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The problem of overexposed photographs is so real. When clicking photos, most people have faced this problem at least once. However, here’s nothing that Photoshop can’t fix. If you want to build your career as a video editor or a photographer, knowing Photoshop can give you an added advantage.

This article will help you learn how to fix overexposed photos in Photoshop.

What is Overexposure in Photography?

When you click a photograph, the light enters the sensor from the camera aperture. The amount of light entering the sensor determines the exposure of the picture. The more the camera sensor is exposed to the light, the brighter the picture will be. 

You call a photograph overexposed when too much light enters the camera sensor. This phenomenon takes place generally when you take pictures with a digital camera. When a picture is overexposed, it becomes too bright. As a result, most of the details in the picture seem washed out. 

When enough light doesn’t enter the camera sensor, it means the picture you’ve clicked is underexposed. Underexposure makes photographs very dark. When you look at an underexposed photo, you see very few details in the shadows. This makes the overall picture extremely gloomy. 

Can You Control the Exposure in a Photograph?

Every photo demands a different exposure. The perfect way to integrate the right amount of exposure in a picture is to know how you want the photograph to be. For instance, if you’re capturing a photograph which reflects joy, the exposure should be higher. You need to bring a bright side to the picture. On the other hand, if you want to portray melancholy through a photograph, you can reduce the exposure, without making it dark. 

A natural picture, for many photographers, offers the right exposure. Ideally, correct exposure means the right balance of shadows and highlights. That’s what natural photos generally capture. However, if a photographer deliberately wants to overexpose or underexpose a picture to portray an emotion, that is their call. 

Fixing Overexposed Photos in Photoshop

Imagine clicking photos, and when you sit to edit them, there seems to be an overexposure. Frustrating, isn’t it? You can fix it in Photoshop. Of course, you need to be well accustomed to the application. If you don’t know anything about Photoshop, sign up for a complete Photoshop course. With a proper course, you can get detailed information on how to use such post-processing applications. 

Here’s how you can fix overexposed photos using Adobe Photoshop.

1. Adjustment Layer & Layer Blending Settings

When you use Photoshop, you will find different levels of adjustment layers. Also, there is a blend mode. With the blend mode, you will use the Multiply option. With this option, you can darken the photo. By darkening the image to a desired limit, you can set the exposure as required. The following are the steps you can take to fix overexposed photos using these settings:

• Level Adjustment Layer: Open the photo in Photoshop. Take a closer look at the level adjustment layer, and you will find just one layer. It is the background layer. You need to add a new level adjustment layer to darken the picture. Select the Adjustment Layer or New Fill option. You will get that in the Layers panel. From the drop-down bar, select the levels. By the name Levels 1, you can see that a new level adjustment layer is created. 
• Use Blend Mode to Make Changes: Go to the Layers panel. In the top left corner, look for the Blend Mode option. Now, select the Multiply setting from the Blend Mode. Once you choose the Multiply option, you will see that the image is darkened. The use of Multiply from the Blend Mode’s drop-down menu will saturate the highlights and colours of the picture. 
• Reduce Adjustment Layer’s Opacity: The image appeared to be darker than required? Don’t worry! In the top right corner, you can check the Layers panel and reduce the opacity. This will increase the brightness to the desired level.  Once you complete all the steps, you can get a much more refined picture than the original. The new picture will have all the necessary highlights, making it even. This is how you can fix an overexposed picture in Photoshop. 

2. Photoshop Sliders

You can use different Photoshop sliders to fix an overexposed photo. These sliders include contrast/brightness, shadows/highlights and exposure. On the “Menu” bar, you can go through the Photoshop sliders. Go to Image, then Adjustment, and from there you can use these sliders. Imagine you have to use the exposure slider. You move it to the left or right. This will increase or reduce the exposure levels. If you want to refine your photograph thoroughly, you can check out other sliders too. 

3. Before & After

After using different settings to fix the overexposure problem, you should see the difference. Compare the new image with the original one. To do that, go to the Layers Panel and click on the Visibility icon. Place both images side-by-side and see the difference. 

Conclusion

Thanks to Photoshop, you can quickly fix exposure issues in photos. The problems with overexposure as well as underexposure are very common. Photoshop and its different settings can fix them. You put casual photos in Photoshop, and it will work like magic. However, for professional photographs, you need to upgrade your Photoshop skills to solve overexposure issues. 

If you’re serious about levelling up your editing game, Moople Academy can help you get there. Learn from industry experts, master tools like Photoshop, and turn your passion into a creative career. Contact Moople’s team and explore their photography and editing courses today.