3. The New Range. By setting new dark and light levels in steps 1 and 2, you have created a new tonal range for the image. Now you will need to adjust the midtones, or the area between the dark and light points. To do this, drag the center slider of the histogram in either direction until you achieve the balanced look you want.

In this image, moving the center slider toward the left adds just enough brightness.

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4. Instant Review

So your image looks much better now, but to really see the difference, hold down Shift to see the original version. Don’t like the results? Just go back and adjust the dark levels, then the light ones, and then the midtones again until you get the look you want. To start all over, click the Reset button at the bottom of the panel and go back to step 1. When you’re satisfied with the edits, click Done. Bonus: You can use the same adjustment settings on other photos by clicking Copy on the bottom of the Adjust panel. Then select another photo to edit, open the Adjust panel, and click Paste.

Shift takes you back momentarily, but to really start over, click Reset.

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Reduce or Intensify Colors

The Adjust panel now features three more controls that let you easily correct the colors in a photo. Here’s a quick overview of what each of them does.

Saturation. This slider adjusts the color intensity. Move the slider bar to the left to mute the colors or to the right to make them really stand out.

Temperature. This control adjusts the coolness or warmth of the colors in a photo. Slide the bar to the left for cooler, bluer tones or to the right for warmer, golden tones.

Tint. This adjusts the overall color cast in a photo, and is a handy way to correct colors that are not true to life. Move the slider bar to the left for more red tones and to the right for more green tones.

Move the Saturation slider to the left to mute the colors for a more vintage, washed-out look.

Is it getting hot in here? Make colors pop by moving the Temperature slider to the right and fiddling with the Tint slider to tweak the color cast.

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