Correct a color cast like a Pro

[jfrancho]

Should be default 100%.

[Epphoto]

Originally Posted by jhilgedick

In the fill dialog box where you are setting this ... what do you set the opacity to? (using CS3)

Contents

Use: 50% Gray

Blending

Mode: Difference

Opacity: ? ? ?

Thanks

Yes keep it 100%

[jhilgedick]

Thanks .. think i got my layers out of sequence since the first time i tried it i got a 50% grey fill ... and nothing else.

[jhilgedick]

I don't always read things the way everyone else does and sometimes get things out of step/sync. So I took E-man's directions and created a little PDF from his tutorial. I have followed it step by step and don't think I missed anything, but was hoping someone here would proofread it and let me know for editing. Final version will of course cite E-man as the author.

Thanks!

[jhilgedick]

- bump

Anyone?

[J kacey]

Dave Cross taught me that
Don't forget to set the values of your eyedropper tools
Adobe Photoshop Tutorial | Color Correction Using Curves Adjustment Layer | Layers Magazine
Easier to Shoot RAW

[J kacey]

Tip if you want to delete a eyedropper point........
Hold down Shift and Option (MAC) and click on the point
POOF! Gone

[Harry]

Ok, I tried everyones method and struck out, using CS2. Everyone leaves out minor steps that can, and does, leave some of us frustrated. I went to the video tutorial and picked out the missing pieces and I think I got it to work. Here is a before and after, with no other adjustments added. BTW, the missing piece was that you need to select and set your color picker tool. When in the threshold mode, you need to hit the shift key to utilize the color picker so that it leaves the marks needed later.

[morrow47]

Another thing left out is the Curves Layer shoud be set to color instead of normal. By being set to color only color is adjusted. If left to normal luminsoity, saturation and color can be affected. Sometimes this OK, but when you want to adjust color then Color should be selected. This how it was explained at Radiant Vista.

[jfrancho]

Originally Posted by morrow47

Another thing left out is the Curves Layer should be set to color instead of normal. By being set to color only color is adjusted. If left to normal luminosity, saturation and color can be affected. Sometimes this OK, but when you want to adjust color then Color should be selected. This how it was explained at Radiant Vista.

Then you'd need to do a separate curves layer for setting the gray point, since the point of setting the white and black point is to adjust luminosity and color. Either way is sound for most quick fixes, but if an image gives you trouble, then separate the color shift and luminosity into two separate layers. Really this technique is color correction and contrast correction all in one.

[morrow47]

No you use one curve layer. Set the black and white and middle in the same layer. You are adjusting for color cast, not brightness.

[jfrancho]

There are many ways to skin a cat in Photoshop, and I suggest you try them all before ruling that one way is superior to the other. By using color mode, you are shifting the gray point (regardless of which dropper you use) to achieve a color correction only. By using normal mode, you are eliminating wasted color depth by stretching the histo across the range, and using the middle dropper to affect and resolve any color shift caused by such change in luminosity. Two birds, two stones. YMMV - you won't know until you try. Each image has its own limitation.

[pop]

"On the Curves Layer get the black eye eyedropper and sample the #1 mark ( this is your Darkest spot on the picture)"
Worked out my error. Your instructions should have included "shift" . The good news is that it is darn quicker than channel mixer adjustments.
thx epphoto...you're magic

[Epphoto]

Originally Posted by pop

"On the Curves Layer get the black eye eyedropper and sample the #1 mark ( this is your Darkest spot on the picture)"
Worked out my error. Your instructions should have included "shift" . The good news is that it is darn quicker than channel mixer adjustments.
thx epphoto...you're magic

Thanks

[jhilgedick]

Originally Posted by Harry

Ok, I tried everyones method and struck out, using CS2.

Everyone leaves out minor steps that can, and does, leave some of us frustrated.

I went to the video tutorial and picked out the missing pieces

BTW, the missing piece was that you need to select and set your color picker tool.

When in the threshold mode, you need to hit the shift key to utilize the color picker so that it leaves the marks needed later.

Admittedly I wrote my translation around CS3.

When clicking on the eyedropper tool, I clicked and held until the flyout menu displayed the color sampler; which I then selected (not sure why you would use the shift key to get it - maybe a CS2 thing?). Never thought about using the shift key to click inside the image during threshold. I just set the threshold, selected ok, then used the color sampler.

Let me know about that color sampler tool and I'll revise (if you found it helpful)

[Harry]

In CS2, not sure about 3, you pick your color picker tool. Then when you go into thresholds, in order to get the color picker tool to leave the mark, you have to hold the shift key down until the color picker shows the little plus sign, click on your spot and it leaves the mark.