Point curve
The point curve is the tone curve variant where you place and drag your own points on the line. Each point is a tone you pin or shift. It gives you the most precise control over contrast and brightness of all the curve variants.
Use the point curve when the parametric curve feels too coarse and you want to target one specific tonal region. Set an anchor point on a tone you want to hold, then drag a point next to it. Too many points make the curve bumpy and the image unnatural, so stick to two or three. For the classic S-curve you often need just two points.
Related terms
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The presets on this site set these adjustments up for you as a starting point, which you then fine-tune to taste.