01
Light
Exposure
Set the overall brightness and tonal starting point.
Adjustments
EVERY ADJUSTMENT
A complete set. Clearly organized.
Correct the source first, then shape light, tone, color, and detail. Each control does one job and remains easy to understand.
02
Light
Brilliance
Reveal balanced detail across highlights, midtones, and shadows.
03
Light
Highlights
Recover or brighten detail in the lightest areas.
04
Light
Shadows
Open darker detail or deepen shadows for more weight.
05
Light
Contrast
Increase or soften separation between light and dark.
06
Light
Brightness
Lift or lower the visible midrange with a gentler response.
07
Tone
Black Point
Set where the darkest useful information becomes pure black.
08
Tone
Whites
Set the brightest white point without moving every tone.
09
Tone
Blacks
Anchor the darkest point and control the image’s depth.
10
Color
Warmth
Move the white balance between cooler and warmer light.
11
Color
Tint
Correct or style the green-to-magenta balance.
12
Color
Saturation
Change the overall intensity of every color.
13
Color
Vibrance
Lift quieter colors while protecting stronger tones.
14
Detail
Clarity
Increase local definition through the midtones without harsh edges.
15
Detail
Texture
Reveal or soften fine surface detail independently of overall contrast.
16
Detail
Dehaze
Cut through atmospheric haze or add a softer veil to the frame.
17
Detail
Definition
Strengthen local structure and shape without changing the full tonal range.
18
Detail
Noise Reduction
Smooth unwanted digital noise while protecting important edges.
19
Detail
Sharpness
Add controlled edge definition for a clean final result.
Build the base
Set exposure and white balance first. Every later decision becomes easier when the source is stable.
Shape the image
Move through light, tone, and color in that order, changing only what the photograph needs.
Finish with detail
Add definition, noise reduction, and sharpness last so texture stays natural and intentional.
FINISH THE FRAME
Add the final character.
Vintage color, fade, bloom, film response, and grain form the final creative layer after the core correction is complete.
01
Finish
Vintage
Introduce aged color, softened contrast, and a nostalgic photographic character.
02
Finish
Fade
Lift the deepest blacks for a softer, lower-contrast film curve.
03
Finish
Bloom
Spread bright highlights gently for a luminous optical glow.
04
Finish
Filmation
Blend a coordinated film-style response into color, light, and contrast.
05
Finish
Grain
Add tactile film texture and control how strongly it lives in the image.
Protect the photograph
Finish only after exposure, white balance, and tonal structure feel resolved.
Add one clear character
Use texture and optical effects with restraint so the subject remains the first thing you notice.
Judge at export size
Check grain, sharpness, and edge treatments at the size where the image will actually be seen.