The Color Balance adjustment layer changes the overall color mixture in an image.

The Color Balance adjustment layer changes the overall color mixture in an image.

• A. Hue/Saturation
• B. Levels
• C. Color Balance
• D. Curves

Answer: (C)

This question is about how an adjustment layer can change color balance and the color cast of an image. Color Balance lets you shift the balance of colors across the shadows, midtones, and highlights, which directly changes the overall color mixture. You work with three axes—Cyan–Red, Magenta–Green, and Yellow–Blue—and moving a slider toward red increases red in the chosen tonal range, while moving toward cyan reduces red and adds cyan. Because you can target shadows, midtones, and highlights separately, you can correct color casts or create a specific color mood without altering brightness or contrast. Hue/Saturation adjusts hue and saturation, Levels and Curves primarily map tonal values to change brightness/contrast (and can affect color indirectly), but they aren’t focused on shifting the image’s global color balance. So the Color Balance adjustment layer is the tool that changes how colors mix across the image.

This question is about how an adjustment layer can change color balance and the color cast of an image. Color Balance lets you shift the balance of colors across the shadows, midtones, and highlights, which directly changes the overall color mixture. You work with three axes—Cyan–Red, Magenta–Green, and Yellow–Blue—and moving a slider toward red increases red in the chosen tonal range, while moving toward cyan reduces red and adds cyan. Because you can target shadows, midtones, and highlights separately, you can correct color casts or create a specific color mood without altering brightness or contrast. Hue/Saturation adjusts hue and saturation, Levels and Curves primarily map tonal values to change brightness/contrast (and can affect color indirectly), but they aren’t focused on shifting the image’s global color balance. So the Color Balance adjustment layer is the tool that changes how colors mix across the image.