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Soften Exposure and Colour in Photoshop

August 16, 2008

In this Soften Exposure and Colour in Photoshop Tutorial I hope to explain how you can create the similar effect.

The “before image” is perfectly fine, but I often find I want to soften the hardness in photographs and also the deep, often glaring colouring. With this tutorial I hope to explain how to soften the harsh colouring and exposure in Photoshop - it only takes a few minutes, but it makes all the difference.

Once you’ve picked up these few things I do here, you’ll be able to transfer them onto any photograph, graphic etc. Good luck!

Feel free to request something similar to this Soften Exposure and Colour in Photoshop.

Before

Image from LETTERS-TO-YOU.COM!!

After

Image from LETTERS-TO-YOU.COM!!

Soften Exposure and Colour in Photoshop - The Steps

  • Firstly open up the image you want to use for this tutorial (you can use the image above to try this out), if you don’t know how check this tutorial out.

  • Duplicate your layer -> Layer -> Duplicate Layer…
  • Now you should have two layers. Then go -> Image -> Adjustments -> Auto Color - then go -> Image -> Adjustments -> Auto Contrast and then -> Image -> Adjustments -> Auto Levels
  • Merge your layers -> Layer -> Merge Visible and once that’s done
    duplicate     your layer -> Layer ->

    Duplicate     Layer…
  • Now go -> Image -> Adjustments -> Photo Filter - Once the box has appeared change the following. Make sure ‘Preserve Luminosity’ is ticked. That the opacity is 50% and on the little drop down that you’ve selected ‘Sepia’ it’s towards the bottom.
  • Merge your layers -> Layer -> Merge Visible and once that’s done
    duplicate     your layer -> Layer ->

    Duplicate     Layer…
  • Next you need to go -> Filter -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur - and change your settings to 6.0
  • Now go -> Filter -> Noise -> Dust & Scratches… and change your settings to mine which are displayed below!
    Radius: 12
    Threshold: 0
  • Go -> Layer -> Layer Mask -> Reveal all once that’s done get your eraser tool, pick a round default brush, I suggest the size should be 100 or higher… set the opacity to 50% and erase everything - eg… erase the whole layer. Once that’s done set your layer opacity to 50% and if you’re not happy with that you can lower it or higher it - it’s personal preference.
  • Now go -> Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Color Balance and change your layers to mine which are below (Make sure the ‘Preserve Luminosity’ is not ticked):Midtones: +52 +38 +32
    Shadows: +100 +32 +100
    Highlights: -43 +7 -12
  • Lastly, if you look at the image before you started editing it and then look at the image at this point you’ll notice that the girl’s eyes are not as blue.
    I thought it was a shame and so I did the following:
    Create a new layer -> Layer -> New -> Layer… and change the opacity to 30% and layer to overlay
  • Now that you have a new layer select your brush, make sure it’s hard black default one, not the one that’s soft at the edges - change the size to 16!
    Once that’s done select a blue - I used the blue from the background on the right hand side - add the blue to her eyes and then change the colour blue to black and do the same - she should now have more blue-ish eyes.
  • Aaandddd you’re done. I hope this Soften Exposure and Colour in Photoshop Tutorial was helpful - however if you have any questions regarding this tutorial then please leave a comment below and I’ll happily reply. :blink:

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Photoshop Overexposed Color Effect

June 29, 2008

This Photoshop Overexposed Color Effect Tutorial will explain how to create the below effect.

Photographs alone are very pretty, but sometimes you didn’t quite get the right effect and wish it was a bit sharper, deeper, more overexposed… all sorts of things. With this photograph I wanted to add a deeper coour to the blossom and twigs, but not so much sky and background. I’m using adjustment layers in this tutorial as well as colour layers and it’s a great effect for many other photographs.

Once you have a few of these effects in your bag, you can easily try them out on your photographs, some work better than others - the best thing about this is, it isn’t too hard at all.

Feel free to request something similar to this Photoshop Overexposed Color Effect Tutorial.

Before

Before the effect

After

After the effect.

Photoshop Overexposed Color Effect - The Steps


  • First of all, I suggest you download the image I am using - right click on it and save image
  • Secondly, I wanted to sharpen the image a bit - I decided to use the high pass filter to do that. So, duplicate your layer - CTRL (win) / Command (mac) + J - then go to your layers palette and change the layer mode (it’s the drop down menu displaying "Normal") to "Overlay"
  • Now for the high pass filter. Go -> Filter -> Other -> High Pass (filter is along side the File, Edit, Image tool bar) - change your high pass radius to 6.0 then press OK and then press CTRL (win) / Command (mac) + E to merge the layers.
  • Now duplicate your newly merged layer. CTRL (win) / Command (mac) + J - change the layer mode from "Normal" to "Screen" (to do that go to the layers Palette and locate the drop down menu which displays "Normal")
  • Now go -> Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Gradient Map select the default gradient, change the colours so that the first one is 6d573f and the second is just white. It’ll look like this. Then go to the layers palette and change the layer mode to Multiply
  • Now go -> Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Hue/Saturation - alter the saturation to +37 then press OK
  • Next, go -> Layer -> New Fill Layer -> Solid Color… when the first box appears leave the Opacity at 100% and change the "Normal" drop down menu to "Soft Light" - then press OK, another box will appear, the colour box - at the bottom you’ll see 6 digits, change them to d88bf2 - then press OK

  • This time go -> Layer -> New Fill Layer -> Solid Color… when the first box appears change the Opacity to 71% and change the "Normal" drop down menu to "Color Burn" - then press OK, another box will appear, the colour box - at the bottom you’ll see 6 digits, change them to 95c9f4 - then press OK:laugh:
  • Next, go -> Layer -> New Fill Layer -> Solid Color… when the first box appears leave the Opacity at 100% and change the "Normal" drop down menu to "Soft Light" - then press OK, another box will appear, the colour box - at the bottom you’ll see 6 digits, change them to e5f79a - then press OK
  • Now you need to download this curves file. Once you’ve saved it to your computer, open Photoshop again, then go -> Layer -> New Layer Adjustment -> Curves -> Load -> Locate your file -> press OK and OK again
  • Right, now go -> Layer -> New Fill Layer -> Solid Color… when the first box appears change the Opacity to 59% and change the "Normal" drop down menu to "Color Burn" - then press OK, another box will appear, the colour box - at the bottom you’ll see 6 digits, change them to 95c9f4 - then press OK
  • Next, go -> Layer -> New Fill Layer -> Solid Color… when the first box appears change the Opacity to 41% and change the "Normal" drop down menu to "Overlay - then press OK, another box will appear, the colour box - at the bottom you’ll see 6 digits, change them to e5f79a - then press OK
  • Next, go -> Layer -> New Fill Layer -> Solid Color… when the first box appears leave the Opacity at 100% and change the "Normal" drop down menu to "Soft Light" - then press OK, another box will appear, the colour box - at the bottom you’ll see 6 digits, change them to d88bf2 - then press OK
  • And that’s it. It’s pretty basic but useful. You can easily alter colours I use and also change the layer more + opacity, it really makes a difference. If you have any questions regarding this Photoshop Overexposed Color Effect Tutorial then just drop me a line in the below comment box. I’ll happily reply. :yay:

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