Adjust light, exposure, and color in a photo or video on Mac
You can use the Photos adjustment tools to easily change light and color in a photo or video. You can automatically enhance a photo or video, and Photos analyzes your image and applies the correct mix of adjustments to make it look its best. You can also reveal detailed controls that let you fine-tune each adjustment, including exposure, highlights and shadows, brightness, and contrast.
Tip: To quickly see the adjustment tools while editing, press A.
Make basic adjustments to photos
Go to the Photos app
on your Mac.Double-click a photo or video, then click Edit in the toolbar.
Click Adjust in the toolbar.
Next to Light, Color, or Black & White, drag the slider until you’re satisfied with the look of the photo or video, or click Auto to have Photos automatically correct the item.
Tip: To discard your changes and revert to the original settings for a specific adjustment, double-click its slider. When you make an adjustment, a blue checkmark appears next to the adjustment’s name to indicate a change was made. You can select or deselect the checkmark to turn the adjustment on or off temporarily and see how it affects the photo.
Make fine light adjustments
You can further fine-tune the adjustments you make to the light settings of a photo or video.
Go to the Photos app
on your Mac.Double-click a photo or video, then click Edit in the toolbar.
Click Adjust in the toolbar, then click Options below Light.
Drag any of the sliders to change the look:
Brilliance: Adjusts a photo or video to make it look richer and more vibrant, brightening dark areas, pulling in highlights, and adding contrast to reveal hidden detail. The adjustment is color neutral (no saturation is applied), but there may be a perceived change in color because brighter images with more contrast appear more vibrant.
Exposure: Adjusts the lightness or darkness of the entire image.
Highlights: Adjusts the highlight detail.
Shadows: Adjusts the detail that appears in shadows.
Brightness: Adjusts the brightness of the photo.
Contrast: Adjusts the contrast of the photo.
Black Point: Sets the point at which the darkest parts of the image become completely black without any detail. Setting the black point can improve the contrast in a washed-out image.
Tip: Position the pointer over a slider and press and hold the Option key to extend the slider’s range of values.
Make fine color adjustments
You can fine-tune the adjustments you make to the saturation, vibrance, and color cast settings of a photo or video.
Go to the Photos app
on your Mac.Double-click a photo or video, then click Edit in the toolbar.
Click Adjust in the toolbar, then click Options below Color.
Drag any of the sliders to change the look:
Saturation: Adjusts the overall color intensity.
Vibrance: Adjusts the color contrast and separation between similar colors in the photo or video.
Cast: Adjusts and corrects for color casts.
Tip: Position the pointer over a slider and press and hold the Option key to extend the slider’s range of values.
Make fine black-and-white adjustments
You can fine-tune the intensity of tones and gray areas, and change the grain of a photo or video.
Go to the Photos app
on your Mac.Double-click a photo or video, then click Edit in the toolbar.
Click Adjust in the toolbar, then click Options below Black & White.
Drag any of the sliders to change the look:
Intensity: Increases or decreases the intensity of the tones of the image.
Neutrals: Lightens or darkens the gray areas of the image.
Tone: Adjusts the image for a more high-contrast or low-contrast look.
Grain: Adjusts the amount of film grain that appears.