Using the digital step-wedge...

How do I know what the image needs?
That's not uncommon. And sometimes, for a good, visual guide -- nothing works better than a digital step-wedge. We used to use step-wedges in the traditional dark room to judge how much exposure is appropriate in the printing process. We would simply take a piece of opaque cardboard and "step" it along the photo with uniform exposures in specific time increments. That way, once the print was developed, and analyzed in daylight, we could quickly see the optimum timing for the print exposure. The digital step-wedge is not much different.

Once again, this trick relies on remembering layer masking and the simple concept of "White shows / Black Hides."

This is really so simple, I shouldn't have to tell you about it. But I've found it immensely helpful in many situations -- when I've wanted to take the extra time involved in actually proofing images with different levels or other adjustments.

Make yourself a rectangular selection, and then initiate a new adjustment layer
Layers > New Adjustment Layer > Levels
Now, this could be ANY adjustment layer you want to compare... not just levels. As you see, the layer opens with your rectangle revealing the selected portion of the image. Now just make your adjustment.
I recommend making a note of the adjustment. But you can always select the Layer icon to check.

Now, drag that Adjustment Layer down to the "New Layers" icon at the bottom of your layers palette to duplicate it. This duplicates the settings to this new layer.
Click in the mask thumbnail, and fill with BLACK
In the image window, drag the next panel rectangle to test.
Fill that selection with WHITE. (Make sure the mask thumbnail is still selected)
Now, you can open the Levels icon and make your further adjustments.

Continue across the image thusly, until you have four or five testings -- then print. If you don't like what you have, then simply re-adjust the layer settings and print again. Eventually you'll find the perfect match.

Need the step wedge for another image? No problem. Just drag the image into this window and set its layer BELOW the steps. Presto, instant step wedge.

Here's a little variation on the theme that's more like our traditional step wedges...
Open example #4
Snow scenes are sometimes very difficult to judge without printing. You could waste a lot of paper and ink here, trying for the right exposure. With a step wedge, you waste only one.

Here, I've kept all the settings the SAME. But instead of moving the 'window' along across the image, I've made the 'window' larger in each progressive layer copy. This way, I just multiply the effect. Or, better yet -- once I've chosen the correct exposure, I simply throw away the unneeded steps, and fill all the rest with white! Same difference, and I didn't need to make a fuss about adjusting or recording settings.

And, unfortunately, you've wasted another perfectly good hour -- and we're out of time!
Thanks for reading.

In this Photoshop Tutorial we've talked about:
Cropping | Exposure | Levels Masks | Digital Step Wedge

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