Image and Color Adjustments

Objectives

Understand the Importance of Image Adjustments – Students will learn why image and color adjustments are essential in graphic design and photography.

Identify Key Photoshop Adjustment Tools – Students will recognize and differentiate between tools such as Brightness/Contrast, Levels, Curves, Hue/Saturation, and more.

Apply Non-Destructive Editing Techniques – Students will practice using adjustment layers to make reversible edits.

Enhance and Manipulate Images Effectively – Students will apply multiple adjustment tools to improve image quality and achieve desired visual effects.

Analyze the Impact of Adjustments on Design – Through critique and discussion, students will evaluate how different color adjustments change the mood and composition of an image.

The Levels Tool

One of the first things to consider when correcting color in an image is the tonal range. The tonal range refers to the range of light and dark tones in an image. The Levels tool in Photoshop allows you to adjust the tonal range by adjusting the shadows, midtones, and highlights. To access the Levels tool, go to Image > Adjustments > Levels:

The Levels tool has a histogram that shows the distribution of tones in an image. The left side of the histogram represents the shadows, the middle represents the midtones, and the right side represents the highlights. By dragging the sliders under the histogram, you can adjust the tonal range of the image.

The Curves Tool

The Curves tool is similar to the Levels tool, but it gives you more control over the tonal range of an image. It allows you to adjust the tonality of the image by creating a curve. To access the Curves tool, go to Image > Adjustments > Curves.

Hue & Saturation

The Hue/Saturation tool allows you to adjust the hue, saturation, and lightness of an image. The hue refers to the color, the saturation refers to the intensity of the color, and the lightness refers to the brightness of the color. To access the Hue/Saturation tool, go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation.

Color Balance

The Color Balance tool allows you to adjust the overall color balance of an image by adjusting the amount of cyan, magenta, and yellow. To access the Color Balance tool, go to Image > Adjustments > Color Balance.

Selective Color Tool

The Selective Color tool allows you to adjust the color of specific colors in an image. For example, you can use the Selective Color tool to adjust the color of the reds in an image without affecting the other colors. To access the Selective Color tool, go to Image > Adjustments > Selective Color.

Color Lookup Tool

The Color Lookup tool allows you to apply color grades to an image using predefined lookup tables. Lookup tables are pre-made sets of color adjustments that can be applied to an image to give it a specific look or feel. To access the Color Lookup tool, go to Image > Adjustments > Color Lookup.

Materials Needed:

Computers with Adobe Photoshop installed
Sample images for practice (provided by the teacher or self-sourced)
Projector or screen for demonstration
Student notebooks or digital note-taking tools

Lesson Outline:

1. Introduction to Image and Color Adjustments (15 minutes)

Brief discussion on the importance of color correction and image enhancement in design.
Explain different adjustment tools in Photoshop, such as:
- Brightness/Contrast
- Levels
- Curves
- Hue/Saturation
- Color Balance
- Vibrance
- Selective Color
Show before-and-after examples of images enhanced using these tools.

2. Demonstration of Photoshop Adjustments (20 minutes)

Live demonstration of how to use each tool effectively.
Explain how to use adjustment layers instead of direct edits for a non-destructive workflow.
Showcase how different adjustments impact the mood and composition of an image.

3. Guided Practice (30 minutes)

Students will follow along and apply different adjustment tools to provided images.
Assign specific tasks such as:
- Adjusting brightness and contrast for better exposure.
- Using hue/saturation to create different moods.
- Adjusting levels and curves to enhance shadows and highlights.
- Experimenting with selective color to make elements pop.
Encourage students to take notes and ask questions.

4. Independent Application (15 minutes)

Students will select one of their own images or a provided image and apply at least three different color adjustments.
They will document their process, noting the tools used and why they chose specific adjustments.

5. Presentation and Critique (10 minutes)

Volunteers will share their edited images with the class.
Class discussion on how color adjustments changed the visual impact of the images.
Provide constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Assessment:

Participation in the guided practice.
Successful application of at least three image adjustments in their independent work.
Written reflection or verbal explanation of their choices.

Homework/Extension Activity:

Students will find an old or low-quality image and apply color corrections to improve it.
They will submit a before-and-after comparison along with a brief written explanation of their adjustments.

Conclusion:

This lesson introduces students to essential Photoshop adjustment tools, allowing them to refine their skills in digital image enhancement. By the end of the lesson, students will have a practical understanding of how color and tonal adjustments affect the overall quality and mood of an image.

Assessment

Image and Color Adjustments

Standards Addressed

Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS) Standards:

Computing and Society (CAS):
- CAS.a – Safety and Security: Students demonstrate responsible use of technology and an understanding of ethics and laws related to digital information.
  doe.mass.edu
Digital Tools and Collaboration (DTC):
- DTC.a – Digital Tools: Students use digital tools to create, modify, and publish multimedia artifacts.
  doe.mass.edu
Computational Thinking (CT):
- CT.b – Abstraction: Students identify and create models and simulations to solve problems.

Massachusetts Visual Arts Standards:

Creating:
- Anchor Standard 2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Presenting
- Anchor Standard 5: Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
Responding:
- Anchor Standard 7: Perceive and analyze artistic work.

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