When setting up for automatic color correction, what is the suggested Curves correction order?

When setting up for automatic color correction, what is the suggested Curves correction order?

• A. Curves Auto Balance, then Curves Auto Contrast
• B. Curves Auto Contrast, then Curves Auto Balance
• C. Curves Auto Saturation, then Curves Auto Exposure
• D. Curves Auto Brightness, then Curves Auto Saturation

Answer: (A)

The key idea is to set the color cast before adjusting tonal range. Running Curves Auto Balance first neutralizes the colors so whites and grays read correctly. Once the image is color-balanced, applying Curves Auto Contrast can then establish a proper tonal distribution without being distorted by an existing color cast. If you contrast first, the color bias can influence how the contrast adjustment behaves, making the result less natural. The other pairings don’t align with this workflow: combining saturation or exposure with brightness in this context isn’t about color balance and tonal adjustment in the same way, and applying contrast before balance can reintroduce color shifts. So the best sequence is Auto Balance first, then Auto Contrast.

The key idea is to set the color cast before adjusting tonal range. Running Curves Auto Balance first neutralizes the colors so whites and grays read correctly. Once the image is color-balanced, applying Curves Auto Contrast can then establish a proper tonal distribution without being distorted by an existing color cast. If you contrast first, the color bias can influence how the contrast adjustment behaves, making the result less natural.

The other pairings don’t align with this workflow: combining saturation or exposure with brightness in this context isn’t about color balance and tonal adjustment in the same way, and applying contrast before balance can reintroduce color shifts. So the best sequence is Auto Balance first, then Auto Contrast.