Perform extreme colour adjustments

Where lighting or environmental conditions are not as expected, software can be a powerful solution.

MAKE BASIC TEMPERATURE ADJUSTMENTS.

Open the RAW file in Camera RAW, Lightroom or Capture and adjust the white balance. Try selecting Shade from the Preset list and increase Temperature and Tint further, to introduce a warm cast. Increase Vibrance to improve understated colours.

OPEN IN PHOTOSHOP.

Many of the steps in this tutorial can be conducted in Camera Raw but here we will use the power of layer masks in Photoshop to achieve more interactive colour control. Photoshop also offers multiple colour correction features, which can easily be combined

HUE/SATURATION.

The first step is to strengthen the global warm cast. Create a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer and make small alterations to the Hue of the reds and yellows in the image, to emphasise the dominance of these colours. Keep any saturation changes you make subtle.

SELECTIVE COLOUR.

Use the Selective Colour dialogue to tailor the balance of hues within each colour channel. This control enables the user to blend colours for different effects, and for this image it has been used to introduce more yellow and magenta while holding slightly cooler shadows.

MASKING.

It’s easy to create an unrealistic wash of warm colour just by making global changes. Adjustment layers are good as they can be removed selectively using masks. To increase colour contrast the warming effects were reduced over the trunks and ground-level green moss.

DODGE AND BURN.

To introduce some depth create a Brightness/Contrast Adjustment Layer and change the Blend Mode to Screen. Invert the layer mask then paint in some areas of light with a white brush. Lower the opacity if necessary and build up the effect gradually.