In this video tutorial by Adobe Creative Cloud, you’ll learn how to change the color of any object in Photoshop. The goal of the tutorial is to apply a yellow color to a couch, and it covers advanced techniques for color matching using the HSB color system. The video starts by explaining the three components of color – hue, saturation, and brightness – and how they work together to create different colors in Photoshop. Then, it guides you through the process of selecting the object, creating a layer mask, and applying a solid color fill layer using blending modes to match the hue and saturation. Finally, it demonstrates how to adjust the brightness and fine-tune the mask for a more realistic and detailed result. With this tutorial, you’ll be able to change the color of any object in Photoshop like a pro.
Understanding the HSB Color System
Explanation of the HSB Color System
The HSB color system, also known as the Hue, Saturation, and Brightness color model, is a widely used method for representing and manipulating colors. It is based on the principles of human perception and provides a more intuitive way of understanding and working with colors compared to other color models like RGB or CMYK.
The HSB color model breaks down colors into three main components: hue, saturation, and brightness.
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Hue: Hue represents the pure color itself, such as red, blue, or green. It is measured as an angle on a color wheel, with 0 degrees representing red, 120 degrees representing green, and 240 degrees representing blue. The hue component of a color determines its overall tone or dominant color.
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Saturation: Saturation refers to the intensity or purity of a color. A highly saturated color appears vivid and vibrant, while a desaturated color appears less intense and closer to grayscale. Saturation is measured as a percentage, with 0% being completely desaturated (black and white) and 100% being fully saturated.
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Brightness: Brightness determines the overall lightness or darkness of a color. It is often referred to as value or lightness. A higher brightness value makes a color appear lighter, while a lower brightness value makes it darker. Brightness is measured as a percentage, with 0% being completely black and 100% being completely white.
By manipulating the values of hue, saturation, and brightness, you can create a vast range of colors and achieve various visual effects.
Components of the HSB Color System
To better understand and work with the HSB color system, it is important to grasp the individual components: hue, saturation, and brightness.
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Hue gives you control over the actual color or tone of a pixel or object. By adjusting the hue value, you can shift the color along the color wheel. For example, increasing the hue value will transition a color from red towards orange, while decreasing the hue value will shift it towards purple.
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Saturation determines the intensity or purity of a color. A high saturation value makes the color appear vivid and vibrant, while a low saturation value desaturates it and makes it less intense. Adjusting the saturation allows you to make colors more or less vibrant without changing their hue.
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Brightness affects the overall brightness or darkness of a color. By adjusting the brightness value, you control how light or dark the color appears. Increasing the brightness value will make the color lighter, while decreasing it will make it darker. This component is especially useful for creating shadows and highlights in an image or artwork.
Understanding and manipulating these three components independently enables you to have precise control over the colors you work with, leading to more accurate and appealing results.
Matching the Color of the Object
Selecting the Object
In order to match the color of an object, you first need to select it in your image or artwork. This can be done using various selection tools in your preferred image editing software, such as the lasso tool, magic wand tool, or quick selection tool. Make sure to refine your selection to accurately capture the object’s boundaries.
Once you have the object selected, you can proceed to apply the desired color adjustments.
Applying a Solid Color Fill Layer
One effective way to match the color of an object is by using a Solid Color Fill layer. This layer allows you to apply a solid color directly to the selected object, without affecting the underlying image or artwork.
To create a Solid Color Fill layer, go to the Layers panel in your image editing software and click on the “Create a new fill or adjustment layer” button. From the dropdown menu, select “Solid Color.” Choose the desired color from the color picker dialog box that appears, and click OK.
The Solid Color Fill layer will be created above your selected object, and the selected object will now be filled with the chosen color. You can experiment with different colors until you find the one that matches your desired outcome.
Choosing a Blending Mode
In some cases, simply applying a Solid Color Fill layer may not give you the exact desired result. This is where blending modes come in handy.
Blending modes determine how the colors of different layers interact with each other. By changing the blending mode of the Solid Color Fill layer, you can achieve different blending effects that may help you match the color of the object more accurately.
To change the blending mode of a layer, select the Solid Color Fill layer in the Layers panel. Then, click on the blending mode dropdown menu and experiment with different options. Some common blending modes that can be useful for color matching include Overlay, Soft Light, and Color.
Keep in mind that the best blending mode for your specific image or artwork will depend on various factors, such as the lighting conditions, the colors involved, and the overall desired effect. Don’t hesitate to try different blending modes until you achieve the desired result.
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Adjusting the Brightness
Creating a Levels Adjustment Layer
After matching the color of the object, you may need to adjust the brightness to ensure that it blends seamlessly with the rest of the image or artwork. One effective way to do this is by using a Levels Adjustment layer.
A Levels Adjustment layer allows you to fine-tune the brightness and contrast of an image or selection. It provides control over the shadows, midtones, and highlights, allowing you to achieve the desired tonal range.
To create a Levels Adjustment layer, go to the Layers panel and click on the “Create a new fill or adjustment layer” button. From the dropdown menu, select “Levels.” A Levels Adjustment dialog box will appear, showing a histogram and various sliders.
Adjusting the Brightness and Contrast
To adjust the brightness using the Levels Adjustment layer, start by identifying the midpoint slider in the dialog box. This slider controls the overall brightness of the image or selection. By dragging the midpoint slider to the right, you increase the brightness, and by dragging it to the left, you decrease it.
Make sure to observe the changes in real-time and adjust the brightness until you achieve the desired result. Be cautious not to overdo it, as excessively adjusting the brightness can lead to unrealistic or unnatural-looking results.
In addition to the midpoint slider, the Levels Adjustment layer provides sliders for adjusting the shadows and highlights. These sliders can be used to fine-tune the tonal range and bring out the desired details in your image or artwork. Experiment with these sliders to achieve the best possible result.
Fine-tuning the Mask
Making Additional Mask Adjustments if Necessary
Once you have matched the color and adjusted the brightness of the object, it is important to fine-tune the mask to ensure a seamless integration with the rest of the image or artwork.
Masking allows you to selectively control the visibility and transparency of different parts of a layer. In the case of color-matching an object, a mask helps blend the object with its surroundings by hiding or revealing certain areas.
To fine-tune the mask, select the Solid Color Fill layer in the Layers panel and click on the layer mask thumbnail. This will open the mask properties panel, where you can make additional adjustments.
If you notice that some areas of the object still appear disconnected or unnatural, you can use various painting or editing tools to refine the mask. For example, the brush tool with a soft edge can be used to paint on the mask to reveal or hide specific areas. The eraser tool can also be useful for removing unwanted parts of the mask.
Take your time to carefully go through the mask and make any necessary adjustments until you achieve a seamless integration of the color-matched object with the rest of the image or artwork.
Comparing with the Hue and Saturation Adjustment Layer
Explanation of the Issues with Using a Hue and Saturation Adjustment Layer
While a Hue and Saturation Adjustment layer may seem like a convenient tool for color matching, it often falls short in terms of precision and control.
When using a Hue and Saturation Adjustment layer to match the color of an object, you are limited to adjusting the hue, saturation, and lightness of the entire image or selection as a whole. This makes it challenging to isolate and target specific areas or objects for color adjustment.
Additionally, the Hue and Saturation Adjustment layer tends to affect the entire range of colors in an image or selection, leading to unintended changes in other parts of the artwork or image that may already have the desired color or tone.
By working with the HSB color system and its separate components (hue, saturation, and brightness) as explained earlier, you can achieve much more precise and targeted color adjustments for your objects, allowing for better matching and integration with the rest of your composition.
Benefits of Splitting the Components
Complete Control over Color and Brightness
One of the major advantages of working with the HSB color system is the ability to have complete control over the color and brightness of your objects. By independently adjusting the hue, saturation, and brightness, you can fine-tune each component to achieve the desired visual effect.
This level of control allows you to match the color of objects with great accuracy, ensuring that they seamlessly blend into the rest of your image or artwork. Whether you need to adjust the color to match a specific tone or make it more vibrant or subdued, the HSB color system provides the flexibility to do so.
Preserving Shadows and Details
Another significant benefit of using the HSB color system is the ability to preserve shadows and details in your color-matched objects. The separate brightness component allows you to adjust the lightness or darkness of the color without sacrificing the shadows or details.
By adjusting the brightness independently, you can maintain the depth and dimensions of the object while achieving the desired color match. This is particularly useful when color-matching objects in images or artwork that rely on shading and shadows to create a realistic or three-dimensional effect.
Conclusion
Summary of the Color Matching Technique
Matching the color of an object in an image or artwork is an important skill for achieving cohesive and visually appealing compositions. The HSB color system, with its components of hue, saturation, and brightness, provides a powerful and intuitive approach to accomplishing this.
By selecting the object, applying a Solid Color Fill layer, adjusting the brightness with a Levels Adjustment layer, and fine-tuning the mask, you can achieve an accurate color match that seamlessly integrates with the rest of your image or artwork.
The HSB color system offers complete control over color and brightness, allowing for precise adjustments and the preservation of shadows and details. This ensures that your color-matched objects look natural and cohesive within their respective compositions.
Encouragement to Try the Technique on Personal Photos
Now that you understand the basics of the HSB color system and how it can be used for color matching, it’s time to put your newfound knowledge into practice. Don’t hesitate to experiment with color-matching techniques on your own photos or artworks, and explore the endless possibilities that the HSB color system offers.
By mastering the art of color matching, you can elevate the visual impact of your compositions and create captivating images and artworks that resonate with viewers. Enjoy the process and embrace the creative possibilities that come with understanding and using the HSB color system.
