P.S. I Love You: Color Punch

a/k/a How I process a photo in Photoshop.

This will be the 4th Photoshop Elements tutorial we have done so far (the first 3 are offered on the left sidebar). By the way, I'm using Photoshop Elements 5.

Another thing before we get started...a reminder that there are so many ways to edit photos and get the look that you want, and everyone probably has their own favorite techniques and processes. I'm just showing you how I do it. So, here we go...

Here is a photo right out of the camera, unedited. And we're going to make it go places.

  1. Crop it. Oh please! All I want is those two snowbaby faces, and I know I will see their details hiding in there if I crop it. So I click on the "T-square" icon on left sidebar. Then a new top menu appears, and I set the dimensions to 3" wide and 3 " tall. Go to the photo now and click the mouse on the photo where you want to begin cropping, drag photo across photo to crop.

There they are. Now I can see them better!

2. Auto Contrast. This was discussed in the Gray Be Gone Tutorial. Quick refresher though, go to Enhance then scroll down to Auto Contrast. Sit back and watch the magic.

2. Let's punch that color. On your keyboard, select Control J. This creates a new layer over your existing photo. Go to the right bottom menu now, and find where is says LAYERS. Scroll down that menu and click SOFT LIGHT. Punch! Here comes more color! But wait, there's a good chance is way-hay-hay too much color. This all depends on the colors and lighting in the photo. Next to the LAYERS menu on bottom right, you will see OPACITY 100%. Click on the 100% and move that number down down down, to about 25-40%. This one was at 28%.

Also, you now need to flatten those layers. Do this by going back up to the top tool bar, and you will see LAYERS. Scroll down to the bottom where you will see FLATTEN IMAGE. Click that and all will be well again.

3. Now if you want a bit more color, just go to ENHANCE (top tool bar), and scroll down to ADJUST COLOR. From there you will see a menu with a few choices, but scroll down to HUE/SATURATION. From there (this good stuff hides doesn't it?) scroll down to SATURATION, and click on the arrow and move to the right to increase the saturation. You can watch the color change while you do this, so when it looks good to you, click OK.  The saturation was increased to 11% on this photo.

Also, be sure that Color Adjustment Menu is set to MASTER. This means it will increase the saturation of all of the colors in the photo. You can scroll down that menu (below Master) and see the other color choices. If you want to increase the saturation of any one of those colors, just click on that color and increase move the saturation to the right. Try it once and see what happens? If you end up not liking it, just move them back down to "0" or don't click save.

Here is a before/after comparison:

  P.S., I love you.

Comments

[paige]

you are such a photoshop smarty,i'm still a photoshop nerd
but i'm trying
xo

[Lisa Bivona]

I do it...I just don't remember how I do it. No,,, I'm the photoshop nerdette!!!!

[*Kim*]

love u 2!
xo

[Rise']

Can't wait to try this! You're spoiling us...our personal Photoshop trainer.
Much Thanks

[Jeanne]

I am always looking forward to these tutorials! Thanks so much.

[sharon rohloff]

Thank you for posting your tricks and tips - you make a good thing so much better! Consider yourself hugged.

[Susi]

Thank you for a great, easy to understand, tutorial with before and after photos that always helps me so much. I had been duplicating the layer and choosing soft light, but hadn't been enhancing to color. I can't wait to try it.

[Donna Layton]

Wow. That's amazing.

[jillconyers]

First time visit :) I'll try out your tuts this weekend!