Changing the color of an element.
One thing I love about photoshop is that there are so many ways to do something. And whilst it may seem confusing over time you come to appreciate that different ways give differing results in differing situations. Which means there is always something else you can try if one doesn't work.
So starting with the basics. It the object you want to recolour is just a basic flat one colour element such as some text in png format. Open the text in a new window, select the new colour and then paint bucket tool and click on each letter.
Or, open a new layer, click on paint bucket and pour in new layer and press control g
If you want a toning colour, click on the colour you wish to tone with, open the element and click control u, this will bring up the hue saturation menu. On the bottom right is a box with colorise. Click in there and you will get a toning color. This also works well with elements of one color such as bows and ribbons as it keep the textures and shadows.
If you wish to change a plain item to one with a pattern open the item in a window then open the pattern in the window above. Press control g and the pattern will become the same shape as your object and you can still move and resize the pattern to get it exactly where you want it.
If you are feeling particulary adventurous, and you are dealing with lots of colours press control u to get the hue menu up. Your first choice is to use in the master setting and slide the hue button around gently. This will change the colors in your picture. It can be fun if a little tricky as although one color may change to something you like another may not. Saturation and lightness can also be gently moved but to be honest don't go overboard lol.
Still more adventurous, ok click on control u and then master, a drop down will come down with the separate colors. I do quite like using this method as I can change individual colors. I find it best to work down one color at a time as it is suprising what an individual color changes. I also find if you turn hue right up for that color you can see what it is actually affecting if anything. Then when you change it you can see what is has changed to, then when you are done slide hue back down. Using it this way you can have a layout and change maybe just one aspect such as the reds.
At the bottom of the layers box are three little boxes the 3rd being new fill adjustment. You can use this to add a solid color, a photo filter or a gradient. Again a super box of tricks. Photo filter is good for a single all over tint. Gradient has tints but with preset colors such as rainbow or metalics. Play around with these and see what you get.
You are still feeling adventurous? Go to the enhance tab and click on adjust colors, color variations. This is quite fun to play around with. Especially if you need an element to have more or less saturation. I use this if I need to change the colur but not the detail and because I can change thing incrementally. Play around with it. It is quite easy, if you want to change the shadows you can either do it by each color or with overall saturation. I have had some good results with flowers that I needed to brighten without losing detail.
I am feeling super adventurous, what do you have for me. Well you colud use adjust color curves, I have used this a few times, it is also fun and gives you an instant preview of what you will get and you can choose preset styles.
I think my favourite way of playing around with colors is to use the layer styes. Just above where your layers are there is a little drop down menu that goes from normal to luminescent. When you get the hang of these you can do things that make most people go Wha!!!! How the??? Yse they are that good. The best thing to do is take an afternoon to play around with them. Don't be shy, have fun.
So take a pattern paper that you like and open it in a new window. Now open up a layer and give it a solid color. Choose whatever you like, this is just to show you what the layers can do. Now starting with normal use your directional keys to scroll down through the layers. See how each layer changes the paper? Colur will give a more single tone colorful result, hue will keep more of the natural highlights and tones while still changing the color. Screen makes it much lighter. Some you will think 'that doesnt do anything' yet when used on something else it gives a big change.
If you have a paper and you want more saturation duplicate the paper and the use the multply layer on the top layer. If the change is too much the change the opacity. If you need a paper light choose screen and again change the opacity.
So get really aquainted with the layers, don't be shy, if it looks terrible then you have still learned something.
Got a patterned paper and want to add the pattern over say a ribbon so that it blends rather than be a solid color? Put you ribbon in one window. Then you r pattern in another, now go to the layers and choose soft light. When this works it is really cool. I love using it to add patterns to solid objects.
It is also really good for adding textures, but that is a new blog.
So, I bet you have learned more about adding color than you ever wanted to know and I am sure there are many more. If I have missed out anything really cool be sure to message me and describe it. I know all this is a lot to take in but think of it as a reference. Come back and read again if you get stuck or want inspiration. I know for me it takes a while. Above all though have fun and experiment, so what if what you makes looks hideous, just loosing your fear of trying something new is a triumph in itself.
Claire
No comments:
Post a Comment