Black Point

Setting the Image's Black Point

Setting the black point is critical to setting the tonal range of the image. The black point setting places the maximum black for the image and adjusts the image's tonal range to the black point of the printer/media combination. If this step is performed in the Normal mode it will also change the color of the shadow areas.

Info Palette

Make sure the info Palette is visible on your screen. If it is not visible, select Window, Info.

Determining the Image's Black Point

While still in an Adjustment Layer Curves Dialog Box, make sure the value readout is set to Ink Percentage. Drag the White Point to the right until only the darkest areas in the image are visible. Make sure the Preview (eye icon at bottom) is selected. This should help you visualize the shadow areas.

Determining the Black Point

Generally try to pick a black point that is as neutral as possible and just slightly lighter than darkest part of the image. You can hover the cursor over parts of the image and compare the value readouts in the Info Palette. You usually don’t want to pick the darkest spot in the image. The Black Point Target is designed to determine the first discernable value above maximum black in the image. If you chose the darkest part of the image for the Black Point, you won’t be getting the maximum black in your print. I usually pick an area slightly lighter than the darkest part of the image. This gives me the full tonal range of the blacks available with my media/ink/printer combination. The Black Point is more subjective than the White Point since you are not adjusting the color with this setting. You may not want or need to have as much detail in your shadow areas. You can pick an even lighter shadow area to give the print more weight in the shadows.

Set the Black Point

Click on the Black Point Eyedropper and use it to select the black point area you have determined.

Note: You may feel that the image looks too flat or too light in the shadows. Remember that you are viewing transmitted light from your monitor. Monitors can display more tonal range than reflective prints. In most cases, you'll want to process images used on websites and other electronic displays with a lower black point (0 to 10) than you do for reflective inkjet printing.

On the next page we will compare the Black Point adjusted image with the original.

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