LearnlystLearnlyst
← All tipsPhotographyLong-form guides →
📷 Photography

Step 4 of 9 · Edit a RAW Photo in 5 Minutes

Set overall exposure

Set overall exposure — step 4 of 9 in Edit a RAW Photo in 5 Minutes. Move the exposure slider until the midtones (the main subject) look correct.

Set overall exposure — step 4 photo from Edit a RAW Photo in 5 Minutes

Free photography tip: Set overall exposure (step 4 of 9 from "Edit a RAW Photo in 5 Minutes").

Move the exposure slider until the midtones (the main subject) look correct. Ignore the sky and deep shadows for now — you'll address those separately. A quarter-stop adjustment is common; if you need more than one full stop, the original exposure was significantly off.

Watch the histogram as you adjust. You want the main hump to sit in the middle third without new clipping on either end.

1 more paragraph in this tip — free with a Learnlyst account.

Create a free account to read the full tip

Unlock “Set overall exposure” plus daily tips. Guides and course pages stay public for search.

From the full photographed course

Edit a RAW Photo in 5 Minutes

This tip is one step — unlock all 9 steps inside Learnlyst.

More Photography tips

Ready for the full Learnlyst library?

Free account for daily tips · $9/mo or $79/yr for every course.