Start with Exposure

Adjust the exposure to get the overall brightness right. Don't worry about details yet—just aim for a balanced light level.

Balance Highlights and Shadows

• Bring down highlights if bright areas are blown out (like clouds or bright clothing).
• Lift shadows if details are lost in darkness (like faces or backgrounds).

Fine-tune with Contrast

After adjusting brightness, add contrast to make the image pop. This helps separate elements and improves definition.

Adjust Color

• Use warmth and tint to fix color balance and set the emotional tone.
• Boost saturation only if you need a more dramatic look (use sparingly).

Review and Tweak

Go back and forth—these tools interact! Increasing contrast might affect how shadows look, and changing saturation might shift your perceived warmth.