Restore color to bland images using photoshop

[Ma3x*]

In this short tutorial, I will show you how to restore color to a bland image using Layer Effects in Photoshop.

 

The basic idea of this tutorial is to show you how to make elegant scenes out of dull images and show you how to enhance color using layer styles.

 

You will be transforming this image:

Into:

Before we begin, you can use the image in the first step, however, if u want the original larger image you can download it here.

 

Step 1:

 

Open the image:

Step 2:

 

Getting the proper lighting and exposing blackened areas:

 

Copy the layer. Go to the Layer menu, click on Add Layer Mask, you get two options, choose Reveal All. A layer mask will get created.

 

After you have done this, change the layer effect to Linear Dodge. This will over brighten the image. However, it will brighten the left area of the original image completely, this part was very dark in the original image, we can salvage this.

Continued on next page..

Step 3:

 

To get rid of the extra brightness, we will use the layer mask and the eraser, why use the layer mask? this way, if you make a mistake, you can just delete the layer mask and create a new one without damaging any content on the layer itself. Choose a very large brush size with Hardness at 40% and set the eraser opacity to 50%. Look at the images below and follow removing the white spots, step by step:

Step 4:

 

Create a new layer. Take the color [#99CCCC] and spread it over the layer using the paint bucket tool. Change the layer effect to Saturation. This will brighten up all the colors.

 

I hope this tutorial was easy to understand. Feel free to leave me questions if there are any.

Credit: http://www.surfnlearn.com/read_tutorial/4008/1/

[Coolis®]

Very nC guide but, where is a credits??

[Ma3x*]

Very nC guide but, where is a credits??

Ups :S

[Morian]

Awesome! Very good tutorial, Thank you!

[FiX]

Nice Tutorial Keep it UP!!!

[OnlyLoveXxX]

Nice tut, i like it ;) also i can't download it, dunno if i from me i will restart my pc