Controlling contrasts with Color Efex Pro 4

The editing of photos offers a variety of options to optimize the image and enhance its impact. Especially with portraits, such as those of men or characters, the targeted use of contrasts can be crucial. With the plug-in Color Efex Pro 4, you have a powerful tool at your disposal that allows you to control the contrasts in your images precisely.

Here you will learn how to change the brightness contrasts of your image using the “Contrast Only” slider without affecting the colors. This tutorial will guide you step by step through the process to make the most of this feature.

Key Insights

• The “Contrast Only” slider boosts brightness and contrasts in the image while leaving the colors unchanged.
• You can edit contrasts and brightness separately to create a foundation for further image editing steps.
• With saturation sliders and black-and-white options, you can refine your images further.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Select the “Contrast Only” Tool

Start by launching Color Efex Pro 4 and opening the tool. Select the “Contrast Only” tool from the menu. You will see that you can immediately influence the contrasts with the sliders.

2. Adjust the Brightness

In the process of raising or lowering the brightness, the overall impression of your contrasts will also change. Initially set the brightness to a neutral value to see the difference when making adjustments. Experiment with the slider to get a feel for the changes.

3. Increase the Contrast

Use the contrast slider to specifically alter the dark and light areas of the image. Increasing the contrast makes the dark areas darker and the light areas brighter while enhancing the saturation of the colors. Adjust the slider up or down as needed and observe the immediate changes.

4. Soft Contrast

Try out the “soft contrast” slider. When you lower it, you achieve an HDR look where the colors appear blurred together. This option is ideal for making your images softer yet still rich in contrast.

5. Control Saturation

You have the option to increase the saturation of your image. Be careful that it does not look overly bright. It is helpful to take a look at the overall effect of the image.

6. Create Black and White Images

Another exciting possibility is the creation of black-and-white images. Lower the saturation and simultaneously increase the contrasts to create impressive monochrome images.

7. Foundations for Further Edits

The base created by “Contrast Only” gives you the opportunity to apply further editing techniques like dodging and burning. Use the created contrasts as a solid foundation for your creative processes.

Summary – Effectively Control Contrasts with Color Efex Pro 4: A Comprehensive Guide

With the “Contrast Only” feature in Color Efex Pro 4, you gain an effective tool for controlling brightness and contrasts in your images. Remember to utilize the sliders creatively to achieve impressive results. The adjustments provide you with the perfect conditions for subsequent, deeper image editing.