Adjusting Colour in Photoshop

When it comes to adjusting colour, there are a variety of methods that you can use.

In this class Karl looks at how to adjust colour in Photoshop, demonstrating a number of different methods and explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each. You’ll learn how to use Curves adjustment layers for adjusting and correcting colour as well as Channel Mixer, Selective Colour and the Camera Raw Filter (to name just a few).

This highly informative class is ideal for anyone wanting to learn more about colour and the most effective ways to control the overall look and feel of your images. If you haven’t watched our ‘Colour Theory’ chapter, we recommend watching that before diving into this class. You may also find our classes on using masks helpful.

This Photoshop class covers the following:

  • How to change colours in Photoshop
  • Using Curves to adjust colour
  • Vibrance adjustment in Photoshop
  • Adjusting Hue / Saturation
  • Photoshop Channel Mixer
  • How to use Selective Colour
  • Camera Raw Filter
  • Auto colour correction methods
  • Match & Replace Colour in Photoshop

If you have any questions about this class, please post in the comment section below.


Effective methods for changing colours in Photoshop:

Below are just a few of the methods covered in this class.

Curves adjustment layers
Karl’s preferred method of colour adjustment, Curves allow for a great degree of control.

Curves adjustment layer in Photoshop

Curves adjustment layers are a powerful colour correction tool.

Channel Mixer adjustment layer
This method allows you to control colours in particular channels. It is also commonly used when working with black and white mages.

Channel Mixer in Photoshop

The Channel Mixer adjustment layer can be used for colour correction too.

Camera Raw Filter
This is a useful tool for controlling and correcting colour. Here you can control temperature and tint, as well as hue, saturation and luminosity.

Photoshop Camera RAW filter for colour correction

The Camera RAW filter is an often overlooked colour correction method.

Comments

  1. Of the colour adjustment methods in Photoshop, can all or some of them be used locally only within a selection made in the image?

    1. Hi Hanski, effectively all of them could be used locally with a selection of the image because you could at the very least duplicate a layer of the image and put a mask on it of the area you want to affect and then manipulate that area only. From there you then have that area isolated on a separate layer that can be blended back into the original layer.

  2. Hello,

    I just wanted to ask what could be a potential problem of product photography.
    After product photoshoots colours are not accurate and don’t match. The screen is calibrated (I used datacolor) and even after applying colour chart profile it does not correct the colours. I would appreciate if you could share your thoughts and suggestions. Thank you very much in advance.

    1. Hi Martynas, it could be down to the camera sensor. Each type of camera make has their own algorithms for processing color to what they believe to be true, Hasselblad I find has exceptionally accurate colour and Sony seems pretty good too. There are however certain colours that just don’t record very well and sometimes you have to isolate those colours in post production and adjust. The other key reason is the type of lighting you are using, if it is not full spectrum flash or HMI or very high CRI LED then that could also lead to problems.

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