Color Tint with an Adjustment Layer

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Color Tint with an Adjustment Layer
by Jenifer Juris

Easily fix a color cast by adding a tint of color using a simple adjustment layer.

Just about every photo cell phone app offers the ability to add a tint of color to your photos. In this tutorial, you will learn how easy it is to quickly add a tint of color to one of your own photos. The benefits are everything from color correction to having that filtered look! 

For this tutorial you will need:

  • A photo
  • Photoshop Elements or Adobe Photoshop

 

Step One: Prepare the Workspace

  • Open a photo (File > Open.)

Note: Use a photo that is well lit. Any photo that is too dark won’t work well with this technique.

 

 

Step Two: Add an Adjustment Layer

In this step, I’m going to cover two ways you can use a color tint. The first is color correction which is something useful. The second is giving your photos a filtered look which is more artistic in nature. I am showing you both options because it’s helpful to see how versatile this technique is.

  • In the Layers panel, click on the Create a New Fill or Adjustment Layer icon and choose Solid Color. 
  • In the dialog box, pick a vibrant purple color and click OK. I used Hex #: b95bef.
  • In the Layers panel, change the Opacity of the solid color layer to 8%. 

Note: Lowering the Opacity to 8% was the perfect amount of purple to remove the green color cast from my niece’s hat. Just a little bit of color tint can be all you need to fix a color cast.

 

 

Here’s a side by side of the photo before and after the color tint so you can better see the difference it made.

 

 

As I mentioned above, fixing a color cast isn’t the only benefit to using this technique. By simply increasing the Opacity from 8% to 15%, the photo can have a more filtered look to it.

 

 

But here’s something to keep in mind when using this method:

Less is more. I would never use more than 15% Opacity for any color tint. Play within the range of 05%-15% for best results.

 

 

Step Three: Save the Photo

  • Once you have your photo and color tint layer set how you want, in the Menu Bar, choose Layer > Merge Visible.  
  • Save the photo with a unique name. Now your photo is ready to be used in a project. 

 

Another Example of Color Correction:

Here’s another example of how to use this method to color correct a photo. 

This photo is of my dad and step mom on a trip in Colorado. It’s an amazing photo but as is, it’s very blue or cold in color temperature. So I’m going to follow the same steps above using a golden yellow color (Hex #: ffcb3e) at 15%. 

 

 

It’s a subtle change but it brought warmth to the photo without turning it too golden. So, don’t be afraid to play around with different colors for different filtered looks. When it comes to color correction, then you have to think a bit about what you’re trying to fix. If your photo is cold, add a warm yellow color tint. If your photo is too yellow, try adding a blue color tint. 

Here are my finished projects I created using my tinted photos:

 

 

Credits
Page 1 – An Afternoon Out
Page: Jenifer Juris
Photos: Jodi Finley (sister)
Kit: Lean On Me by Anita Designs and Kim B Designs
Fonts: Austin, Zipper

Page 2 – Colorado Trip
Page: Jenifer Juris
Photos: Paul Johannes (Father)
Kit: Trailblazer by One Little Bird
Fonts: Zipper, Raindrops Script Clean

 

Download PDF

 

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2 Responses

  1. Terri L Fullerton
    | Reply

    What a great reminder Jenifer. I forget what I used to know. . .

  2. Joyce Korenuk
    | Reply

    Thank you so much! I always have problems taking photos in school gymnasiums. Hoping this tutorial will help me with that!

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