To fix exposure in editing, adjust the overall brightness first, then recover bright areas and lift dark ones, and finally set the black and white points. Use the histogram as a guide. RAW files give the most room, but JPEG files can be improved too.
Read the Histogram
The histogram is a graph of tones from black on the left to white on the right. A tall pile against the left edge means lost shadows. A pile against the right edge means lost highlights. A narrow bump in the middle means a flat, low-contrast image.
- Left heavy: the photo is dark.
- Right heavy: the photo is bright.
- Gap at both ends: the image lacks contrast.
- Touching an edge: some detail may be clipped and gone.
Editing Steps
- Set the exposure slider until the main subject looks right, ignoring small bright or dark areas for now.
- Pull the highlights down to bring back detail in clouds, skin or white clothing.
- Raise the shadows to show detail in dark areas.
- Set the whites so the brightest part of the image nearly reaches the right edge of the histogram.
- Set the blacks so the darkest part nearly reaches the left edge.
- Add a little contrast or a gentle curve if the picture still looks flat.
- Check noise in lifted shadows and reduce it if needed.
Typical Fixes
| Problem | Try |
|---|---|
| Underexposed | Raise exposure, lift shadows, watch noise |
| Overexposed | Lower exposure, pull highlights and whites |
| Backlit subject | Use a local brush or radial filter on the face |
| Bright sky, dark ground | Use a graduated filter on the sky |
| Flat and hazy | Set blacks and whites, add contrast |
Know the Limits
Clipped areas, which are pure white or pure black, hold no detail and cannot truly be recovered. Raising dark areas increases noise, and pulling down bright areas can turn them gray. Make changes moderately and look at the whole image rather than one spot. A slightly dark photo is easier to fix than a bright one, which is why many photographers expose a bit lower for scenes with bright skies.
To prevent repeats, check the histogram on the camera while shooting and use exposure compensation. Small corrections made in the field save time later and give cleaner files.
FAQ
Why is my screen brightness a problem?
If your display is very bright or dim, your edits can look different elsewhere. Set it to a moderate level and compare on another device.
Should I use auto?
Auto is a fair first guess. Always check the result and adjust by eye.
The Short Version
Read the histogram, set exposure, then tame highlights, lift shadows and set black and white points. Use local tools for uneven light and accept the limits of clipped areas.
