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How to Use the Lightroom Tone Curve Panel

The Tone Curve panel in Lightroom is a powerful way to control the look and feel of your image. If you’re like me, you know that you can create good images while entirely bypassing the Tone Curve panel. My portfolio is full of images that never had a single adjustment in the Tone Curve panel. Maybe you’ve even purposefully avoided the panel because it seems complicated. After reading this article and with a little practice, you’ll use the Tone Curve with confidence to make your images even better.

Think of the Tone Curve panel in two ways: 1. A way to expand your control of the Highlights and Shadows (and therefore the Contrast) sliders in the Basic Panel, and 2. A way to control the color processing of your image. The second way is different than the HSL/Color Panel. The HSL/Color panel maintains the integrity of each hue, whereas the Tone Curve panel allows you to change how colors are represented in the photo.

Getting Started

When you first scroll to Tone Curve (or click it open if you follow the advice to right-click the panels and check “solo mode” so that only one panel is open at a time), you’ll see a square with a solid white diagonal line and a soft-gray graph that closely mirrors your histogram. The white line is the “tone curve.” That’ll be the line you adjust as you play with the tone curve.

Right below the tone curve graph you’ll see the tone “Channel” as well as the four choices: RGB, Red, Blue, and Green. Keep it set to RGB for now. I’ll talk about the four options in a little bit.

When you move the tone curve, you’ll see a dotted line exactly where the original line occurred; that’s your neutral reference for the tone curve. Anything on that dotted line means you haven’t changed the tone in that part of the photo. When the tone curve moves above the dotted line, you’re making that part of the photo lighter. When the tone curve moves below the dotted line, you’re making that part of the photo darker.

“That part of the photo” is where the Tone Curve panel might seem confusing at first. You have to consider the tone curve line, the dotted line representing neutral, and the soft-gray histogram all at once. Not to worry! Click the little box with a curved-line-and-dot in the bottom right corner of the Tone Curve panel. Region sliders will open for highlights, lights, darks, and shadows. When you hover your mouse over each slider, you’ll see a white oval that reveals the tones you are adjusting.

When you hover over the “highlights,” you’re adjusting the only lightest part of the tone curve, which occurs on the right side of the box/histogram. The “lights” adjusts the tones from the middle to the brightest. “Darks” adjust from the middle to the darkest. “Shadows” adjust only the darkest part of the tone curve, which occurs on the left side of the box/histogram. In easy terms, the left side of the tone curve is the darkest parts of the image and the right side is the lightest parts. It’s easier to see for yourself rather than to read, so go play with the sliders in an image that has a histogram that goes from light to dark.

Let’s pause and think about that soft-gray histogram a little more. Remember, when the soft-gray histogram is high and close to the top of the box, that means that tonal region has a lot of data. When the soft-gray histogram is low and close to the bottom, not much of the image has that tone. In my self-portrait example, a portion on the right reaches to the top of the tone curve box. That means there’s a large section of light tones in my photo, which makes sense since the background of my self-portrait is white.

A typical adjustment for the tone curve is to make an “s-curve.” If you look at my screenshot, you’ll see a subtle curve in the white line that looks like an “s.” Notice the tone curve line is above the dotted line on the right side of the curve (in the highlights and lights) while the tone curve line is below the dotted line on the left (in the darks and shadows). That means I’ve made the lighter tones brighter and the darker tones darker, thus giving the image more contrast.

Lightroom also provides two tone curve presets in a drop-down menu. In the bottom left, you’ll see the phrase “Point Curve” followed by three drop-down choices: linear, medium, and strong. Linear is the standard tone curve that starts with the straight white line we saw at the beginning. Medium and strong give ever more exaggerated s-curves (or more contrast).

The point curve setting does not negate the region sliders, nor do the region sliders overrule the preset point curve. Try making manual adjustments with a linear point curve. Then switch to strong while keeping your manual adjustments. The image will change. Therefore, when adjusting the sliders and the point curve, it’s not an “either or” adjustment. Sliders will add to the point curve and vice versa.

Quick Summary

So far you know that the tone curve is represented by a white line that you can adjust to your liking. The soft-gray graph in the box represents the tonal data in your photo, and that data looks a lot like your histogram. You can click the little box with a curved-line-and-dot in the bottom right corner to reveal region sliders. The sliders are an easy way to adjust the tone and contrast of your image. You can also use a couple of presets (medium and strong) to add additional contrast to your image. All of our work so far has occurred in the RGB channel. Still with me?

Example Images

Before we go further, here are two photographs I'll use to show you the effects of the Tone Curve panel.

First, a fruit still life. Here is the RAW file:

RAW file.

Here are my usual edits:

Usual adjustments in white balance, exposure, contrast, and spot removal.

Here are additional edits made with the Tone Curve Panel:

Using the tone curve sliders to add contrast.

Now, a self-portrait. Here is the RAW file:

RAW File

Here are my usual edits:

Usual adjustments in white balance, exposure, contrast, spot removal, and adjustment brushes.

Here are additional edits made with the Tone Curve Panel:

Using the tone curve sliders to add contrast.

These two images and the various adjustments should give you an idea about how the Tone Curve panel can begin to add contrast and pop to your image. Using the sliders and the point curve presets are just the beginning of the Tone Curve's ability to manipulate your images.

Adding Points to the Tone Curve

You can take more creative control over the tone curve by adding points and adjusting to your liking. Simply click anywhere on the tone curve (the white line) and a little dot will appear. You can move that point up, down, left, and right depending on what you want to do to your photo.

How do you know what part of the photo your point is adjusting? Use the soft-gray histogram. If your point is towards the left, then you’re adjusting darker tones. If your point is to the right, then you’re adjusting lighter tones. 

Remember, when the soft-gray histogram is high, that means that tonal region has a lot of data. In my fruit example, a portion on the left reaches to the top of the tone curve box. That means there’s a large section of dark tones in my photo, which makes sense since a big chunk near the top is almost black.

One quick point: Lightroom helps us out a little by doing a complementary adjustment based on your point adjustments. When you adjust a point on the left, Lightroom will adjust the tone curve on the right to make sure things don't get too crazy. That's not to say that you can't make wild adjustments, but it'll take more than one or two points on the tone curve to outsmart Lightroom.

One typical reason to add a few points is to create the popular matte look that abounds in social media. A matte look simply gets rid of the darkest tones in your photo, graying out your shadows a bit. Take a look at my example and you’ll see the tone curve shape that creates a matte finish. You’ll see that the left-most part of the tone curve does not reach the bottom of the square. That means I’ve made the darkest tones lighter, thus getting rid of any true-black or near-black. That’s how you get the matte look.

Matte processing. Notice the left-most portion of the tone curve as well as the muted quality of the shadows. The shadows aren't a deep black anymore.

Targeted Adjustment

If you're not sure where on the histogram or tone curve line you'd like to make an adjustment, but you know where in the image you'd like to change things, you can use the targeted adjustment to create a point on the tone curve. In the upper left corner of the panel you'll see the target (it's a circle with a dot in the middle). Click on it and drag it to the portion of the image you'd like to adjust. Click that portion of the image and a point will appear on your tone curve. Just be careful: chances are that the tone you selected is also in other places in your image. Using the point you created with the targeted adjustment means you'll probably adjust other parts of your image, too.

A Little Test

Just to test your knowledge, how would you change the tone curve to make your image entirely neutral gray? Think for a second. What part of the curve do you need to make lighter and what part do you need to make darker? If you thought that turning the tone curve from a diagonal line to a horizontal line directly in the middle of the graph would turn everything gray, you'd be correct. Check out my self-portrait turned totally gray (you know it's my self-portrait by looking at the soft-gray histogram):

Look at the tone curve line! Neutral gray self-portrait. 🙂

The Color Channels

Every pixel in your image is some combination of the colors red, green, and blue. That’s just how it all works. With the RGB Channel, you’re working with all three colors at once, which allows you to adjust the tone of the entire image at once without changing the colors in a drastic way. The RGB Channel is how you adjust the contrast of the image, either with sliders, preset point curves, or adding and adjusting your own custom points.

When you select a specific color channel, you isolate that color and its secondary color. For example, when you select the red channel, you’re working with red and cyan (a light blue). The green channel allows you to work with green and magenta. The blue channel allows you to work with blue and yellow.

Those three color combinations should become etched in your memory. Primary RED and secondary CYAN. Primary GREEN and secondary MAGENTA. Primary BLUE and secondary YELLOW. Memorize those three pairs. Using the color channels in the tone curve panel will just be easier if you don't have to think too hard about those color pairs.

When you select a color channel, how do you know which color you’re working with, primary or secondary? And how do your adjustments affect the image? You’ll again be using that dotted-line as a reference for your color. As you add points and adjust the tone curve, any part of the curve that goes above the dotted line adds the primary color (red, green, or blue) to that tonal region. Any part of the curve that goes below the dotted line adds the secondary color (cyan, magenta, or yellow).

In other words, if you’re adjusting the red channel (by selecting Red from the drop-down “channel” menu), any adjustment above the dotted line will add red, while any adjustment below the dotted line will add cyan.

Take a look at my examples and read the captions if my written explanation is beginning to get confusing. Each example adjusts only one color channel and leaves the other two alone. 

Adjusting only the Red Channel. Notice the tone curve: red has been added to the darker tones and cyan has been added to the lighter tones.
Adjusting only the Green Channel. Notice the tone curve: green has been added to the darker tones and magenta has been added to the lighter tones.
Adjusting only the Blue Channel. Notice the tone curve: blue has been added to the darker tones and yellow has been added to the lighter tones.

Cross-Processing

Now it’s time to play with all three color channels at once. Why? To emulate a technique called “Cross-Processing.” We need to pause for a little history if you’re only familiar with the digital world of photography.

With film photography, you had two types of color film: color negative film (what most of us think of when we think of film) and color slide film (yes, those slides your grandparents might pull out and show with a projector). Each type of film required a different chemical for development. Cross-processing is the technique of using the opposite chemical to develop the film. In other words, you’d use color slide chemicals to develop color negative film. Why do this? For unpredictable and outrageously fun color tones. 

We can emulate this process in Lightroom using the Tone Curve panel. One predictable way of doing this is by creating an s-curve in two color channels and an inverted s-curve in the third channel. For example, you’d bring the shadows and darks lower than the dotted line and the highlights and lights higher than the dotted line for both red and green. You’d do the opposite in the blue channel: bring the shadows and darks higher than the dotted line and the highlights and lights lower than the dotted line.

Cross-processed with inverted blue.
Cross-processed with inverted green.
Cross-processed with inverted red.

For a typical client, you’re not going to deliver something that looks like a cross-processed image. But for personal projects, advertisements, album covers, and social media, go wild, right?

That’s about all you need to know in order to learn to manipulate the Tone Curve panel. With practice and time, you won’t think twice about using the Tone Curve panel to your advantage. The Tone Curve is a great panel to use to get creative and unique with your images. Don't let me examples limit you. Add some points, move them up, down, left, and right, and see what happens.

If you’d like to see an example of adjustments made in the Tone Curve panel to the same image, I have created two additional pages of example images.

Here is a progression of the fruit still life.

Here is a progression of the self-portrait.

This website has some awesome info and examples for cross-processing, too.

Now go practice!

8 thoughts on “How to Use the Lightroom Tone Curve Panel”

  1. Great article, Aaron.

    Here’s what confuses me about the tone curve—if I have made edits in the photo, shouldn’t the curve already be something other than a diagonal line?

    1. While I’m not an complete expert, I think the purpose of the Tone Curve is to enhance the changes you’ve made in the Basic Panel. The Tone Curve isn’t an evolving representation of your photo. That’s your histogram, more or less. The Tone Curve takes what you’ve in the Basic Panel (and others) and adds on top. The diagonal line represents how you haven’t made specific changes to the Tone Curve–think of it like any other tool in your arsenal. It’s set to neutral until you play with it. The TC doesn’t work in conjunction with other panels, it seems–it’s a separate tool awaiting your exploration!

    1. Thank you! As an English teacher, I take pride in clear writing for my reader. I’m glad I succeeded for you!

  2. Great article as always, Aaron. There are so many ways to do things in Light Room. Thanks for another one to add to the arsenal. I clicked on the link to your website, and found my way to your “about me” section. I see you taught in Rockville, MD. I was born in Rockville and lived there until I was 7. I attended Lakewood Elementary until we moved. Small world.

    1. Thanks for the kind words. And as I get older, the world seems to get smaller and smaller. Thanks for checking out my website and for reading my work. Have fun with the tone curve!

  3. I decided I needed to stop avoiding the Tone Curve so I looked online hoping to find a helpful article. Wow, I couldn’t have done better than yours. Thanks for the excellent tutorial!

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