Histogram question

DL
Posted By
David_Lingard
Feb 6, 2007
Views
203
Replies
5
Status
Closed
I’m having a problem understanding one aspect of the histogram. If you create a new file then apply a black to white linear gradient across it I would have thought the histogram would be a straight line, but it isn’t.

The book refers to "intensity" of the colours where I thought it was just a straight pixel count of the tones, obviously it isn’t. Could someone explain in simple words please.

Thanks,

David
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EL
Edward_L._Brown
Feb 6, 2007
Try these{
<http://www.shortcourses.com/how/histograms/histograms.htm>

< http://luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series /understanding-histograms.shtml>

<http://www.outbackphoto.com/workflow/wf_41/essay.html>

For more info on histograms just google
Ed
B
Bernie
Feb 6, 2007
This is so the gradient looks better

Edit the gradient and set the smoothness to 0% in order to have the histogram you’re looking for. (You’ll also get a gradient that doesn’t look as nice IMO)
DL
David_Lingard
Feb 6, 2007
Ed, Thanks for the links, I’m happy with most of the content they even confirmed that it’s a straight pixel count for each brightness level.

Nomad, this is intriguing, but I can’t see how to set the smoothness to anything let alone 0%. BTW I’m using CS2 but I doubt if that makes much difference.
B
Bernie
Feb 6, 2007
Click on the gradient in the option box, the option to set smoothness is in the gradient editor

< http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1Q6mK92nxV4TjSgXyb GvDPFyIsS40>
DL
David_Lingard
Feb 6, 2007
Brilliant – thanks for that! Yes, the histogram is what I expected but the gradient is very different. Clear as crystal.

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