Using Replace Color in Adobe Photoshop CS3

You’ve chosen the perfect image for your project, but the color palette doesn’t fit your needs. What can you do?

The Replace Color option is your solution. This tool allows you to change a specific color within an image quickly and easily. It isn't hard to use, and you can save your settings and reuse them on other images.

Replace Color can be found under Image > Adjustments > Replace Color. Within the Replace Color palette are options such as hue, saturation, and lightness.






Suppose you have a photograph of stadium seats and you need to change the color from bright red to a cool blue. It only takes a few easy steps using Replace Color.

Before you begin, create a Background Layer Copy ( control > J for PCs and Apple > J for Macs) so the original is safe behind the photo in case something goes wrong.

Bring the photo into Photoshop. Make sure “Preview” is checked under the save option. This will show any changes being made to the actual photograph.

Go to Image > Adjustments > Replace Color. The Replace Color palette will appear on your screen with a few options inside.




















Choose the Selection option. (This will show you what is being selected in the Preview box above. Masked areas are black and what's chosen by the Eyedropper will be in white.)

Select the Eyedropper tool with a plus sign and use it to select the red tones in the image.






Click around on the seats with the plus sign Eyedropper until all of the seats appear in the Preview box. When everything is selected, move on to the Hue, Saturation, and Lightness options.







To change the seats to blue, work with the Saturation and drag the slider to the left. The image will show the color change if the Preview option is selected. You can also select a replacement color manually by clicking on the square color preview box.












When the seats are the desired color, choose “okay.” The original red seats have been changed to a cool blue in no time.

Using Actions in Adobe Photoshop CS3

There is a user friendly tool in Adobe Photoshop called Actions that can be found in the window drop down menu.








The default list in the Action palette ranges from Sepia Toning to Save as a Photoshop PDF. Using Actions can save a great deal of time especially if you find yourself doing the same thing over and over again. Actions are great because you can perform an Action on an entire folder instead of performing the Action on each individual file within the folder.

Think of the Actions palette as you would a VCR. There is a record button, play button, and a stop button. To use one of the Photoshop Actions you simply push the play button and Photoshop will perform that Action.








For instance, suppose you have a photo of a flower that you would like to manipulate. Under the Actions menu you will find “Neon Edges” and decide that is exactly what the photo needs.

1. Open the photo in Photoshop
2. Open the Actions palette
3. Choose “Neon Edges”
   
4. Push play
5. Save the manipulated image

If you want to create your own customized Actions it is quite easy.

1. Open the file you are wanting to perform the Action on
2. Click the new Action button
3. Push the record button and begin doing things to your file
4. When you're finished push the stop button. Photoshop has recorded everything done to the file since the record button was pushed.
   

Suppose you want a suitcase photo to look like it has been watercolor painted with a vignette around it's edges. Go to Filter > Watercolor and click okay. Then go to Filter > Lens Correction and add the Vignette to the image.












Photoshop is now ready to play your customized Action on any photograph or file you bring into Photoshop.

To learn more you can go to Http://www.adobe.com/support/photoshop or simply type in Photoshop Actions in Google and there are tons of websites devoted to helping people discover new ways to use Actions everyday!

The Sharp Hue Toolbox

At Sharp Hue, Inc., we’re cutting edge and committed to excellence. One reflection of that commitment is the tools we use. We’ve worked to refine our toolbox to contain the most powerful and efficient tools. The resulting efficiencies are what let us build premium sites for reasonable prices. We want to be able to help every client, small or large, at a fair price.

The version control system which lets us have zero data loss is one part of the equation. Managed hosting with zero down time is another. Investing in the best software is a third.

We have lots of things in our bag of tricks, but here are the tools we think are the essentials for a designer’s toolbox:

• Adobe Photoshop CS3 is our primary tool for the prototyping process that expedites communication between Sharp Hue designers and clients. This program also allows us to work efficiently as a team, saving our clients money and time.

• Adobe Illustrator CS3 allows us to create vector graphics that can be used in multiple media without losing quality. This means that our clients can use the logos we create for them in their print, screen, and online materials, and even in signage and billboards.

• Adobe InDesign CS3 lets us meld content, graphics, and design in the most natural way. We can produce fliers, brochures, and other print materials to meet the mosMicrosoft Visual Studio is our preferred development environment. We det stringent requirements. Our clients can also be confident that their visual identity will be consistent across print, screen, and online media, ensuring a recognizable and trustworthy impression among their clients and customers.

• Microsoft Visual Studio is our preferred development environment. We develop as well as design, so our clients can have exactly what they want and need in a website. While we specialize in providing a custom experience at a reasonable price, our range of skills allows us to produce custom solutions when that is the best option for a client.
  

• Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 is our web coding tool. We use the code-view approach to help us efficiently hand code all of our web sites with pixel precision. When we code a site, it looks the same on Mac or PC, Firefox or Safari, regardless of operating system.

Check our archive for posts containing tips for using these tools, or just call us to schedule an appointment and let us use them on your behalf.