+M.

4. Select the black dropper and click on the darkest area of your image. You'll notice the improvements in image immediately:

5. Now select the white dropper and click on the lightest area of your image.

6. Now we'll work with the middle dropper, which will remove overcast color, if we have any. With this dropper selected, click on the grey area of your image (or at least the closest to the grey you can find). It might take few trys before you'll find the point that would be just right for you but it really worth it!

7. Now we can move on to our last step! Click in approximate center of that diagonal line and slightly move it up or down. The trick here is not to overdo it so watch your image changing very close while you making this adjustment.

8. OK the curves dialog and enjoy your new and much better looking image!