Photo Color Correction

Adobe Photoshop Tutorial

Removing Red Cast

The photo of TV actress Jennie Garth was chosen because she is cute, the picture is strong, and the difference in quality after the color correction is remarkable.

It was initially unclear how significant the difference would be. You never really know how much of a difference you can make.

The initial observation was the scanned color picture of Jennie Garth had problems in two main areas: it was both out of focus and required color correction. Besides the blur, she looks as if she has a serious sunburn. The red channel has dominated.

The picture is also muddy or flat in its tone, lacking balanced contrast and brightness in its high, low, and mid tonal ranges.

The following sequence used for the color correction is basic and logical. It keeps with the order established by the software (Photoshop).

Starting in a new file, the image above was pasted. It was then duplicated onto a separate layer. Followed by these color corrections (see Steps 1 - 6).

Note: the Adjustment Layers were stacked on top of each other in the order of the default settings of the software (Curves under Levels, etc.)

Step 1 - Levels

Layer > New > Adjustment Layer > Levels
Input Levels: 2, 1.17, 221
Red: 20, 1.06, 255
Green: 16, 0.99, 255
Blue: 0, 1.09, 235

This step using Levels made the picture brighter and corrected some but not all of the tonal problems, removing much of the muddy green and bringing out the richness of the blue water, as shown below.

Photo after color correction using Levels

Step 2 - Curves

Layer > New > Adjustment Layer > Curves
Input: 165
Output: 182

This was just a simple, quick adjustment to make the picture a little brighter.

Photo after color correction using Curves

Step 3 - Brightness/Contrast

Layer > New > Adjustment Layer > Brightness/Contrast
Brightness: +10
Contrast: +10

Further brightening was done using the main control setting for this purpose (Brightness/Contrast), without making the brightest parts of the photo (hair) lose too much detail. Contrast was added, without making the darkest parts too black or dark, and limiting their size in any one area and overall within the picture.

The result of the more flattering brightness and contrast includes the undesirable side effect of making the red dominate in the darker areas of the picture (her face, lips, and part of her shoulder) to the point where it looks weird, not even like a bad sunburn.

You can also see red/pink on lighter shades of her hair, and at the edges of her arms and shoulders. And if you look really closely, you can see the water itself has a subtle red/pink tint. It is better than the original murky green/blue/black, but it is still not a true blue.

Photo after color correction using Brightness/Contrast

Step 4 - Color Balance

Layer > New > Adjustment Layer > Color Balance
Shadows: -70, -9, -11
Midtones: 0, 0, 0
Highlights: -20, +7, +20

The difference with this adjustment is huge. Jennie's hair looks realistic now. The red is gone. The -70 in the Shadows was a "hard left," sucking out most all the red. Less severe but still fairly strong, the -20 in the Highlights sucks the red or pink out of the edge of her hair. The water in the background is now a true clean blue; and the contrast between her blonde hair and the blue water is beautiful.

Photo after color correction using Color Balance

Step 5 - Hue/Saturation

Layer > New > Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation

Master
Hue: +1
Saturation: 0
Lightness: 0

Reds
Hue: 0
Saturation: -10
Lightness: +6

Blues
Hue: +5
Saturation: 0
Lightness: 0

Despite the last adjustment (Color Balance), Jennie's skin color looks a bit too saturated. There is too much red still. This was therefore sucked out (-10) by localized desaturation, not of the entire color spectrum (Master), just the reds (Reds). We want to keep the saturation level of the rich blue water. Maybe she had a sunburn when the picture was taken, maybe she didn't, but in any event, her skin tone now looks better, natural and healthy. The lightness in the Reds was cranked up a little to sort out the parts of her face which were causing too much harsh contrast.

Photo after color correction using Hue/Saturation

Step 6 - Selective Color Options

Layer > New > Adjustment Layer > Selective Color Options

Reds
C: +5
M: 0
Y: 0
B: -4

Yellows
C: -15
M: -3
Y: +3
B: -7

Blues
C: 0
M: 0
Y: 0
B: -5

Neutrals
C: -5
M: 0
Y: +1
B: -1

Blacks
C: 0
M: +14
Y: +7
B: 0

If you look beyond the blue water and blonde hair you will notice a new problem and side effect from the last color correction (Hue/Saturation).

Her eyes have a weird green tint and so do the shadows at the roots of her hair. It looks as if moss is growing there. Yikes! You can also see more of the same green color beneath her arms on the edge of the swimming pool.

Photo after color correction using Selective Color Options

And here you see the final image. The colors are right, the tone is flattering, and Jennie Garth looks stunning. Her hair color, her skin, her cheeks, her lips, her arms, and the blue water in the background all look excellent.

UPDATE: After seeing this picture months later, it became clear there is still another problem.

Step 7 - Selective Color Options - Black

The colors are mostly right, but the remaining problem is the darkest parts of the water. They are jet black when they should be dark blue. What to do?

Photo after color correction using Selective Color Options (Step 6)

Create a new Adjustment Layer to modify the Blacks in the Selective Color Options control panel.

Photo after color correction using Selective Color Options

Improvements to the water had the side effect of creating what looks like a blue cast in the area below her arms.

To solve this problem, click on the new SCO (Selective Color Options) Adjustment Layer, select the area below her arms, feather it (1-5), and fill that area (with black).

You can airbrush other parts of the picture where unwanted blue was similarly added in the darkest areas, e.g., her hair.

Photo after color correction using Selective Color Options