Apply Tonal Compression to images and videos online
Bring a photograph's tonal extremes into a more restrained range. Tonal Compression uses custom overall and RGB curves to reshape contrast and color without adding a separate texture treatment.
Before
After
Ideas for using the effect
Soft editorial photography
Create a quieter tonal base for portraits and lifestyle images.
Photo series preparation
Use a consistent curve treatment as a starting point across a related set.
Print-inspired imagery
Reduce the hard digital feel of extreme shadows and highlights before adding paper texture.
Subtle video grading
Apply the curve treatment to a clip, then tune it for the scene's exposure.
Made with this effect
More inspiration on Instagram @effect_app
Use Tonal Compression in Photoshop, Figma or on your desktop
One account, the same effect everywhere.
In Photoshop
Apply it to a layer in Photoshop 2022 and later, on macOS or Windows. The plugin renders on your own GPU and hands the result back as pixels on a new layer.
get the Photoshop plugin →In Figma
Run it on images and frames without leaving the canvas. The Figma plugin is this same editor, pointed at whatever you have selected.
get the Figma plugin →On desktop
Install the macOS or Windows app when you want a window of its own, with your account and your presets already there.
download the desktop app →Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply Tonal Compression online?
Open the Tonal Compression preset, add your image or video, and adjust the loaded effect layers to suit your source. Preview the result before exporting.
What does Tonal Compression change?
The preset contains one Curves layer with custom overall, red, green, and blue curves. It reshapes the tonal range and introduces channel-dependent changes rather than applying a uniform brightness adjustment.
Does this compress the image file?
No. Tonal compression describes how brightness values are redistributed. It does not reduce download size or add JPEG compression artifacts.
Can it recover clipped highlights or crushed shadows?
It can remap the values present in the source, but it cannot reconstruct detail that was already lost. Begin with a well-exposed image when you want smooth, detailed tonal transitions.
How do I keep colors more neutral?
Inspect the individual RGB curves as well as the overall curve. Ease channel-specific changes when neutral surfaces shift too far, then use the main curve to retain the desired contrast shape.