The Tone System by Roland Miller

Setting the Image's Mid Tone

Setting the mid tone adjusts the image's density without changing the previously set white and black points to any extent. This is important because we do not want to undo the good we have done. This adjustment is made by visual evaluation of the monitor and works best with a color managed (calibrated and profiled) system. However, with a little practice and some test printing, you may be able to visually gauge outcome in an unmanaged system. The mid tone setting is critical to setting the overall density of the image. The mid tone setting is performed in the Luminosity mode to affect the previous color settings as little as possible.

Info Palette

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

Adjusting the Image's Mid Tone

Go Layer, New Adjustment Layer, Curves. Make sure the Mode is set to Luminosity.

Make sure the value readout is set to Ink Percentage. Make sure the Preview box is checked. Move the mid tone point up to increase density. Move the mid tone point down to decrease density. Use the Kenly 3•6•9 Rule.

You can check and uncheck the Preview box to see the effects of your mid tone adjustment.

Raise or lower the mid tone point to adjust the image density.

 

Adjusting the Image's Mid Tone

While still in an Adjustment Layer Curves Dialog Box, adjust the mid tone point. Make sure the value readout is set to Ink Percentage. Make sure the Preview box is checked. Move the mid tone point up to increase density. Move the mid tone point down to decrease density. Use the Kenly 3•6•9 Rule. You can check and uncheck the Preview box to see the effects of your mid tone adjustment.

Click OK once you have set the mid point.

 

On the next page we will compare the Mid Tone adjusted image with the original.

Mid Tone  Next Page • Page 2