CURVES vs LEVELS

[ski542002]

What’s the functional difference between Curves & Levels?   Do the two dialog’s achieve the same final result?  Is there a benefit to using one over the other?  In the past, I’ve always used curves exclusively.

[Doug Peterson]

Anything you can do with levels you can do with curves.

The inverse is not true.

Levels is there because people expect it to be, and because some people don't understand curves. No other reason.

[ski542002]

Cool.  That means a curves-affectionado possesses a higher level of technical expertise?? 

[Chris_Brown]

Levels has three points: white point, black point and mid-point (gamma).
Curves has those same points, plus you can add more points to the curve. You can also use "pencil" mode and draw in a squiggle for a curve, if that suits your needs.