Contrast, Highlights, & Shadows
Learning how to balance contrast, highlights, and shadows is one of the most important parts of RAW photo editing. These adjustments help shape the overall mood and depth of an image while recovering detail in bright and dark areas. In Darktable, some modules are designed to handle tonal balance while others improve color intensity and visual impact.
Original Image (Starting Point)
Step 1: Tone Equalizer
The Tone Equalizer module is designed to control brightness in different tonal ranges of an image. Instead of adjusting the entire photo at once, Tone Equalizer lets you target highlights, mid-tones, or shadows separately.
A wave-like curve will be used. The shadows in this image are especially dark, so the curve focuses more on brightening the darkest areas while still maintaining its overall shape.
After image
Step 2: Velvia
The Velvia module is used to increase color intensity and visual richness in an image. Inspired by Fujifilm Velvia film, this module enhances weaker colors more strongly while protecting already saturated areas from becoming overwhelming.