How do I color-correct photos that are too yellow?

Question

Using Photoshop, what is a good way to color-correct digital photos that are too yellow. I know how to use the 'Auto-Color' feature so that's not what I'm looking for. I'm looking for how to really use the Levels, Hues & Saturation, and Color Balance, etc. I tried compensating the yellows by increasing the blues, but that doesn't work best. Any other tips?

I understand I can play around with it, but I know there are techniques to doing it. I know using blues is proper cause it is the complementary color, but just need to know which way to adjust the blues/yellows cause there are so many ways to do it - there has to be an easier way.

Answer 1

Hi, well… while as you have correctly tried to correct Yellow with Blue, that works generally, there are many different possibilities and although you do have to experiment and that’s why you have the preview in any editing or adjustment window, a good rule of thumb is to use the opposite complementary color in the color wheel or color range or whatever color referencing system you use.

There are some clear standards about color temperature that provide you the exact filtering and/or color correction for certain color temperatures, however if the yellowish is not caused by film - light incongruities but for example or worn-out bulbs in lights and or flashes then you have to still correct and choose. While filter gels booklets often have information on every gel about its function color correction or color conversion, they also provide how much correction or conversion they produce.

The problem is that with Photoshop the color temperature system does not work or cant be used as reference so simply, but at least it can give you and idea of what color you should use to correct other colors and how much hue, saturation you may use.

Other important issue is that while printing the most accurate system is CMYK, monitors and default color system in Photoshop is the RGB, or sRGB and also you might ensure that your monitor is not only using the same system which you are going to use to print but that it is correctly balanced. Adobe has a small and simple balancing program called Adobe gamma, which permits you to select the system you want to use and regulate the colors using an adobe default image.

Also use any of the above and make sure that the saving format uses any of the systems above and also that with or without compressionthe ohoto - image has the better quality possible, often related to Mb size, since for example gif format use indexed colors and you do not want that since it has too poor andlimited colors and color possibilities.

Therefore, once you are sure that your monitor, program and image settings are using the same color system and hence that what you see is what you are going to get, you can follow the rule of thumb above mentioned.

Also select and regulate the color system you use with adobe selecting from toolbar edit>color adjustments, and a window opens that permits you select the system RGB, CYMK, SRGB, as well as the referential standard scale to be use since there are different Japanese, European, American, and adobe color scales. Additionally you can modify in that window too the gray level.

For Red you use Cyan tones, for Greens > Magenta and for Yellows you use Blues and vice versa. Then you must see what looks better for you by regulating the tone slider first, then the saturation and finally the luminosity. Once you have obtained a correction that pleases you or that you think is acceptable you can correct it further using the variations window in Photoshop selecting from the toolbar Image > adjustments > variations which will present you in a window that has multiple screens that show very slight variations of the image that you already corrected and found acceptable. On the window, there is also a slider to regulate the degree of correction of shadows, mid tones, luminous areas and the general saturation of the image.

Remember too that the level of black and or white also affects the color and hence can be brightness, contrast and levels can be used as auxiliary to further regulate the photo - image.

Finally you can use the image > adjust > photographic filter command or directly create a new fill in layer with the color you want to use applying the rule of thumb by choosing layer>new lager>solid color and selecting then which solid color which you can superimpose over your photo-image and regulate the of mixing percentage or also a layer>new adjustment layer> and from the color correction, brightness etc. That creates a new layer window with your image that you can modify and then mix with the original etc

As you see there are many ways and many variables affecting color but first the basic is that, your monitor, program and printer use the same color system and are well balanced so you really see a "correct” output. Then you can do all the rest explained above.

Hope it helps
Santiago

Answer 2

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Answer 3

If it is a RAW file, you can use the pick tool and click on a natural area (gray or white) and hopefully it will color balance it. Same with Lightroom.

But if it is a JPG file, you can still open it with the RAW converter. Set the preference for it to do that. You're using PS CS3, I assume?

This is probably the top reason I shoot in RAW. There were some odd JPG files I just could not correct.

Uncorrected

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c317/wtin/9366a620.jpg

Corrected

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c317/wtin/1c1423f6.jpg

Answer 4

Sounds like a White Balance problem to me. Perhaps it wasn't set correctly when you took the photo? If you can re-take the photo using the correct WB setting it it will certainly save you a lot of time.

My motto is "Get it right in the camera."

Answer 5

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Answer 6

In photoshop:
Go to Image,
then Adjustments,
then Color Balance
there are three slide bars, adjust the bottom one away from yellow. This will fix your problem.
You may want to twiddle the other slide bars a bit too.

Answer 7

You really have to experiment with all those features. Each photo has different needs so just keep playing with all of them. That's why there's the Undo Function. :)

Ctrl+Z: an amateur photoshopper's best friend.

Answer 8

No questions asked, the best site for Photoshop tutorials is: http://www.photoeditinglessons.com

All tutorials are in video format, which makes them easier for you to follow along with the instructor. The videos are interactive and very easy to follow, this will help you learn piano three times faster. Good Luck!

Answer 9

Well one good thing is on your paintbrush, in the options switch it from "normal" to "color"
Then click the general color you want the photo to be, and go over the yellow. (This really works for black and white photos, i don't think it will work to will for regular multiple color photos)

Answer 10

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