Color Correction using Curves Adjustment Tool

Correcting exposure will solve much basic color problems, but Photoshop’s extensive range of color correction tools can easily handle any that are left over. For example, overexposure or poor lighting conditions can give a photograph a distinctly washed-out look, which may persist when the initial fault is fixed. Photoshop offers several ways of boosting color.

One of photoshop tools that we usually used on regular basis is the Curves Adjustment tool, which not only help us in creating desire contrast, but at the same time it allow us to color corrects our images.

Take a look at the image we'll be creating.

The Color Balance Adjustment tool gives us limited options when it comes to correcting our images, whereas the Curves Adjustment tool allows us to color correct specific areas of the image without affecting the rest of the image.

Step 1:

Cropping and Straightening Image.

Lets start to begin with cropping and straightening our image then we go to any further adjustments.

Step 2:

Use Curves Adjustment tool.

In this tutorial, we are going to use Curves Adjustment tool to color correct our image. Remember to always work in layers instead of applying any adjustments directly to the image. Now go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves.

Step 3:

To color correct we need to know a few basic things about color. Our image is composed of red, green and blue channels (RGB). Each of these colors has a corresponding color on the color wheel; therefore, red corresponds to green, green corresponds to magenta and blue corresponds to yellow.

The Curves Adjustment tool allows us to work with RGB channels and their corresponding colors in order to adjust the colors correctly. To better understand how it works, let’s look at it closer.

Working with red chennel.

In our channels options, we chose Red (for red channel). On the bottom of our window we have two numbers – Output and Input. The Input number is a mathematical representation of our color whereas the Output number is a mathematical representation of the color after our color adjustment. The red dot in the Curves palette represents the position of these numbers. We chose to color correct the image in the midtones and for that reason the Input number is equal to 128.

Let’s see what happens when we change our Output number to about 160.

Higher Output number in Red channel makes the image too red, and that’s not what I want to accomplish. However, if we lower the Output number to about 80, then our image is going to look like this.

Working with green chennel.

The image is now become too green. That is the concept behind color correction. If we work in the Green channel, then the higher the Output number is, the greener the image is. Now, if we lower the Output number extremely, then our image is going to have a magenta cast all over it. The higher the Output number in the Blue channel is going to leave a blue color cast over our image and a lower Output number is going to create a yellow color cast.

Step 4:

Choose New Adjustment Layer.

Now let’s put this theory into action. We again start our correction by selecting Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves and after closer examination we concluded that our image is too yellow. As we explained before, yellow corresponds to Blue channel. That is why our next step is to change the RGB channel to Blue channel.

Step 5:

Add Blue color.

Yellow color cast was mostly visible in the darker parts of our image. With our Eyedropper tool, we pointed to one of those parts and our Input number in the Curves palette pointed to 51. Since the image is too yellow we need to add blue to make it neutral. To add blue color to our image, we need to change the Output number to higher than 51.

Step 6:

Switch Blue Chennel to Red Chennel.

Next, we adjusted the yellow color cast; however our image now looks too red especially in the lighter parts. In order to adjust the red color cast, we have to switch from the Blue channel to the Red channel. Then with the Eyedropper tool, we look for lighter parts in our image that could look better without a red color cast.

Step 7:

Reduce Red Color Cast.

In this case, our Input number is about 213, which in mathematical expression indicates the lighter parts of the image. Now to reduce the red color cast, we need to change our Output number to less than 213, which in this case is going to be around 199.

Images Before and After

And that’s all when it comes to color correction using the Curves Adjustment tool. Once again, let’s look at both images, before and after.

CONCLUSION

Once we understand how colors work, we will be able to quickly adjust our images with the Curves Adjustment tool. Basic knowledge of RGB colors and their corresponding colors should allow every amateur and professional to quickly and efficiently fix any color cast.

For more about image color correction and graphics help please visit Clippingimages.com

— Credit: Psd.Tutsplus.com