Tutorial-kind of: Using Curves and Color Balance
Really, I don't think it's really proper to call this a tutorial since all it does is tell of the functions of the Curves feature and Color Balance feature...unless that's what a tutorial does. But this has been requested by killmysorrow and well, here it is. :P
Just a note: I use Adobe Photoshop CS2.
First, let's start with the raw image.
I decided to use a cap of Yokan since it was my Yokan Iconset and header that killmysorrow asked a tutorial for.
Now per my habit, the first thing I do to any image I drag to my canvas and resize is adjust its lighting -- I do that by using Curves (which is something I learned from the people doing those pin-buttons in shops). Click Image -> Adjustments -> Curves or you can simply hit Ctrl+M. After doing so, you should be able to see a pop-up panel with a diagonal line across a grid -- this diagonal line is what we need to move and we can move this in any peak or depth we see fit for the image.
Arching the diagonal line up generally brightens the image.
Arching the diagonal line down generally darkens the image.
Arching the diagonal line like so should give you the image to the left. Personally, I usually use three points to adjust an image and these three points are enough to tackle the Highlights, the Midtones and the Shadows which are the three basic components of an image's lighting. I'm sure more professional shoppers use more points but using three should be okay, as well.
Now for Color Balance.
Color Balance is usually the next thing I hit up after Curves; to access this, go to Image -> Adjustments -> Color Balance or simple hit Ctrl+B. You should see another pop-up panel with three sliders and the three basic lighting components at its foot. Now the sliders basically give you the option to increase any hue that is present in the image.
Moving the slider towards Red increases the reddish hue.
Moving the slider towards Yellow increases the yellowish hue.
Moving the slider towards Magenta increases the magenta's hue.
Keying in the following in each option at the foot should give you the above image.
Now as a final note, I don't usually stop with just one curves then one color balance. While they generally work when combined, it helps to keep repeating them until the image is as you want it to be. You can also use Hue & Saturation, Levels, Selective Coloring or Blending Options to further enhance your image or to attain the above results.
Be careful not to focus too much on a difficult color when adjusting your image -- too much blue or too much red hurts the viewer's eyes unless they stay at the lighter or darker shades. Keep your image friendly to the eye, clear and pleasant to look at, then visitors would surely flock to your graphics in no time. :)
Just a note: I use Adobe Photoshop CS2.
First, let's start with the raw image.
I decided to use a cap of Yokan since it was my Yokan Iconset and header that killmysorrow asked a tutorial for.
Now per my habit, the first thing I do to any image I drag to my canvas and resize is adjust its lighting -- I do that by using Curves (which is something I learned from the people doing those pin-buttons in shops). Click Image -> Adjustments -> Curves or you can simply hit Ctrl+M. After doing so, you should be able to see a pop-up panel with a diagonal line across a grid -- this diagonal line is what we need to move and we can move this in any peak or depth we see fit for the image.
Arching the diagonal line up generally brightens the image.
Arching the diagonal line down generally darkens the image.
Arching the diagonal line like so should give you the image to the left. Personally, I usually use three points to adjust an image and these three points are enough to tackle the Highlights, the Midtones and the Shadows which are the three basic components of an image's lighting. I'm sure more professional shoppers use more points but using three should be okay, as well.
Now for Color Balance.
Color Balance is usually the next thing I hit up after Curves; to access this, go to Image -> Adjustments -> Color Balance or simple hit Ctrl+B. You should see another pop-up panel with three sliders and the three basic lighting components at its foot. Now the sliders basically give you the option to increase any hue that is present in the image.
Moving the slider towards Red increases the reddish hue.
Moving the slider towards Yellow increases the yellowish hue.
Moving the slider towards Magenta increases the magenta's hue.
Keying in the following in each option at the foot should give you the above image.
Now as a final note, I don't usually stop with just one curves then one color balance. While they generally work when combined, it helps to keep repeating them until the image is as you want it to be. You can also use Hue & Saturation, Levels, Selective Coloring or Blending Options to further enhance your image or to attain the above results.
Be careful not to focus too much on a difficult color when adjusting your image -- too much blue or too much red hurts the viewer's eyes unless they stay at the lighter or darker shades. Keep your image friendly to the eye, clear and pleasant to look at, then visitors would surely flock to your graphics in no time. :)