In this tutorial, we’ll talk about my “go-to tool” for color correction, the Curves Adjustment layer. This is one of my favorite adjustments and I use it instead of widely used Color Balance Adjustment for color correction.
In this video, we’ll also take the time to talk about how color works in computer monitors and in Photoshop. This is a complicated topic but I’ll try to simplify it so it’s easy to understand. Once you have the concepts of RGB and the color wheel, you’ll be able to color correct your images with more ease.
I’ll end the tutorial by showing you how you can use Curves to color match an image to create a realistic composition. This is the image of the jet on the photo cover for this tutorial.
Also, I’ve created this image to help you better understand how curves work. The image represents what would happen when you drag a point up or down, in any given channel.
If you have any questions or comments leave them below!
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Final Image
Drag The Slider To See Before & After
Reina says
July 7, 2014 at 5:35 pmHi,
Thank you so much for your useful tutorials. Although many Dutch speak English not all of them understand English videos with technical terms. Thats the reason why I explain/translate interesting videos into Dutch. I hope you approve I did this one.
http://reinasmallenbroek.nl/photoshop.0003.html
Thanks again
Reina
Photoshop Training Channel says
October 21, 2014 at 12:11 pmNo problem Reina, as long as you give credit!
Thanks!
Reina says
October 22, 2014 at 9:44 amOf course! Thanks!
Grtz Reina
ceeb says
September 18, 2014 at 9:23 amSuch an awesome tutorial, so simple and well explained. Thanks!
Photoshop Training Channel says
September 30, 2014 at 11:59 pmYou’re welcome!
tom says
October 30, 2014 at 11:58 amThanks! Great tutorial. Can you recommend more videos about matching colors and photo compositing?
Photoshop Training Channel says
November 12, 2014 at 6:22 pmTom, I don’t know of any specif video, sorry.
jkjod says
February 26, 2015 at 10:37 amI was curious if this was possible with Photoshop Elements. I shoot quite a bit of film and this type of correction would be useful when scanning negatives. Thanks!
Photoshop Training Channel says
March 4, 2015 at 10:17 pmjkjod,
I’m not sure. I don’t use Elements so I don’t know what it can or can’t do.
Christian says
May 9, 2015 at 5:22 pmHi Jesús. First all I’m sorry my English so I’ll try to explain me.
When you used the eyedropper tool to get samples, I think you had selected a Point sample in sample size (option bar). Is better to have selected that size to get samples or maybe the other options could help to get a better result?
Does It in relation with bit’s image (color proof?¿ profundidad de color?)? Thanks and I hope you understand me. 😉
Photoshop Training Channel says
June 20, 2015 at 12:44 pmChristian,
It all depends in the image, some of the other settings may work best in your image. Essentially what the other options do is take an are of pixels and averege it out to one color. The size of the area depends on what option you choose.
madhavan says
July 26, 2015 at 10:11 amhey thanks man, now i totally understand the rgb and color correction.thanks
Photoshop Training Channel says
July 27, 2015 at 4:16 pmYou’re welcome!
biju says
September 9, 2015 at 4:56 pmCan i get the ps action file of this effects
Photoshop Training Channel says
September 10, 2015 at 7:13 pmThere is no action for this tutorial, I’m not sure what you’re referring to.
Wayne says
October 1, 2015 at 3:23 pmI am not able to download the files for this tutorial, not sure why. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Really enjoy your tutorials.
.
Photoshop Training Channel says
November 11, 2015 at 9:20 pmWayne, if you are still having issues downloading the files please email me through the contact page. Thanks!
Joseph Leahy says
October 16, 2015 at 2:08 amExcllent! Great for revising stuff I had forgotton. Just enough infomation, not over explained. Perfect.
Photoshop Training Channel says
October 16, 2015 at 12:19 pmThank you!
Ritesh Dhaulakhandi says
December 28, 2015 at 5:49 amYou made colour correction very simple to help me understand the complexity behind.
Thanks
Photoshop Training Channel says
January 5, 2016 at 2:58 pmYou’re welcome!
photo group says
January 20, 2016 at 2:29 pmIs it only possible to see this tutorial once because we would like to see it again and it won’t work.
Photoshop Training Channel says
January 20, 2016 at 2:37 pmYou can see it as many times as you like.
It’s a regular YouTube video! 🙂
Elehiguera says
March 24, 2016 at 11:42 amYour tutorials are helping me to understand certain things easily, things and concepts I had been looking for to understand for a long period . Thank you for your time and effort. Sorry for potential grammar mistakes, english is not my first language.
Photoshop Training Channel says
April 20, 2016 at 11:04 pmYou’re welcome! And no worries, English is not my first language either!
Dragan Tomas says
April 29, 2016 at 5:43 amGreat tutorial (plus other ones that you made thought me a lot) and with manny, manny thanks for these learning opportunities.
Photoshop Training Channel says
May 26, 2016 at 1:20 pmThank you!