Seven Practical Tips for Improving Contrast in Your Photos

Do you want to quickly improve the quality of your images? Here are seven tips for improving contrast, from adjusting display settings to using post-processing tools.Whether you're a photography enthusiast or just someone working in the office, you can use a few simple steps to enhance image details, improve contrast, and enhance your visual experience!

Why is contrast ratio important?

Whether you are editing photos, watching videos, or working on documents, the light transmission and contrast ratio directly affect the clarity and comfort of the image.Too low and the image appears gray and the details blurry; too high and the image may be too bright or lose information in the dark areas.By employing these techniques, you can breathe life into your pictures without the use of professional equipment.

Optimize the basic settings of the display.

Adjust brightness and contrast.

Open the display menu and adjust the brightness to match the level of ambient light. During the day, the brightness should be between 40 % and 60 %, and at night it should be between 20 % and 40 %.Set the contrast to about 70 %, then play a black and white test strip and make small adjustments until you can see all 16 levels of gray.

Turn on HDR mode.

If you have an HDR-compatible monitor, be sure to turn this feature on-it automatically extends the dynamic range, allowing the bright areas to be even brighter and preserving more detail in the darker areas.You'll need to have video or picture material that supports HDR to see the effect.

Software to enhance technique.

The use of filters to produce layered effects.

Try using the "curves" tool or "contrast mask" in Photoshop or a photo editing app for your smartphone.When you lighten up the main subject area, use a mask to prevent the shadows from being overexposed. This is more natural than simply increasing the overall contrast.

Use the dynamic contrast feature judiciously.

Many players and displays come with a built-in function to increase the dynamic contrast ratio. Although this is convenient, it can also distort the picture.It is recommended that it be turned on only when watching a movie in a darkened theater, and that it be turned off at all other times.

The clever use of light and shadow.

Reduce screen glare.

If you are using the monitor near a window, adding a glare shield or anti-glare film can improve contrast.In fact, in strong lighting, the anti-glare film makes the screen 30 % clearer.

The lights are used to supplement the sunlight.

When shooting stills or video, position a soft light on the side and back of the subject.This technique of "contour lighting" naturally enhances the sense of depth and light, so that the film doesn't need to be artificially enhanced in post-production.

Hardware maintenance tips.

Don't forget to clean the screen! Fingerprints and dust can reduce the amount of light passing through the screen. Use a special ultra-fine fiber cloth and screen cleaner. Cleaning once a week will keep your screen in top condition.In particular, laptop users have the problem of keyboard grease getting onto the screen.

Quickly test contrast effects.

We recommend the online tool WebAIM Contrast Checker, which can tell you the exact contrast ratio of two color blocks.You can judge the effectiveness of the adjustments by looking at whether the edges of the text appear soft, and whether the skin tones of people appear natural.