Photoshop Elements Intermediate Classes

Instructor:  Al Crawford

This class will be taught with the assumption that the student is already using Photoshop Elements and has a working knowledge of the basic aspects of editing images with Photoshop Elements.   Students should be able to pick up techniques that they do not know or have not quite remembered.

Part II -- Correcting Color

The primary tool within Elements for color adjustments is the Hue & Saturation adjustment layer.  However an extremely powerful tool for color correction levels using the individual red, green, and blue channels.   We will be looking at correction color when the lighting conditions are poor as well as correcting the color in faded color photographs.  We will also be looking for ways to boost the color in photographs.  Projects will include

Color Correction in Adobe Camera Raw

  1. Open an image in camera raw.
  2. Adjust the Temperature (or select a White Balance preset.)
  3. Adjust the Tint (this is seldom needed.)
  4. Adjust the Vibrance (this is a selective saturation.  It tends to increase the blues.  Will not blow out the reds.)
  5. Adjust the Saturation (be careful -- small adjustments go a long way.  Frequently not needed as Vibrance is sufficient.)
  6. If you have blown out highlights use the Recover slider.

Photoshop Elements Color Tools

  1. Remove color cast -- image must contain a known gray area.
  2. Adjust hue and saturation -- probably should use an adjustment layer.
  3. Remove color -- converts to black and white, probably should use "Convert to Black and White ..." command.
  4. Replace color -- used to enhance a particular area (based on color) of your image.
  5. Adjust color for skin tones -- corrects color when skin tones are important in your image.
  6. Color Variations -- a relatively simple color correction tool.

Enhancing Color in Your Images

  1. Open an image
  2. Create a duplicate layer -- name it Basic
  3. Use Shadows/Highlight as needed (a luminosity adjustment)
  4. Open up a levels adjustment layer and set its blending mode to "Luminosity"
  5. Adjust the luminosity of the image.
  6. Open up a levels adjustment layer and set its blending mode to "Color".
  7. For each color channel (Red, Green,  Blue)
    • Move the left (dark) slider to the right until it reaches the histogram.
    • Move the right (light) slider to the left until it reaches the histogram.
  8. For each color channel move the center slider either left or right as needed.

Correcting Color in Faded Old Photographs

Using a scanned image of your photo adjust the luminosity and color using the techniques we have covered so far.  If one technique fails use a combination of techniques.  If all else fails convert the image to black and white.