Photoshop Actions ~ Color Pop ~ Color Correction ~ Hue/Saturation

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Sometimes Photoshop adjustment layers and Photoshop actions can make a huge difference in taking images from good to great. In a recent Photoshop online training class, I was working with Heather of HGJ Photography. Her straight out of camera image was really good.  The lighting was pretty and the composition pleasing. I decided to show her how a few clicks in Photoshop could liven up the image – especially using some selective editing.

Here are the steps we took:

  1. To enrich the color of the grass, I started by pulling up a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. I dropped down and worked on the yellow and then the green channels.  With the yellow channel selected, I changed my settings to: hue +26, saturation +24, lightness -21. Then on the green, I altered my settings to: hue +7, saturation +47, lightness stayed the same.  I liked the color much better of the grass now, but this will be a personal preference, and will vary based on what you colors you have to start.
  2. Used the FREE Photoshop action, Touch of Light/Touch of Darkness, with a brush set to 30% opacity.  I used the touch of light layer and lightened the chair and legs and arms of the girl. Her face was already bright. Then I used the touch of dark layer and darkened and deepened the background.
  3. To add a more intense color on the chair and the grass, I used the Quickie Collection’s Selective Color Pop Photoshop action called Finger Paint Medium.
  4. The color was a bit off so I ran the Color Correction Photoshop action, Magic See-Saw, from the Bag of Tricks. I added warmth by using the yellow up and magenta up layers.
  5. I noticed bruises on the little girl’s legs and also deep lines under her eyes.  I selected the background layer, made a duplicate copy, and used the patch tools to remove them.  I brought the layer opacity to 72% so that the changes would look natural.
  6. Lastly I used the Eye Doctor – eye pop Photoshop action – and just activated the sharp as a tack layer to selectively sharpen the eyes.  This way the rest of the image remained softer and dreamier.

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  1. Scott Russell on July 23, 2010 at 10:07 am

    Nice post! Like you’ve said, her SOC photo was already really nice but just a few little touches in PS really made it pop!

  2. {aino} on July 23, 2010 at 10:56 am

    Thanks – this was great to read! 🙂

  3. Heather Johnson on July 23, 2010 at 2:35 pm

    Thanks for all your help again Jodi! For anyone reading this who hasn’t taken a class from her yet–I would highly recommend it. I have learned so much:)

  4. Lorraine Reynolds on July 24, 2010 at 1:17 am

    NOw Iam a very amateur with these things – never tried an action in my life. But I actually like the original (maybe its my screen to, I’ve never calibrated it either). I’m finding her skin a bit washed out in the after shot, and her white top is nearly lost against her arm. I do like the colour pop of the clothes and chair; the grass and trees I would need to know the reality of their colour first. Just my opinion, and again I am very new to all of this.

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