How to change contrast in only part og the picture

I am using Photoshop 6.0 on a .bmp file. I want to increase the contrast in a part of the photo only. I tried using the lasso to circle the area where I want to increase the contrast. But if I do that, when I click on "Image" on the toolbar, the "Adjust" command is greyed out, so I can't use it to get to the contrast option.

What am I doing wrong? Is there another way to do this?

Thanks- Kathy

with your active lasso selection, click on the 'create new fill layer or adjustment layer' button at the bottom of the layers palette. It's the half white/black circle icon.

Select brightness/contrast. This should create a new brightness/contrast adjustment layer using your selection as a mask, so other areas of the image are unaffected by the adjustment layer.

It should work. But, selecting your adjustment from Adjustment Layers is a better option.

Try reset prefs to see if Image>Adjustment comes back.

That should work, however.
Is your BMP in Indexed Color mode?
Change to RGB if so.

Mac

Thanks for the suggestions. My .bmp file was greyscale, so I changed it to RGB and it worked with lasso and contrast. Now I will try Adjustment Layers so that I learn something new.

Thanks again-

Kathy

Adjustment layers are great, I think once you get used to those you will rarely go to Image>Adjust again.

Exept if you need to use the Shadow/Highlight filter.