Photoshop Tutorial: Change the Colors in your Photo for a New Look

Changing the colors of your photos can be a great way to create a new look or mood. There are many different ways to do this, but in this tutorial, we will focus on using adjustment layers in Adobe Photoshop.

What are adjustment layers?

Adjustment layers are a type of layer that allows you to adjust the color, brightness, contrast, and other aspects of your image without permanently altering the original pixels. This makes them a great way to experiment and create different looks without worrying about damaging your original image.

How to use adjustment layers to change colors

1. Open your photo in Photoshop.
2. Create a new adjustment layer. To do this, go to Layer>New Adjustment Layer. You can choose from a variety of adjustment layers, such as Hue/Saturation, Levels, and Curves.
3. Select the adjustment layer you want to use. For this tutorial, we will focus on the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer.
4. Adjust the hue, saturation, and lightness sliders. The hue slider allows you to change the overall color of the image. The saturation slider allows you to increase or decrease the intensity of the colors. The lightness slider allows you to brighten or darken the image.
5. Experiment with different settings. There is no right or wrong way to use adjustment layers. The best settings will vary depending on the image you are working with.
6. Use layer masks to control the effect. Layer masks allow you to control which areas of the image the adjustment layer affects. To create a layer mask, click on the layer mask icon in the Layers panel.
7. Paint on the layer mask with a black brush to hide the effect. Paint with a black brush on the layer mask to hide the adjustment layer’s effect in certain areas of the image.
8. Paint on the layer mask with a white brush to reveal the effect. Paint with a white brush on the layer mask to reveal the adjustment layer’s effect in certain areas of the image.

Examples

Here are some examples of how to use adjustment layers to change the colors in your photos:

• Create a vintage look: Use the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to reduce the saturation and increase the lightness of the image.
• Create a black and white photo: Use the Black & White adjustment layer to convert the image to black and white.
• Create a sepia tone photo: Use the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to shift the hue of the image to a sepia tone.
• Create a high-contrast photo: Use the Curves adjustment layer to increase the contrast of the image.
• Create a surreal photo: Use the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to adjust the hue of the image in a non-realistic way.

Conclusion

Adjustment layers are a powerful tool that can be used to create a wide variety of effects. By experimenting with different settings and layer masks, you can create unique and interesting looks for your photos.