To change colors in Photoshop, use the Properties panel and adjust the Hue and Saturation sliders for specific color ranges.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Access the Properties Panel: Open the image in Photoshop and ensure the Properties panel is visible. If not, go to
Window > Properties. -
Select the Adjustment Layer: The most common way to change colors non-destructively is by using adjustment layers. Create a "Hue/Saturation" adjustment layer by clicking the "Create new fill or adjustment layer" icon at the bottom of the Layers panel and selecting "Hue/Saturation".
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Target a Specific Color Range: In the Properties panel (which now displays the Hue/Saturation settings), you'll see a dropdown menu (usually defaulting to "Master"). This menu allows you to select which colors you want to adjust. Choose the color range you want to modify, such as "Reds," "Yellows," "Greens," "Cyans," "Blues," or "Magentas."
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Adjust Hue and Saturation: Once you've selected a color range, use the Hue and Saturation sliders to change the color's appearance.
- Hue: This slider changes the actual color. Drag it left or right to shift the selected colors through the color spectrum.
- Saturation: This slider controls the intensity of the color. Drag it right to make the color more vibrant and intense, or drag it left to make the color more muted or gray.
- Lightness: Adjusting the Lightness slider will change the brightness of the color range you have selected.
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Refine the Color Range (Optional): The color bars at the bottom of the Properties panel allow you to refine the selected color range. The area between the vertical lines represents the selected color range. The triangles mark the falloff, which determines how gradually the adjustment affects colors outside the selected range. You can adjust these markers to fine-tune the color selection.
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Experiment: Since most images contain a blend of colors, you may need to adjust multiple color ranges to achieve your desired look.
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Clipping Masks: If you want the adjustment layer to affect only a specific layer, create a clipping mask by right-clicking on the Hue/Saturation layer in the Layers panel and selecting "Create Clipping Mask."
By utilizing Hue/Saturation adjustment layers and carefully targeting specific color ranges, you can effectively change colors in Photoshop without permanently altering the original image data.
