Coloring Tutorial
DOWNLOAD the .pdf version
.PSD
Open a new doc 500x280 and choose an image. I will use this cap.
Do Image > image size > and put 500 px as width so that the cap will be as large as your doc.
Duplicate the base and then image > adjustments > vibrance* and set it as you like it (I usually put after 50, even 100%)
*if you have a version before the CS4 this option won’t be there, but there’s still the saturation that does basically the same, is just more ‘powerful’; we need to use vibrance in order to give strength to colors. It’s up to you, I suggest to do it because it helps giving consistence to the final work.
Now we can really start. There are two ways to start, using the Color Balance or the Selective coloring Correction. I will start with the second one, but if you prefer you can do the opposite.
Image > adjustments > corrective color selection > put relative or absolute mode at the end.
REDS:
- 33
0
+ 44
0
TIP #1: only edit the settings of CYAN and YELLOWS. The Cyan preferibly only on the negative side (on the left), the yellows in the positive (right). If you want your pic to be more fuxia you need to move the yellows on the left instead.
YELLOWS:
- 53
0
+ 100
0
Like with the reds I suggest you to edit just the CYAN and YELLOWS. The Yellows specially, put them at their max + 100. If you have lights and lots of yellow on your pic it will come out cool.
From now on we need to edit the channels of the colors we have on our pic. Since there’s much blue, I will edit BLUE and CYAN channels. Not necessarily both.
CYAN:
100
- 51
+ 64
0
BLUE:
+ 80
+ 18
- 52
At this point to have more vigorous colors we need to edit the NEUTRALS channel too. Edit this channel is a bit hard because you can either create a good coloring or create a disaster :P
since I want to boost the BLUEs I will set this way:
NEUTRALS:
- 18
- 26
- 46
Press okay and then do Image > Adjustments > Color Balance.
Let’s start with MIDNTONES. You need to set the various channels in order to get the color you want at the end. In this case I will set:
MIDTONES:
- 34
0
+ 45
LIGHTS:
+ 22
+ 18
- 79
Try not to mess too much with the LIGHTS. I suggest to edit the channels of CYANS and MAGENTA, while you can play more with the YELLOW ones. For eg in this cap there’s much yellow and lights, so boosting the yellow channel will only make the cap better.
SHADOWS:
0
+ 15
+ 24
Don’t exaggerate with the shadows. Try to find a balance that satisfies you without going further than - 30 on the left side or + 30 on the right side if you don’t want a pic too dark.
Last step. Image > Adjustments > Curves. I post a screencap of the coordinates:
RGB:
http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/507/92870502.jpg
REDS:
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/7415/77593478.jpg
GREENS:
http://img858.imageshack.us/img858/3797/88262095.jpg
BLUES:
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/2230/55062235.jpg
We could stop here or repeat step by step to get a stronger coloring and with different colors or you can add Photo Filters (yellow or red is better), it’s up to you. A thing that works is also a gradient map (Layers > New fill layer > Gradient map). You can choose one of the ones already on PS, and choose the brown/white or the orange/white one set on SOFT LIGHT. Another method is to choose a yellow/orange/red one and set it on OVERLAY to get a stronger color.
TIP #2: if the colors look too strong you can duplicate your base and set it on SCREEN to get a lighter image. In the opposite case, if you have a dark picture you can duplicate your base and set it on SOFT LIGHT or OVERLAY.
TIP#3: it often gives a good effect a gradient map on the cap. Click two times on your base and choose GRADIENT OVERLAY and set the base gradient (black/white one) on SOFT LIGHT. Lessen the opacity if the gradient makes your pic darker or lighter.
TIP#4: New > layer. Pick a white 200px soft brush and start coloring the pic like that:
http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/6597/62650920.jpg
Click two times on this layer and try excluding some channel (even two of the three).
- if you exclude the BLUE channel you get a YELLOW layer;
- if you exclude the GREEN you’ll get a FUXIA;
- if you exclude a RED you’ll get a LIGHT BLUE;
- if you exclude RED and BLUE you’ll get a GREEN;
- if you exclude GREEN and BLUE you’ll get a RED;
Adjust as you prefer and this is my result:
http://img863.imageshack.us/img863/89/4028.png
