How do you create custom presets for curves and levels to speed up your workflow?

2 How to use curves for photo editing

To use curves for photo editing, you need to add a curves adjustment layer to your photo. You can do this by clicking on the adjustment layer icon at the bottom of the layers panel and choosing curves. You will see a graph with a diagonal line that represents the curve. You can click and drag on the line to create anchor points and shape the curve. You can also use the eyedropper tools to set the black point, white point, and gray point of the curve. By changing the shape of the curve, you can adjust the brightness and contrast of your photo in different ways. For example, you can create an S-shaped curve to increase the contrast, a U-shaped curve to decrease the contrast, or a reverse S-shaped curve to create a faded look.

3 How to use levels for photo editing

To use levels for photo editing, you need to add a levels adjustment layer to your photo. You can do this by clicking on the adjustment layer icon at the bottom of the layers panel and choosing levels. You will see a histogram that shows the distribution of the pixels in your photo. You can drag the sliders below the histogram to set the black point, white point, and midtone values of the levels. You can also use the eyedropper tools to set the black point, white point, and gray point of the levels. By changing the values of the levels, you can adjust the brightness and contrast of your photo in different ways. For example, you can move the black point slider to the right to make the shadows darker, move the white point slider to the left to make the highlights brighter, or move the midtone slider to adjust the overall brightness.

4 How to create custom presets for curves and levels

One of the benefits of using curves and levels for photo editing is that you can create custom presets for them. Presets are saved settings that you can apply to any photo with one click. They can help you save time and create consistent results. To create a custom preset for curves or levels, you need to first adjust the curve or level to your liking. Then, you need to click on the menu icon at the top right corner of the adjustment layer panel and choose save preset. You can name your preset and save it in a location of your choice. To apply a custom preset to another photo, you need to add a curves or levels adjustment layer and then click on the menu icon again and choose load preset. You can browse and select your preset and apply it to your photo.

5 How to use custom presets for curves and levels

Once you have created your custom presets for curves and levels, you can use them for any photo that needs similar adjustments. For example, if you have a preset that enhances the colors and contrast of your landscape photos, you can use it for any landscape photo that you want to edit. To use your custom presets for curves or levels, you need to add a curves or levels adjustment layer to your photo and then click on the menu icon at the top right corner of the adjustment layer panel and choose load preset. You can browse and select your preset and apply it to your photo. You can also fine-tune your preset by adjusting the curve or level manually if needed.

6 How to manage your custom presets for curves and levels

If you have created many custom presets for curves and levels, you may want to organize and delete the ones that you don't need. To manage your custom presets, go to the presets folder in your image editing software. For Photoshop, this is Edit > Presets > Preset Manager > Curves or Levels. For Lightroom, it's Edit > Preferences > Presets > Show Lightroom Presets Folder > Curves or Levels. In the presets folder, you can rename, move, or delete your custom presets and create subfolders to categorize them by theme, style, or purpose.