Create Dynamic Carnival-Like Colors on a Standard Photo in Photoshop
You know those cool photos that look so dynamic and iridescent because they have highlights and shadows in magenta, cyan and yellow? If you've got Photoshop and the right kind of photo, they're really easy to make.
By right kind of photo, I mean it's best to use an image with a dark background but any color will do. However, you should have the image isolated. If you need to isolate the image please do so before continuing.
Step 1
Open the photo you want to retouch in Photoshop. This is the "background" layer.
Step 2
In the Layer Palette, select the background (or isolated) layer and click on the little half dark/half light circle at the bottom of the palette. Choose HUE/SATURATION ' and set the SATURATION to -100. Click OK.
You will now have two layers - the background layer and Hue/Saturation layer.
Step 3
Create a new layer change the BLENDING MODE from NORMAL to COLOR. This is the layer you'll be painting in.
Open the SWATCHES palette from the main menu WINDOW. You should familiarize yourself with the colors you want to use - magenta, cyan and yellow are the primary colors you should consider.
Select the BRUSH tool, and set the master diameter to your preference - I like larger brush sizes for this treatment because the results are more natural-looking. Hardness should be set to 0.
Select a color from the SWATCHES palette and begin painting in the image. Adjust the brush size as necessary and change colors to taste.
As you paint you can see the effects your painting is having on the photo. Once you're happy with the image you're done!
Step 4
Save your file as a PSD file - don't flatten it. In case you want to make changes you can come right back to this file and paint again - or erase, etc.
You should have three layers, the background layer, Hue/Saturation layer and the painted layer.
Step 5
Flatten the file and save it as a tif or jpg, etc., depending how the photo will be used. The great thing is that this technique will work in CMYK or RGB mode and you can use any colors you want because…
Hey! You're the designer.
If something is throwing you for a loop and you can't understand something, shoot me an email: art4hire@art4hire.org
I'll try and get back to you within 24 hours.art4hire.org is a division of Imagine Advertising and Design