1) Color balance and tone curves: the core duo
White balance sets the overall color mood, while tone curves shape contrast and light distribution.
2) White Balance: Temperature & Tint
Temperature shifts blue ↔ yellow; Tint shifts green ↔ magenta. Use neutral references (white/gray surfaces) to correct color casts.
3) Color Balance by tonal ranges
Adjust shadows, midtones, and highlights separately for cleaner colors and better skin tones.
4) Tone Curves: simple S-curve logic
A gentle S-curve increases contrast. Lift blacks slightly for a soft film-like look, and protect highlights from clipping.
5) Recommended workflow
- Exposure
- White balance
- Tone curve
- Color balance tweaks
- Before/after check
6) Common mistakes
Doing curves before fixing WB, over-boosting highlights, and breaking skin tones are the top issues. Keep adjustments subtle.
7) FAQ
Start with white balance, then curves. Use RGB curves carefully for color mood after correction is done.