Tiny Levels Adjustment Panel histogram.

The histogram, in the Layers Adjustments Panel in E9, is now only 166 pixels wide. Since there are 256 levels in an 8 bit image about 1/3 of the levels are not shown. In addition to the histogram being incomplete the adjustment sliders are now more difficult to use as they too are reduced in length.
To rub it in, the full extent of this anomaly only applies to the Levels Panel accessed as an adjustment layer. Clicking on Enhance>Adjust Lighting>Levels… brings up something like the old full size, 256 pixel wide panel. Well it nearly brings up a full 256 pixel wide histogram except for the fact that a new, since E7, border round the histogram now occupies the 0 and 255 levels leaving only 254 levels displayed not 256.
Why two different tools for the same job?
Why are both now incomplete?
Why change something that worked?
The image above shows a histogram as displayed in the Histogram Panel and the histogram of the same image as displayed in a Levels Adjustment Panel. A slight change of zoom has introduced some distortion but the wide gaps in the left hand image are as seen in the original.

That's a good idea in retrospect I did put it in the wrong place. I really just want to sound off about E9s "new" features.
I recently gave a talk to my local Camera Club Digital Group on the new features in the Elements 9's editor. In preparing the talk I came across irritating new features and changes that I normally put up with but were becoming a pain as I reworked examples. In the end I had a much longer list of irritating new features than the list of new editing features that Photoshop proudly advertise. It just seems to me that there is an unreasonable number of careless programming errors, if not errors then irrational decisions, that were not features of earlier versions of Elements.
After using Es 2,3,4,5,6 and 7 I just feel that E9 was a rip off Layer Masks or no Layer Masks.

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In PSE9 is there a way to enlarge the levels adjustment panel and effects panel for viewing?

In PSE9 is there a way to enlarge the levels adjustment panel for viewing? The histogram is so small.
I know we can use the arrow keys to change the settings for the histogram, but it is just the overall view of it I would like to see bigger.
I think with PSE8 the effects panel could be dragged out of the panel bin and made longer AND wider, but in PSE9 it can only be made longer when dragged outside the panel bin.
And I think the whole panel bin could be dragged wider or narrower.

not really apart from changing the resolution, but theres a a couple of things you can do
you can change the "minimum font size" in Safari (and other apps) in the General tab - this will enlarge any fonts to the minimum size you specify if they are under that size
the features in the accessiblilty section of system preferences might be worth a look as well
the pinch zoom feature is also useful
unfortunately there isn't a 1-button setting somewhere that can do this, because apps, documents, web pages, images etc all work independently from each other, they use different font types, different zoom levels, etc. You can't just enlarge them all in sync without content getting jumbled up/distorted. if enlarge an app/page/document and get it looking good, on the next one you would probably need to zoom in at a different level for it to look right

Histograms disappear in levels adjustment layer

I made a couple of levels adjustment layers with masks in CS4. Now I want to tweak the adjustment and the histograms are gone. The numbers in the boxes are there and the sliders are there but I can't see the histograms. This has just happened on one file so far but it is aggravating.
Anyone seen this or know how to fix it? I'm on a MacPro with 9GB RAM and 30" Apple monitor.
Thx.

Thanks for the tip R_Kelly. I still think it’s easier to use the sliders in camera raw e.g. exposure, fill light recovery etc.
However a levels adjustment could be useful for a badly exposed image where you want to drag in the extreme white and black points of the histogram.
I wonder how many other Elements hidden secrets are available!

Auto Levels in Adjust Panel

Has anyone noticed that the Ajust Panel in iWeb has an 'Auto Levels' button at the bottom, but the same Adjust Panel in iPhoto 06 does not?
I normally run all my photos through Photoshop, just to use the auto -levels, -color and -contrast tools (I'm slightly color blind, so PS helps me at least be consistent!). This Auto Levels button would be a great thing to see in iPhoto's Adjust Panel, especially considering that iPhoto is the image app in the Suite, not iWeb.
iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4)

Has anyone noticed that the Ajust Panel in iWeb has
an 'Auto Levels' button at the bottom, but the same
Adjust Panel in iPhoto 06 does not?
iPhoto has the Magic Wand button which does the same...

Keeping Histogram and Adjustment Panels Open together

I am assisting a friend who is working with Elements 10 on a laptop running Windows 7. I want her to watch the histogram while making layer adjustments.
I have carefully kept the histogram panel tabbed to the top group. The layers and adjustment panels are not tabbed to that group.
Every time she is making a layers adjustment the histogram panel closes. I can't find a way to have both open at once.
What is causing this?
Thanks.
Mary Lou

Thanks for that suggestion, Brett. Today I spoke on the telephone
with a manager in the tech division. He said that this problem
shouldn't occur. They checked it out and didn't find this problem.
I will check it out tomorrow when I meet a class of people with
elements 10. I will see if the problem is universal or limited to a
few computers. If it is a limited problem the manager suggested
getting Adobe to reset the software.
I'll check back here when I know more.
The reason that this matters to me is that I teach my Elements
students to watch the histogram when making layers adjustments. If
the problem can't be corrected, then they would need to unattach the
histogram panel and let it float. It would be a bit of a nuisance
but worth trying.
Mary Lou

Cannot view histogram in curves adjustment panel

I've tried the Curves Display Options. The show Channel Overlays and Intersection Line check boxes work; the Histogram and Basline boxes do not. I've reset preferences and I'm up to date. Nothing will bring up the histogram in the curves adjustment panel. Any clues please?

Yes Paul, all four boxes in the Show section of the Curve Display Options dialogue box have been checked. However, I now have the histogram working. I reset preferences one more time and restarted Photoshop (yet again). So it seems there must be a preference which disables the histogram display in the Curves panel although I don't know what it is.

Levels adjustment layer in a 16 bits/channel image

Since adobe removed the way i had been adding adjustment layers to 16 bits/channel images from pse 10, i had to try and find another easy way.
Here's the gist of it (if anyone's interested):
1. Open a camera raw image, in the camera raw dialog set the Bit Depth to 16 bits/channel and press open.
2. Duplicate the layer by selecting the move tool, hold down the Alt (option) key and move the image up just a bit (this duplicates the layer)
Select>All, use the align vertical centers and align horizontal centers in the tool options bar. Select>Deselect. (this aligns the layer)
3. Add a layer mask to the layer (the layer mask button on the bottom of the layers panel)
4. Make sure the layer mask is active by clicking on it. (this won't work if the layer mask is not active)
5. Choose the Smart Brush Tool, Nature and click on Cloud Contrast (levels adjustment layer added)
6. It's very important that you switch to another tool before doing anything else or elements is prone to crash.
7. Now hit Ctrl (cmd) +i to invert the layer mask (double click on the adjustment layer to open the adjustments panel)
8. Reset the Levels adjustment layer by clicking on the Reset to adjustment defaults button on the bottom of the adjustments panel.
Now your ready to adjust the levels on your image.
(i the screenshot i actually duplicated the background layer twice and renamed the Cloud Contrast 1 to Levels 1)
You can use this same method to get other kinds of adjustment layers, just try some of the different options in the smart brush menu.

Thanks for the tip R_Kelly. I still think it’s easier to use the sliders in camera raw e.g. exposure, fill light recovery etc.
However a levels adjustment could be useful for a badly exposed image where you want to drag in the extreme white and black points of the histogram.
I wonder how many other Elements hidden secrets are available!

Inspector Levels Adjustment Problem

All of a sudden, my Aperture Inspector hub will not properly display my histogram in the Levels adjustment. All I can see is the bottom 1/2 of the histogram, but not the top where I can choose the Channel. I can see it fine in the Adjustment panel of the main browser. I decided to upgrade from OS 10.7.? to 10.8.2 to see if that would resolve the issue, which it did not. I'm on a 27" iMac, but also upgraded my 13" MacBook which is still working correctly. Any thoughts on what is going on?

Adjustment panel disappears in

I am new to CS4, upgraded from PSE8. WinXP Pro. I am going through "Classroom In A Book" and learning things I really like. Tonight, I start the program and hit Alt-Ctrl-Shift and reset everything. I open up Bridge and start on a RAW photo like I have been doing the last few days. I start with opening Histogram and then go to the Adjustment Panel. If I open LEVELS, I can use that function only as the Adjustment Panel disappears. After completing the task and hitting SAVE, there is no Adjustment Panel to be found anywhere. I have to close CS4 and reboot using the Alt-Ctrl-Shift command and then the Adjustment Panel reappears when I open a photo. I can not find this problem anywhere on the Adobe site...any ideas or HELP out there??? I appreciate anything!

Hi Wroger,
Your mistake is in "closing" the levels window. You are actually closing the adjustments palette.
When you have finished the levels adjustment and want to make another adjustment, just click on the little arrow on the bottom left hand corner of the adjustments panel, and all the other adjustments will be available.
Roger

Levels adjustment layer to only layer beneath it?

How do you apply a levels adjustment layer only to the layer beneath it?
Thanks in advance.

Layer > Create Clipping Mask or alt-click on the separator line between the two Layers in the Layers Panel.

New RGB Tone Curve also a Basic Levels Adjustment?

Adobe Staff: at first I was pleased and then let down about the new RGB Tone Curve feature because I thought it allowed for Levels Addustments - as with so many other photo editing software including Adobe PS Elements where you can squeeze in the left and right triangles to ajust the blacks and highlights and midtones.
I was playing with the Lr4b RGB curve yesterday and - is it correct that it does essentially act the same as "Levels Adjustment" by squeezing inwards the blacks (lower left) and whites (upper right) points?
Thank-you

Yeah, but blacks and whites in the basic panel are better, and usually should be applied after you've appled the others.

PSE8 - Bulk apply level adjustment layer.

I have a large number of slides from the 80's that are severly yellowed/faded. I have created a layer for level adjustment that seems to work well for most of the photos. Is there a way to bulk apply this layer in PSE8?

You need to create a clipping mask. One way, after you make
the levels adjustment layer, is to click on the clip icon on
the bottom of the adjustments panel (highlighted in red below)
more info:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/photoshop/cs/using/WSfd1234e1c4b69f30ea53e41001031ab64-7853a.h tml

When I select a local adjustment, how do I make the new adjustment panel scroll with the default panels

In lightroom, in the Develop module. When I select a local adjustment for example the brush tool or the gradient tool, the adjustment panel for the particular tool comes up in the sidebar where I can make adjustments to these tools (shown in figure below).
Now my question is with this adjustment panel, it seems to be overlaying on top of the other default adjustments (e.g. the "Basic panel" - the exposure, contrast etc.) and when I scroll down on the other adjustments, the brush tool or the gradient tool adjustment panel is always on top and does not scroll with the default adjustments.
I would like to change the setting of this so that the adjustment panel is part of the other default adjustments in the develop module and scrolls with them,
I know this is possible because I've seen videos online where this is the case and my lightroom on another machine does this.
Would anyone know how would I change the setting for this?

It seems to depend on the actual size of the Lightroom window. Just messing around with both LRCC and LR5 on my MBP 15" retina, with a 1920 x 1200 external monitor, and both Lightroom versions will happily scroll the Adjustments panel as well as the others, but only if the size (i.e. height) of the Lightroom window is below a certain level. So on the retina screen, when the display is set to "Best for Retina", the adjustments panel scrolls with the others. But if I change to the native 2880 screen resolution, and expand the LR window to fit, then the adjustments panel does not scroll.
Similarly if I move LR to the external monitor, same thing, i.e. adjustments panel does NOT scroll when the LR window in maximised, but it does scroll when I lower the height of the LR window (seems to be round about the 1600 pixel mark)
It's the same using LR5, and the same on the Windows platform. I suspect it's somehow based on the height of the adjustments panel in relation to the overall height of the LR window, i.e. the adjustments panel does not scroll when there's sufficient overall space in the right-hand panel to allow sight of the one or more of the other tools below.

Pro retouchers thoughts on CS5 adjustment panel?

I've been using CS5 extensively the last few days, I gave CS4 a try too when it came out and I just don't like the adjustment panel at all. I see that the text field can be selected automatically which is a start but I find it takes more clicking around and more tablet pen movements to get what I need done compared to CS3. In CS3 if you are in an adjustment and want to cancel just hit escape and the window and the layer just go away. In cs5 you can command-z or delete until it goes away - but the panel is still open. In CS3 hold option to turn the cancel button into reset was great now you have to find one of those icons at the bottom of the panel. Of course in curves command-clicking set points on the curve but now you need to select the eyedropper? Not more efficient in my opinion. Now whats funny about CS5 if I set an action to open adjustment layers it opens in the old CS3 style windows, which is great but my ususal key commands for adjustment layers don't have function-keys. And if you open an adjustment from the layer stack even if it was made through an action it still opens in the new CS5 adjustment panel. Weird that its not consistent. I just really wish there was a preference to have a choice of either the CS3 or CS4/5 adjustment layers. Its such an important part of a retoucher's day that I find it jarring to completely change this without considering users that might be fine with what worked before. I am curious how others feel? Am I missing something that makes it ok to work with?

Yes, I will repeat what I have said many times on these forums, that the Adjustments Panel is a move backwards. In Particular the modal version of Curves is much easier to work with than the panel version. Placing, and nudging of points, feels cleaner, and graphics refresh is smoother. And the modal panel itself is much easier, less intrusive to slide around and close. Display options are also easier to toggle in Curves.
The panel offers no real advantage for professional use. Anyone who thinks its important to be able to change blend modes and opacity of adjustment layers while altering their values - well lets just say, it would be a fairly good indication of their level of expertise and imaging knowledge, if they seriously think that offers any advantage.
Now whats funny about CS5 if I set an action to open adjustment layers it opens in the old CS3 style windows, which is great but…
Yes, if you use this method you will be working in the best way available now in CS5 and 4 I think. (Actions, and the very useful script that C. Pfaffenblicher has linked to, allowing you to open existing Adjustments modally) - You can assign an F key to bring up the Script (but unfortunately it doesn't work on Vibrance or Exposure adjustments, and I haven't managed to rework it myself yet to include these).
I just really wish there was a preference to have a choice of either the CS3 or CS4/5 adjustment layers
Yes, so do I - its been asked for, and probably not a hard thing to code in.
I'd say there there are so many different levels of Photoshop user out there that many are not going to be bothered, but some of the really high end power users (myself included) have a real problem with an interface that frankly is a giant step backward when it comes to productivity. As far as I can tell, the more advanced you are, the less likely you are to like the direction Adobe is going in.
Yes I whole-heartedly agree with everything PDF says in this post. Perhaps wouldn't go as far as "giant step backward in productivity", but I've yet to meet another experienced Retoucher who thinks the panel is a better solution.

Why is my Noise Layer (with Levels Adjustment) not saving correctly?

I'm hoping this is an easy fix, but this problem has me all twisted...
I have an image built in Photoshop with a Noise layer playing the role of stars on a mainly black background with a Levels Adjustment cleaning up the lighting to dumb it down, but when I go to save the image (in either jpeg or png), that same noise layer bypasses the Adjustment and shines through, distorting the whole image... I simply just want it to save what I have on the screen, but as soon as I go to save, it merges the layers and the noise comes through extremely harsh out of nowhere...
Attached are examples of the difference of before and after the save... (and the "after" save is a bit more harsh than its displayed here, but you get the point)

The top larger image is the "after" I save (.png form), the screenshot within photoshop is the "before"...
I've also tried to the merge layers beforehand as well, but it actually just displays the image as if it were the saved version, with the noise coming through extremely hard. I just didn't save it yet.
I appreciate the suggestion!

Tiny Levels Adjustment Panel histogram.

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