Some Great Techniques For
Replacing Color In Your Images

Replacing color in an image is one of the most requested Photoshop techniques. When I show someone how to do this they usually grab a piece of paper and a pen and write it all down but you don't need to do that.

Just follow along ...

You can easily replace the color of just about anything you want from red eye to your car or sweater.

There are built in tools for replacing color such as the color replacement tool. If you like this one then go ahead and use it but remember this - it does not let the original texture of the image show through.

You can also add a new layer and then put new color with your brush tool directly over the item you want to change. This method also prevents underlying textures showing through so you just have a blob of color.

Probably the easiest methods are to use Hue and Saturation Layers for your replacing color projects.

The techniques are easy to use and very effective.

Hue and Saturation Method 1

This method is quick, easy and targets the color you want to change.

Click on the picture to learn how to use this technique.

Hue and Saturation Method 2

This is the most popular technique for replacing color in an image. It differs from method 1 in the following ways.

• as you apply the color change it is applied to the complete image rather than just a single color, and

• the color can be far more intense than the previous method

Red eye seems to be a real problem for many people so that is what this technique will address.

(You know, most digital cameras have a red-eye reduction flash setting which would prevent this problem in the first place.)

You can get started with this technique by clicking on the young lass with the red eyes!


Return to Photoshop Tutorials from the Replacing Color page.