Cinematic Red Color Grading in Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw

Cinematic Red Color Grading in Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw,

Therefore, creating a specific color grade, like a “red” look for an outdoor portrait, using the Photoshop Camera Raw Filter involves a combination of adjustments. The key is to shift the tones of your image toward the red end of the spectrum while maintaining pleasing and natural-looking skin tones.

Therefore, here is a general guide to achieving a red color grade using the Camera Raw filter, which can be applied to JPEG, TIFF, or RAW files.

Cinematic Red Color Grading in Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw,

Preparation:

1. Shoot in RAW: If possible, shoot your portraits in RAW format. This gives you the most flexibility to make significant color and tonal adjustments without degrading the image quality.
2. Open in Camera Raw: In Photoshop, go to Filter > Camera Raw Filter or simply open a RAW file, which will automatically open in the Camera Raw interface.

Step-by-Step Adjustments:

1. Basic Adjustments: Before getting into the creative color grading, it’s essential to correct the image’s overall tone.
   • White Balance: Start by setting a proper white balance. Use the eyedropper tool to click on a neutral gray or white area in your photo. If none exist, use the “Temperature” and “Tint” sliders to get a natural starting point.
   • Exposure & Contrast: Adjust the exposure to get a well-lit image. Use the “Contrast” slider to fine-tune the midtones.
   • Highlights & Shadows: Use the “Highlights” and “Shadows” sliders to recover detail in the brightest and darkest parts of the image, respectively.
   • Whites & Blacks: Adjust the “Whites” and “Blacks” sliders to set the true white and black points, giving your image a full tonal range.

Adjustment Layer Professional Photo Editing,

1. Red Color Grading: In other words, the most effective tools for this look are the Color Mixer and Color Grading panels.
   • Color Mixer (HSL): This panel (formerly called HSL/Grayscale) allows you to target specific color ranges in your image.
     • Hue: Shift the colors toward red. For example, you might shift the greens and yellows in the background toward orange or red to complement the look. Be careful with the red and orange hues, as they directly affect skin tones.
     • Saturation: Boost the saturation of red and orange to make them pop. You might desaturate other colors like greens and blues to make the reds stand out even more.
     • Luminance: Adjust the brightness of specific colors. You might darken the greens and blues to make the red tones brighter by comparison.
   • Color Grading Panel: In other words, this is the most powerful tool for creative color grading. It replaces the old “Split Toning” panel and gives you more control.
     • Highlights: Drag the color wheel in the “Highlights” section toward the red or magenta tones. This will tint the brightest parts of your image.
     • Midtones: Adjust the midtones to add a red or warm tint. This will have a major impact on the overall feel of the image.
     • Shadows: For a complementary or “cinematic” look, you might pull the shadows toward a contrasting color like blue or cyan. For a purely red look, you can also add a subtle red tint to the shadows.
     • Blending and Balance: The “Blending” slider controls the transition between your highlight, midtone, and shadow tints. The “Balance” slider allows you to shift the emphasis of the effect more toward the shadows or the highlights.

Cinematic Red Color Grading in Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw,

1. Tone Curve: This is an advanced but very effective tool for color grading.
   • Overall Curve: Create an S-curve to add contrast.
   • Individual Channels: Switch to the Red channel. By manipulating the curve, you can add or subtract red from the highlights and shadows. For example, raising the top of the curve adds more red to the highlights, while lowering the bottom adds cyan (the opposite of red) to the shadows. This is a great way to fine-tune a “red” look.
2. Calibration (Optional): This panel is for making broad, film-like changes. You can adjust the “Hue” and “Saturation” of the primary colors (Red, Green, Blue) to give the entire image a certain cast. For a red grade, you might shift the red primary hue or boost its saturation.

Camera Raw Presets Free Download 2025,

Tips for a Successful Red Grade:

• Protect Skin Tones: The most important thing is to ensure the subject’s skin still looks natural and not overly red or orange. Be very careful with the red, orange, and yellow sliders in the HSL panel.
• Use Complementary Colors: Adding a hint of a complementary color (like cyan or blue) to the shadows can create a more dynamic and professional-looking grade.
• Save a Preset: Once you have a look you like, you can save it as a custom preset in Camera Raw. This allows you to apply the same effect to other photos with a single click.