Adjustments inspector and Inspector HUD

Use the Adjustments inspector and Inspector HUD

You can use menu commands, keyboard shortcuts, or the Inspector button on the left side of the toolbar to show and hide the Inspector pane containing the adjustment controls. The adjustment controls in the Adjustments inspector are also found in the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD. You can use menu commands and buttons in the full-screen view toolbar to show or hide the Inspector HUD.

Show the Adjustments inspector

Do one of the following:

  • Choose Window > Show Inspector (or press I), and click the Adjustments tab.

  • Click the Inspector button in the toolbar, and click the Adjustments tab.

    Figure. Controls in the Adjustments inspector.

Each adjustment contains individual properties, called parameters, for which you can specify a range of values. You click an adjustment’s disclosure triangle, or double-click the top of the adjustment, to view the parameters for the adjustment and the controls you use to change parameter values. For more information about using the adjustment controls to change parameter values, see Use sliders.

Show the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD

Do one of the following:

  • Choose Window > Show Inspector HUD (or press H), and click the Adjustments button.

  • Click the Inspector HUD button in the full-screen view toolbar, and click the Adjustments button.

For more information, see Perform adjustments in full-screen view.

Controls in the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD

Note: The adjustment controls in the Adjustments inspector and the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD are dimmed when an audio clip or a video clip is selected.

Choose a histogram view

When you show the Adjustments inspector or the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD, a histogram of the selected image’s luminance or color channels appears. The histogram displays a graph of the brightness values in the image, from the blackest point to the whitest point. You can adjust the histogram to show luminance; red, green, and blue (RGB) channels displayed together; or separate red, green, and blue channels.

  • Choose a view option from the Histogram Options section of the Adjustment Action pop-up menu .

    Note: The histogram updates in real time for images displayed in the Viewer and in full-screen view, but is slightly delayed in the Book Layout Editor, the Webpage Editor, and the Light Table. For information about how to interpret a histogram, see Histograms overview.

Add additional adjustments

The first time you show either the Adjustments inspector or the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD, only the White Balance, Exposure, Enhance, and Highlights & Shadows adjustments are available.

Note: A photo must be selected in the Browser for adjustment controls to appear in the Adjustments inspector or the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD.

  • Choose an adjustment from the Add Adjustment pop-up menu at the top of either the Adjustments inspector or the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD.

    Figure. Add Adjustment pop-up menu in the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD.

The new adjustment appears highlighted in both the Adjustments inspector and the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD, if both are shown. For more information about adjustment controls, see Use sliders.

Add Quick Brushes

  • Choose a Quick Brush adjustment from the Add Adjustment pop-up menu at the top of either the Adjustments inspector or the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD.

    Figure. Adjustments inspector showing Quick Brush adjustments available in the Quick Brushes submenu of the Add Adjustment pop-up menu.

The adjustment controls for the Quick Brush appear in both the Adjustments inspector and the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD, if both are shown. Also, a floating window containing the Quick Brush controls appears, and the pointer changes to a brush. For more information, see Apply Quick Brush adjustments.