How do I use curves?

[Malok]

I use Capture One to process my RAW files and use most of the features, but I still haven't figured out exactly what the "curves" tool does. The help file doesn't provide any information about this and although I have played with it, I am not sure how to make use of it.

Any suggestions or links would be much appreciated!

Malok

[ohenry]

Check this site: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/command_primer.shtml

[scottbergerphoto]

Check this site: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/command_primer.shtml
Excellent link. I read that a few weeks ago and then started experimenting with Curves. It's like Levels on anabolic steroids.
Scott

[vvizard]

Always been curious about this tool, and I love the levels-tool, but would wish I could use different levels on different part of pictures. Possible with a whole lot of selection/levels steps, but I think curves can solve this. If I only could get myself into learning it..

well, thanks for the URL, I'll read it now :)

[Malok]

Terrific link! Thanks for all the help!

Malok

[ohenry]

Always been curious about this tool, and I love the levels-tool, but would wish I could use different levels on different part of pictures. Possible with a whole lot of selection/levels steps, but I think curves can solve this. If I only could get myself into learning it..

well, thanks for the URL, I'll read it now :)

That's EXACTLY the function of curves. If you open a curves adjustment layer use option click (Mac) or Alt click (Windows) to change it to a 10 X 10 grid instead of the default 4X4. The lower right end of the curve affects the shadows, the middle section the midtones, and the upper section the highlights. You can lock the points by clicking on them, then you can pull the selected areas you want to adjust without affecting the rest of the curve.

[vvizard]

Always been curious about this tool, and I love the levels-tool, but would wish I could use different levels on different part of pictures. Possible with a whole lot of selection/levels steps, but I think curves can solve this. If I only could get myself into learning it..

well, thanks for the URL, I'll read it now :)

That's EXACTLY the function of curves. If you open a curves adjustment layer use option click (Mac) or Alt click (Windows) to change it to a 10 X 10 grid instead of the default 4X4. The lower right end of the curve affects the shadows, the middle section the midtones, and the upper section the highlights. You can lock the points by clicking on them, then you can pull the selected areas you want to adjust without affecting the rest of the curve.

And who said I use either Photoshop or Mac/Win? :-P I'm using Gimp on Linux for image-processing. Anyway, the curve-tool is almost identical with photoshop's, and it was no problem adopting the tutorial to work on Gimp's curve-tool. This was GREAT =D I can't understand why I didn't look into this subject loooooooong time ago! Thanks for the link! :)

[Freestyle]

Exactly vvizard. I use both Gimp and Photoshop. I have been able to do almost everything in Gimp that I can do in Phostoshop. And Gimp is FREE


And who said I use either Photoshop or Mac/Win? :-P I'm using Gimp on Linux for image-processing. Anyway, the curve-tool is almost identical with photoshop's, and it was no problem adopting the tutorial to work on Gimp's curve-tool. This was GREAT =D I can't understand why I didn't look into this subject loooooooong time ago! Thanks for the link! :)