Input Sliders

The sliders directly below the histogram contain the Input Levels controls. Use these controls to set the range of color values in the image.

• The white slider on the right sets the maximum value for the range.
• The black slider on the left sets the minimum value for the range.
• The gray slider in the middle changes gamma in the same way as gamma is changed in the Basics controls.

You can use the Input Levels controls to increase the contrast in the image. For example, if you set the minimum value to 50, pixels with color values less than 50 are remapped to 0 (black). Pixels with color values greater than 50 are remapped to the appropriate color.

If you set the maximum value for the range to 150, pixels with color values greater than 150 are remapped to 255 (white). This brightens the image and increases the contrast in the shadow areas.

You can also set the maximum and minimum limits for the color range by entering the values directly in the Maximum and Minimum fields on either side of the histogram.

Note: Input levels increase contrast (remap more grays to blacks and whites), while output levels decrease contrast (remap more blacks and whites to grays). If you have a clip that requires some softening of color or tone, the output levels may be able to re-introduce some midtones to your clip.

When you move the right or left sliders, the middle gray slider always maintains an equal distance from both of the others. However, you can also move the gray slider independently, right or left, giving more weight to the distribution of shadows or highlights respectively.

Example: To increase contrast with the Input sliders:

1. Click the Histogram button in the Color Correction Controls panel to display the histogram.
2. Click the Master, Shadows, Midtones, or High-lights button to select the areas of the image that you want to modify.
3. Click the RGB, Red, Green, or Blue button to se-lect the channel that you want to work with.
4. Do one of the following:
• Position the cursor on the black slider below the histogram. Adjust the level until the value that you want to use as the lower limit for the color range appears in the Minimum field. This darkens the shadow areas.
• Position the cursor on the white slider below the histogram. Adjust the level until the value that you want to use as the upper limit for the color range appears in the Maximum field. This increases the brightness in the highlight areas.

Note: You can invert the image by reversing the position of the black and white sliders.

5. To cancel the changes, click the Reset button.