Values ​​are how light or dark something is, independent of the color. We control values ​​by changing the contrast.

Step 1

First create a value control layer by creating a new layer and filling it with 50% gray. Now set the Layer mode Unpleasant ColourThis will give us a true black and white view of our image, allowing us to focus solely on the contrast or values ​​of the image, without the color getting in the way.

If you look at the image in our example, you can see that there is very little contrast between the bottle and the background, so darkening the background will add some separation there. There are numerous options for making this change in Photoshop, but I prefer to use a curves adjustment.

Step 2

Make a Adjust curves layer above the background layers, then click to place an anchor point exactly in the middle of the curve and pull down just enough to make the smoothie in the preview image pop out a bit.

Step 3

Now let’s move on to the milk splashes in the image and add an Image Adjustment Curve to the darker milk splashes. Go to Image > Adjustments > Curves. Lift the shadows until they match the shadows of the larger milk splashes behind the bottle.

Step 4

You can use as many points as you need when working with curves. The leftmost anchor affects the dark areas, while the rightmost anchor adjusts the light areas of an image. You can pull down to darken and push up to lighten.

Step 5

Now let’s move on to the bottom milk splash, which is really too bright. To adjust it, add a Image Adjustment Curves layer and reduce some highlights, while lifting the shadows a bit.

Step 6

For the bottle, instead of using Smart Filters, you’re going to clip a Curves adjustment layer into that bottle and give it the same treatment, lifting those shadows. You’re going to want to use a clipped adjustment layer instead of a Smart Filter because all the other layers in the bottle are clipped and you want to make sure that all of those layers are being edited at the same time.

So make sure this Curves layer is clipped above the already clipped layers. Darken the bottle a little bit so it’s clear that it’s a glass container.

Step 7

For the fruit you want to darken the inside of the fruit a little bit. You can use the curves or go for a quicker option by Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast. Click and adjust all the pieces of fruit that are stuck in the back to darken them and add some depth. This method doesn’t give you as much control as curves, but it’s good for simple adjustments.