How do I change contrast in Photoshop?

To change the contrast in Photoshop, you can use the Brightness/Contrast adjustment. Here's how:

1. Open your image in Photoshop.

2. Navigate to the Image Menu: In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click on "Image."

3. Select Adjustments: From the "Image" menu, choose "Adjustments."

4. Choose Brightness/Contrast: In the "Adjustments" submenu, select "Brightness/Contrast." This will open the Brightness/Contrast dialog box.

5. Adjust the Contrast Slider: In the Brightness/Contrast dialog box, you'll see two sliders: "Brightness" and "Contrast."

   • To increase contrast: Drag the "Contrast" slider to the right. This will make the lighter areas of your image lighter and the darker areas darker, creating a more dramatic difference between them.
   • To decrease contrast: Drag the "Contrast" slider to the left. This will reduce the difference between light and dark areas, making the image appear flatter and more muted.

6. Adjust the Brightness Slider (Optional): The "Brightness" slider controls the overall lightness or darkness of the image. Adjust this if needed to fine-tune the overall appearance.

7. Click OK: Once you are satisfied with the contrast and brightness levels, click "OK" to apply the changes to your image.

Important Considerations:

• Non-Destructive Editing: For a more flexible workflow, consider using an Adjustment Layer instead of directly adjusting the image layer. To do this, go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Brightness/Contrast. This allows you to modify or remove the adjustment later without permanently altering your original image.

• Other Contrast Tools: Photoshop offers several other ways to adjust contrast, including:

  • Levels: Provides precise control over tonal range.
  • Curves: Offers the most flexible and powerful control over contrast and color.
  • Exposure: Primarily used for adjusting the overall exposure of an image, but can also impact contrast.

• Presets: Some Brightness/Contrast dialog boxes (especially in newer versions of Photoshop) may offer presets to quickly apply common contrast adjustments.