Brightness vs Contrast vs Saturation (Quick Guide)

These three sliders do different things. If your edits look “crunchy” or unnatural, you’re usually pushing contrast or saturation too far.

Brightness

Moves everything lighter or darker. Use small changes first.

Contrast

Increases the difference between dark and light areas. Too much can crush shadows and clip highlights.

Saturation

Controls color intensity. Increase slightly for more “pop” or reduce to soften colors.

A safe workflow

1. Set brightness first (small changes).
2. Add a little contrast (avoid extremes).
3. Adjust saturation last (subtle tends to look best).

Related: Best Export Settings