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Adjusting Image Levels

You can use the Levels tool to precisely adjust the contrast and light levels in your images.

You can save your settings as a preset for future use.

To Adjust Image levels:

In Edit mode, in the Exposure/Lighting group, click Levels.
Do one of the following:
- Set the options as described below to adjust the contrast and light levels manually.
- Click Auto and select a menu option to automatically adjust image properties.
Do one of the following:
- Click Apply to apply your changes.
- Click Done to apply your changes and close the Levels tool.
- Click Cancel to discard all changes and close the tool.

Click Reset to clear your changes and reset to default settings. If you saved your changes, you cannot reset your settings.

Levels Options

Channel	Specifies the brightness or color channel you want to adjust.
Shadows	Specifies the black point of an image. Move the slider or type a number from 0 to 255 into the spin box to define the blackest area of an image. As the value increases, the dark colored areas of the image become darker. You can also click on the arrow to automatically set it to where the black point start in the image.
Midtones	Specifies the midtones in an image. Move the slider or type a number into the spin box to set the midtone. Higher values make the image appear brighter, while lower values make the image appear darker. You can also click on the arrow to automatically set it to the midtone of the image.
Highlights	Specifies the white point of an image. Move the slider or type a number from 0 to 255 into the spin box to define the whitest area of an image. As the value increases, the light colored areas of the image become lighter. You can also click on the arrow to automatically set it to where the highlights start in the image.
Auto	Select one of the following options: Adjust Contrast: Automatically analyzes and adjusts image contrast. Adjust Color and Contrast: Automatically analyzes and adjusts each color channel independently, and then adjusts the contrast. Adjust Color and Brightness: Automatically analyzes and adjusts image color and brightness. Tolerance: Opens the Tolerance settings dialog box. Specify the maximum clipping percentage for black and white levels, and click OK. ACDSee adjusts the image levels automatically.
Black Point picker	Click the Black Point picker, and then click the image area you want to set as the black point.
Mid Point picker	Click the Mid Point picker, and then click the image area you want to set as the mid point.
White Point picker	Click the White Point picker, and then click the image area you want to set as the white point.

When you click around the image with a selected eye dropper you will see the RGB numbers changing to reflect the RGB values of the pixel under the eye dropper. The RGB values represent the source pixel (unprocessed) and the current pixel as it appears on the screen.

You can use the Edit Brush to paint this effect onto specific areas of your image.

You can use the Gradient tool to transition this effect across specific areas of your image.

You can use the Radial Gradient tool to apply effects around, or directly to, a center point.