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Curves Filter

Intro​

Color correct the RGB, alpha and hue/saturation components of a Layer with editable curves.

UI​

Color Component - Select a color property to remap along the editable graph. The first five affect channel values, the last five adjust one color property based on another:

  • RGB - Affect the red, green and blue channels.
  • Red - Affect the red channel.
  • Green - Affect the green channel.
  • Blue - Affect the blue channel.
  • Alpha - Affect the alpha/transparency channel.
  • Hue vs Hue - Both axes represent hue. Use it to shift a specific hue range toward a different hue, e.g. nudging an orange skin tone without a color wheel.
  • Hue vs Saturation - The horizontal axis represents hue; the curve controls saturation at that hue. Use it to mute or boost the saturation of a specific color range (e.g. greens) while leaving other colors untouched.
  • Hue vs Luminance — Select by hue and change luminance/brightness.
  • Luminance vs Saturation - The horizontal axis represents luminance (tone); the curve controls saturation at that luminance. Use it to boost or reduce saturation in specific tonal ranges, e.g. desaturating crushed shadows or blown highlights without affecting midtone saturation.
  • Saturation vs Saturation - The horizontal axis represents a pixel's existing saturation; the curve controls its resulting saturation. Use it to rein in already highly saturated colors, or lift muted ones, without a uniform saturation shift.
Value Curves

For the RGB, Red, Green, Blue and Alpha components, the horizontal axis of the graph is the input value and the vertical axis is the output. Values below the line darken, values above brighten.

A histogram of the filter's input is drawn behind the curves. On the RGB channel it shows all three channels plus luminance in order to preview the image's values before they are remapped.

Color Curves

The last five curves are named where the first word is the component a pixel is selected by and the second is which component changes. The first and second word are represented by the horizontal and vertical axes respectively.

Editing the Curves​

Add a point​

To add a point either;

  • Click on the curve to add a point positioned along the curve.
  • Double-click anywhere to add a point at that exact spot. The curve will redraw to accommodate the new point.

Move a point​

Click and drag points to move individual points. To move several points together either;

  • Hold Cmd/Ctrl and click several points to select more than one then click and drag any selected point.
  • Click and drag in an empty space to marquee select several points then click and drag any selected point.

Set Interpolation​

Hold Option/Alt and click a point to cycle its interpolation between:

  • Smooth (default, never overshoots).
  • Bézier (manual handles).
  • Linear.

Delete points​

To delete a point or points, select one or more and hit Delete or Backspace

Reset curves​

Use the Reset button to clears the current curve. Hold Option/Alt to reset all curves.

Target adjust​

Click the eyedropper button, then click on the Shape in the viewport. A point is placed on the current curve at the value under the cursor. Drag up or down to bend the curve there. Hit Escape or click on the button again to cancel.

Waveform​

The waveform button loads an RGB parade below the curves plotted against horizontal position showing one band per color channel.

Presets​

Use the Presets button Button icon to select from several built-in film stocks and cinematic grades or to save a custom preset.