GIMP: Adjusting the Color and Contrast
To access either the color balance or contrast tools, click the tools menu, select color tools and then
click the tool you desire to use.
Brightness and Contrast Tool:
To access brightness and contrast, click the tools menu, select color tools and then click the tool you
desire to use. To adjust the brightness and contrast use the slider bars or type the number in the
provided box. Use the preview box to see what the change will look like and uncheck the preview box
to see what the original photo looked like. When you are satisfied with the result, click the OK button.
Be careful with the brightness adjustment
area as it is easy to cause a photo to appear
washed out and grainy with this tool.
This photo has had the brightness and
contrast increased
This photo is the original image.
November 2006 Rev. 1 BL 1
GIMPColorContrast.doc
Color Balance Tools:
To access the color balance tool, click the tools menu, select color tools and then click the tool you
desire to use. The color balance tool allows for color adjustments in the shadows, mid-tones or
highlights areas. Use the radio buttons to select the range to modify and the slider bars to change
the color in the selected area. Use the preview box to see what the change will look like and uncheck the
preview box to see what the original photo looked like. Once you are satisfied with the results, click the OK
button.
Range
Modify the color levels
with the slider bars or
type a number in the
provided box
The photo on the left has had the color adjusted
in the shadows, mid-tones and highlights areas.
This photo is the original image.
November 2006 Rev. 1 BL 2
GIMPColorContrast.doc
Hue and Saturation Tool:
To access the hue and saturation tool, click the tools menu, select color tools and then click the tool you
desire to use. The hue and saturation tool allows the hue, saturation and lightness of every color to
be adjusted. Use the radio buttons to select the color you desire to edit and the change the color
with the slider bars. Use the preview box to see what the change will look like and uncheck the
preview box to see what the original photo looked like. Once you are satisfied with the results, click the OK
button.
Select the
color you
want to
modify
Modify the color levels
with the slider bars or
type a number in the
provided box
The photo on the left has had the red color
adjusted in hue, lightness and saturation.
This photo is the original image.
November 2006 Rev. 1 BL 3
GIMPColorContrast.doc