Step-by-step Reveal missing shadow detail

1 Import image

Choose File>import. Browse to our supplied start file – Shadow_before.cr2. Click the ‘Review for Import’ button. Double-click on the shot’s thumbnail. Click the Edit photo icon.

2 Global adjustment

If you boost the Exposure slider to 0.70 it reveals more shadow detail but blows out the correctly exposed highlights and they become clipped. Set Exposure to a more subtle 0.20.

3 Target the shadows

Drag the Shadows slider right to 0.70 to reveal more shadow detail without clipping the highlights. Press the ‘M’ key to toggle between the edited image and the original.

4 Boost Brilliance

Drag Brilliance to 0.50. This lightens midtones and reveals more shadow detail without blowing out highlights. Our contrasting lighting is now more evenly balanced.

5 Claw back highlights

The highlights look a little over-exposed. To claw back more detail in the brightest sunlit areas drag the Highlights slider left to -0.50. You can now see more sunlit brickwork detail.

6 Reveal delicate details

To reveal even more delicate detail, go to the Definition panel and drag Amount to 0.40. This increase in midtone contrast helps the building’s brickwork stand out.

7 Colour boost

Brightened shadows’ colours can look drab. Boost Saturation to 0.40 to add colour. The shadows may contain ugly colour noise which you’ll spot if you zoom into a 100% view.

8 Remove colour noise

Toggle open the Noise Reduction panel. By default it will be set to a noise-reducing 0. Drag the slider left and right to see (and then remove) the unsightly colour noise artefacts.

9 Banish the blues

The shadows look cold and blue compared with the sunlit areas. Go to the Color panel and open Options. Drag Cast right to 0.25 to warm up the cold shadows.