Photoshop 2025: Colour Grading in Photoshop For Beginners

Photoshop 2025: Colour Grading in Photoshop For Beginners,

Therefore, Colour grading in Photoshop is an essential skill for enhancing the mood, tone, and overall feel of an image. For beginners, it may seem overwhelming, but with practice, it becomes intuitive. In other words, Here’s a beginner-friendly guide to get you started:

Step 1: Open Your Image:

1. Therefore, Launch Photoshop and open the image you want to colour grade by clicking File > Open.
2. In other words, Duplicate your background layer (Ctrl+J / Cmd+J) to work non-destructively.

Method 2: Photoshop 2025: Colour Grading in Photoshop For Beginners, Use Adjustment Layers:

Therefore, Adjustment layers are the go-to tools for colour grading because they are non-destructive and can be adjusted or removed anytime.

Key Adjustment Layers for Colour Grading:

1. Curves
   • Therefore, Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves.
   • In other words, Adjust the RGB curve for brightness and contrast.
   • However, Switch to individual Red, Green, and Blue channels to tweak the colour balance.
2. Color Balance
   • In other words, Add a Color Balance adjustment layer.
   • Therefore, Adjust the shadows, midtones, and highlights to introduce colour tones.
   • However, for Example: For a warm look, add red and yellow tones.
3. Selective Color
   • However, Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Selective Color.
   • Therefore, Select specific colours (e.g., Reds, Blues) and tweak their properties (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) to refine the tones.
4. Hue/Saturation
   • In other words, Use Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation to adjust the intensity of specific colours.
   • However, You can increase or decrease the vibrance of certain hues to emphasize or mute them.

Step 3: Add Gradient Maps (Optional):

1. In other words, Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map.
2. For instance, Choose a gradient that complements your image’s tone (e.g., warm or cool gradients).
3. However, Reduce the opacity or change the blending mode (e.g., Soft Light) for a subtle effect.

Method 4: Photoshop 2025: Colour Grading in Photoshop For Beginners, Use the Camera Raw Filter:

1. In other words, Select your top layer, then go to Filter > Camera Raw Filter.
2. However, Use the Basic panel for global adjustments like exposure, contrast, and white balance.
3. For instance, Switch to the Color Grading tab to adjust Shadows, Midtones, and Highlights independently with colour wheels.

Step 5: Fine-Tune with Blend Modes and Masks:

• For instance, Experiment with blending modes (e.g., Overlay, Soft Light) to enhance colour grading layers.
• However, Use layer masks to apply adjustments selectively to certain parts of the image.

Method 6: Export Your Image:

Above all, Once satisfied, save your work:

1. For instance, Go to File > Export > Export As or Save As.
2. However, Choose the desired format (e.g., JPEG, PNG).

Photoshop 2025: Colour Grading in Photoshop For Beginners, Tips for Beginners:

• Keep it Subtle: Avoid over-editing; subtle changes often look more professional.
• Learn by Experimenting: Try different combinations of adjustments to find your style.
• Use Presets: Download or create presets to speed up your workflow.
• Practice on Stock Images: Use free stock photos to practice your skills.

In conclusion, Would you like to go deeper into any of these steps or explore advanced techniques?