Auto adjusting in PS?

[Aethyr]

I took some shots out in the rain just now (I was standing under a balcony so the camera didn't get wet!!!), and the shots came out underexposed, because it's pretty dark outside. Anyway, I opened them in Photoshop and noticed an auto button in curves, and I kinda like how it came out, except it looks processed. Isn't there any way to get it to auto adjust curves and keep it from looking that way?

Manual curves adjustment. (http://www.red-december.net/rain04.jpg)

Auto curves adjustment. (http://www.red-december.net/rain04_auto.jpg)

[Jesper]

The Auto functions in Photoshop (auto contrast, auto levels, auto curves) are very coarse. They do (almost) not give you any option to influence the way they work. That's why they're called "auto" - they're made for people who don't want to think too much....

I recommend that you forget about auto contrast / levels / curves and do it manually, so that you have much more control over how the final image is going to look.

[colliewalker1]

The Auto functions in Photoshop (auto contrast, auto levels, auto curves) are very coarse. They do (almost) not give you any option to influence the way they work. That's why they're called "auto" - they're made for people who don't want to think too much....

I recommend that you forget about auto contrast / levels / curves and do it manually, so that you have much more control over how the final image is going to look.

There is no argument with this verdict: however, I have been using 'Auto Enhance' by DCE Tools - a Plugin for Photoshop or Paintshop Pro and in my opinion it gives very good results - MUCH faster than trying to do it all manually. This software can be downloaded for what looks like an open ended free trial - I recommend trying it.

[Bodog]

Actually I find a quick "Auto Levels" is a good place to start, and then adjust from there. Sometimes it can be right on (and sometimes horrible).