Colour Grading Photoshop Tools: Camera Raw Filter 18.0 Version,
Therefore, you’re looking to start color grading in Photoshop! This process can be broken down into two main parts: Color Correction (fixing colors to be natural) and Color Grading (stylizing colors to create a mood).
Colour Grading Photoshop Tools: Camera Raw Filter 18.0 Version,
Therefore, here are some fundamental tools and techniques for beginners in Photoshop:
🎨 Essential Photoshop Tools for Color Grading:
Therefore, Most professional color grading is done using non-destructive Adjustment Layers, which allow you to make changes without permanently altering the original image.
1. Camera Raw Filter (or Lightroom)
Therefore, for a powerful, dedicated color grading workspace, use the Camera Raw Filter.
- In other words, go to Filter > Camera Raw Filter. (Pro Tip: Convert your layer to a Smart Object first so you can re-edit the filter later).
- However, inside the filter, navigate to the Color Grading panel.
- In other words, you’ll see three-color wheels for controlling the:
- Shadows
- Midtones
- Highlights
- Technique: A common technique is to add a warm color (yellow/orange) to the Highlights and a cool color (blue/cyan) to the Shadows. This creates a nice, contrasting, cinematic look.
- Therefore, the farther you drag the center point from the wheel’s center, the more saturated the color will be. Sliders below control Luminance (brightness/darkness).
Colour Grading Photoshop Tools: Camera Raw Filter 18.0 Version,
2. Curves Adjustment Layer:
In other words, the Curves adjustment layer offers the most precise control over tonal range and individual color channels.
- In other words, add a Curves Adjustment Layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves).
- Tonal Adjustments: The main RGB curve affects brightness/contrast. Drag the line up to brighten and down to darken. Creating an ‘S’ curve (slight curve up in the highlights, slight curve down in the shadows) increases overall contrast.
- Color Adjustments: You can select individual color channels (Red, Green, or Blue) from the drop-down menu.
- Adjusting the Red channel affects Red (up) and Cyan (down).
- Adjusting the Green channel affects Green (up) and Magenta (down).
- Adjusting the Blue channel affects Blue (up) and Yellow (down).
Colour Grading Photoshop Tools: Camera Raw Filter 18.0 Version,
3. Selective Color Adjustment Layer:
However, this tool is excellent for fine-tuning specific color ranges in your image.
- Above all, Add a Selective Color Adjustment Layer.
- However, from the Colors drop-down menu, you can target specific hues (e.g., Reds, Yellows, Blues) or tonal ranges (Whites, Neutrals, Blacks).
- Above all, by adjusting the Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black sliders for a selected color, you can precisely shift its hue, saturation, and lightness.
The most effective way to start is by practicing with the Camera Raw Filter’s Color Grading wheels. This offers a very visual and intuitive way to see the impact of adding color casts to different parts of your photo.
