Increase the Contrast of an Image

Why increase contrast?

Photos shot through haze, in flat light, or with a low-contrast camera profile can look dull and lifeless. Increasing contrast widens the gap between the darks and the lights, which adds depth, makes colours read stronger, and gives the image the punch it was missing.

This tool adjusts contrast around the mid-tones, so shadows deepen and highlights brighten together without crushing detail at either end. Pair it with a small saturation lift and your photo goes from washed-out to vivid in a couple of slider moves.

How to increase contrast

1. Open your photo. Drag it onto the tool, choose a file, or paste it. The page opens with contrast already raised.
2. Add contrast. Drag the Contrast slider until the image has depth. A little Saturation often helps it pop further.
3. Download. Save the result in its original format.

Don't crush the detail

Too much contrast turns dark areas into solid black and bright areas into blown-out white, losing detail. Push it until the photo looks lively, then ease back a touch. Hold the compare button to see how far you've come.