Adjusting Contrast and Balance Automatically
You can adjust the contrast and balance the color automatically for an image simply by clicking buttons. An automatic contrast adjustment expands the tonal range of the image, which usually improves sharpness and detail. An automatic balance adjustment evens out the influence of the different color channels in the image, which usually greatly reduces or even eliminates any color cast.
Automatic contrast and balance buttons appear in the Color Correction tool in the following locations:
  The Hue Offsets subdividing tab of the HSL tab, as shown in the following illustration:

  The Curves tab, as shown in the following illustration:

To make an automatic contrast or balance adjustment:
1.  If you have not already done so:
a.  Move the position indicator to the segment you want to correct.
b.  Click the Color Correction group tab or subdividing tab that contains the automatic correction button you want to use.
2.  Click the appropriate automatic correction button.
The system analyzes the currently selected frame in the segment and adjusts the appropriate color correction controls. Automatic Contrast and Balance Buttons lists the available contrast and balance buttons and describes their function.
Automatic Contrast and Balance Buttons
Button
Location in Color Correction Tool
Description
Auto Balance
HSL tab, Hue Offsets subdividing tab
Makes adjustments to the three ChromaWheels to balance the colors in the image. This eliminates any color cast for most images.
Auto Black
HSL tab, Hue Offsets subdividing tab
Makes an adjustment to the Setup slider control that makes the darkest areas of the image as dark as possible.
Auto Contrast
HSL tab, Hue Offsets subdividing tab
Makes adjustments to the Gain and Setup slider controls to maximize the tonal range in the image. The brightest areas of the image are made as bright as possible and the darkest areas of the image are made as dark as possible.
Auto White
HSL tab, Hue Offsets subdividing tab
Makes an adjustment to the Gain slider control that makes the brightest areas of the image as bright as possible.
Auto Balance
Curves tab
Makes adjustments to the Red, Green, and Blue curves to balance the colors in the image. This eliminates any color cast for most images.
Auto Contrast
Curves tab
Makes an adjustment to the Master curve to maximize the tonal range in the image. The brightest areas of the image and made as bright as possible and the darkest areas of the image are made as dark as possible.
See Also
Understanding Automatic Color Correction
Using the Remove Color Cast Buttons
Considerations When Using Automatic Color Correction

Some features described in Help are available only in Avid Xpress Pro or Avid Xpress DV. For more information about Avid Free DV go to
www.avid.com.