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# Adjusting Shadows and Highlights to Improve Contrast

When there is not enough, or too much, black or white in a clip, it will lack contrast. If you want to improve the contrast by changing both the chroma and luma content, including the black and white points, use the controls in the Basics menu to adjust the shadows and highlights in the image.

To adjust the shadows and highlights to improve contrast:

1. Click Basics to display the Basics menu.
2. Enable Plot and then Ctrl-drag the cursor over the portion of the result clip containing black or white.

   In the Basics menu, a red plot line is displayed in the 2D luma histogram indicating the luma value of the sampled blacks. In the vectorscope, you can view the saturation and hue.

3. Use the 2D luma histogram and 2D vectorscope to determine which controls you need to use (such as the Black field, and Shadows and Midtones trackballs).
4. While viewing the 2D luma histogram, adjust the black level to modify the luma value. The Plot sample is updated as you drag the field.
5. While viewing the 2D vectorscope, drag the Midtones and Shadows (Highlights) trackballs towards the colour you want to increase in the blacks or whites. The Plot sample is updated as you drag the trackball.
   TipTo achieve true black or white, drag the Midtones and Shadows trackball to move the plot sample to the centre of the 2D vectorscope.
6. Continue modifying the shadows until you are satisfied with the result.
   TipView the sample in the 3D vectorscope to make more refined modifications.