How to make the most Natural Color Correction in Photoshop!
So what if I told you there was a second dimension of data in your photos that can help you make the most accurate color correction ever? You probably wouldn’t believe me because it is a bold statement and you might not be as into Sci-Fi as I am. However, this other dimension is not in a galaxy far far away as it sounds, it is as simple as inverting your photo to access it.
The idea for this type of color correction comes from a new course I developed for the f.64 Elite community, Ps Foundations: The Inverted Image. It uses the principles of Color Theory, more specifically, the Complementary Color relationship to help you find the most natural color to add to your photo to reduce the color cast or fix the White Balance. While that might sound complicated, it is rather simple.
1. Start out by duplicating your Background Layer in Photoshop (Ctrl + J, CMD + J on Mac)
2. Then Inverted the Image (Ctrl + I, CMD + I on Mac)
3. Now go up to Filter > Blur > Average : This will give you the blended color for all the colors in the image. Think of it as a protein shake when you mix all of the ingredients they change to one color, right? Well, this specific color is the color we will use to offset the White Balance of the photo.
4. Set the blended color layer to Soft Light
5. Above the blended color, add an HSL Adjustment Layer. Make it a Clipping Mask by holding ALT (Option on Mac) and clicking between the two layers.
6. Using Saturation in the HSL layer you can increase the amount of color correction by moving it to the right, slowly.
7. You can increase or decrease the intensity of the color correction with the Lightness adjustment. That’s it!
8. If you would like to add a hint of color, try changing the Hue.
9. That’s it! Simple right? Well if not, you can always check out the video below for step by step instructions
For Blake, it's all about the art and process synergy. He dives deep into complex topics and makes them easy to understand through his outside-the-box thinking so that you can use these tricks in your workflow today!
Correcting color casts with blurred inverted layer has been around for a long time. I am starting to think that with everyone switching to Lightroom, people are forgetting the power of Photoshop.
I haven’t seen it done this way. Not with the addition of the HSL layer. Typically the buck stops at the blurred Average and doesn’t go that next step.
once a person understands adjustment layers and blending modes, the possibilities are endless 🙂
I had never done this at all, and used to spend hours trying to correct white balance in astrophotography. This is a godsend – I can do it in minutes, and do it much better! Thanks so much!
Great stuff, Blake. I’ll be adding this to my workflow. Quick question: would this replace the traditional color correction wherein you set white, black, and mid-tone points or could the two be used together?
I would use this together and independently from the white and black points. Those are mainly for tone, this is mainly for color correction.
That really does work! I love it.
🙂 Sweet! Glad you liked it too!
Hi Blake, where do you see this fitting into the ZSE workflow? Start or end?
It could be either really. At the start to get the most accurate color first, or at the end to check your work before moving into your artistic effects.
Is this Gaussian blurred Average method the same as the “Neutralize Color” colour correction in the ZSE 4 panel?
Also do you run contrast checker before going into Tone in the ZSE?
No, it is quite different actually. The one in the ZSE 4 uses a different approach.
I usually use the Contrast Checker before moving into Effects, just after the Tone and Color adjustments.
Blake great tutorial I like it.
Tried this on a photo that I had rated too low to photoshop. Wow what a difference, was able to easily save that photo and sent it to the client and she loved it. Thank you for sharing. Great video, great tutorial.
SWEEEET!!! I can quit for the day 🙂
This is a fantastic addition to your work flow. Thank you Blake Rudis
No problem! It is my pleasure!
I like the simplicity of this technique and it makes me think ‘why didn’t i know of this before’. Every day that we learn or do something is a good day
This is a old technique, glad your excited but I thought from the title you reinvented the wheel, I was wrong.
Hello Cole, I have seen the inverted color average before, but I have never seen the HSL layer added above it to adjust the contrast. I could be wrong, but if you could link the place where you saw this I would GREATLY appreciate it.
Wow! Pretty amazing Blake! I love it! I publish fine art paintings and tried this technique on some digital captures of oil paintings we had done years ago. This worked very well. Instead of using the Hue layer, I flattened the two layers, turned it into a smart object and used camera raw to tweak. Very pleased with the results! Thanks for sharing all your great vids! Much appreciated!
Old or new doesn’t matter. Great stuff Blake. Thanks very much.
Blake,
This is awesome technique, and I already tried it on a couple of my real estate photos.
Thanks you so…so much for this technique.
Could you please add this to your ZSE 4 panel
I sure like the power of this simple technique. I especially appreciate how it sets up the color grade for a more overall pleasing aesthetic. Thanks, Blake.
I want everyone to know what kind of nice guy Blake is. In May of 2016 Blake was shooting Yosemite from Washburn Point. A storm was coming in threatening to obscure Half Dome. As I rushed up to the crowded observation platform Blake was kind enough to make room for me. Thanks again Blake you are a thoughtful and talented guy and I wish you success.
🙂 Absolutely! I think I remember that! What a beautiful sight to see too. I try not to hog locations, but sometimes I throw elbows, haha, you caught me on a good day 🙂
Thanks for another wonderful technique, Blake! I’ll tested on the photos I’ll take next week in Vegas, Valley of Fire, and Death Valley.
I meant “test it” instead of tested.
Hey Blake, great techniques. I was surprised to find the contrast effect helpful in milky way photos to add some glow and bring out the Milky Way without adding noise and also I found the haze effect to be quite useful in Milky Way photos to be printed (with some protection of shadows included).
Hi! What is the most accurate White Balance or Color Correction in photoshop? ?
there really is no right answer, just the color correction method that works for you on the image you are processing